Who: Yen and Craig Phillips
Where: The Tanzania Clock Tower in Arusha (as seen in the movie “Hatari”), which is said to be halfway between Cairo and Cape Town.
Best meal: The buffet dinner at the Ngorongoro Farm House (about 2 hours west of Arusha) near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which we visited during our all-inclusive safari trip. The Dining Hall ambiance was fantastic. The table setting was elegant. The buffet spread was on separate tables with lots to choose from, including salads, hot entrees and to-die-for desserts. Delicious, delicious.
Best deal: Souvenir shopping at the Lookmanji Curio Shop in downtown Arusha. After paying some outrageous prices for souvenirs at hotel gift shops and tourist traps, we were happy to discover this little shop by chance. The selections were great, and the prices were reasonable. The best part of it was they even wrapped our merchandise in suitcase/shipping- ready packages for free.
Best time to go: We visited in October, when the temperatures were pleasant and there were fewer crowds. Tanzania can be visited during all seasons, but the best wildlife viewing is typically during the dry season. For that reason, we avoided the rainy season of March to May. Also, we wanted to avoid the higher temperatures in December to February and the heavier crowds around the Christmas-New Year holidays and during the July to August peak.
Best travel tip: To make the best out of your safari trip, find a reputable company. With the recommendations of some friends, our son (working in Arusha) and daughter-in-law engaged a good safari company with a great driver/tour guide. The safari company-provided accommodations were first rate. Also, the driver/tour guide was fluent in English (as well as Swahili), very knowledgeable and adept in spotting animals and orienting the vehicle for excellent photography. Further, he was well informed about the natural history of the areas visited, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks.
