It’s not so easy to put into words how wonderful my experience was on the AMA Golden Trails of Africa trip but I’ll do my best to convey the essence of the journey.
For me the trip unfolded like a finely planned dinner, albeit over 19 glorious days, with distinctive stages, each reflecting a singular focus and rhythm, all the while leading up to and complementing a distinctive and unique main course on the river, and capped with a relaxing and beautiful two day dessert.
Amboseli in Kenya was a perfect introduction to the African wildlife experience with magnificent herds of elephants, lion prides, wildebeests, and a fantastic array of birds throughout the plains and wetlands. Our guide was a joy and adjusted quickly to the rhythm of our group, providing information to enhance our experience while not usurping our sense of discovery. Our home base, Amboseli Serena Lodge, was everything we’d hoped for; luxurious, comfortable, and clean, with a terrific dining room and bar.
Next, we crossed into Tanzania where three distinctive wildlife areas beckoned. The first of these, Lake Manyara, is an exquisite, jungle gem, with the beautiful lake attracting myriad species into the area, making for some very up-close wildlife viewing. The Lake Manyara Serena Lodge is magnificent, perched high upon a ridge, providing a commanding view of the entire Lake Manyara park area: it’s nothing short of spectacular. Once again, the accommodations and cuisine were first rate; to put a point on it, the quality of lodging was outstanding the entire trip--- furthermore, I can’t imagine that the location of the lodges in each area could have been better.
On we travelled to Ngorongoro National Park and the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. Risking sounding like a broken record, I again have to say our accommodations were amazing; the lodge, similar to that at Lake Manyara, posits on a ridge, only this time built into and out of the lip of the Ngorongor Crater, offering unparalleled views over the expanse of the massive crater. Our full day trip down into the crater was absolutely magical; for me, it evoked a feeling of wonder that I have rarely felt since childhood. I couldn’t help but be moved by a sense of the timelessness of the place where the actions and interaction of the animals has been taking place, largely unobserved by man, for millennia.
After a sublime two nights at Ngorongoro, it was time to make our way to the magnificent Serengeti. It’s as if the table had been cleared and reset; we have began what will become part one of a two stage main course. The Serengeti is truly awe-inspiring, both in scale and scope. We covered a vast amount of territory and a variety of terrain in our three days of game drives there and I still felt that we only scratched the surface. What we did encounter were lions galore, both on the ground and some directly overhead in trees, not to mention leopards, also in trees, with and without their prey, herds and herds of elephants, a cheetah family stalking and bringing down a wildebeest (which was promptly and unceremoniously stolen by hyenas), towers of giraffes, hippos and crocodiles galore, and so much more on the land and in the air. Other highlights included witnessing the wildebeest migration and a gathering of thousands of zebras pausing at a watering hole prior to joining in with the migration. Our guide was excellent, understated but perfect at adding a piece of information here or there to enhance our understanding of what we were witnessing. He’d been with us for all of our time in Tanzania and was great at orchestrating and executing a plan for each day, leaving plenty of room for spontaneity.
By this point, we’d been to four different parks, each one unique but, step by step, grander and grander in scale. I have to say that I really appreciated the sequence of the journey to this point. And now, the ship was yet to come.
The Zambezi Queen: for the next four days, she was our home. And what a spectacular home she was. How can I describe how unique and delightful this part of the experience was? Imagine waking up and lying in bed, peering out of the floor to ceiling windows at hippos halfway submerged, marshes bedecked with grazing gazelles and impala, and elephants trudging in the distance as the ship slowly makes its way up and down the river. Then up to the top level with beautiful decks both fore and aft, settling into the dining area for a made to order breakfast, and then making ready for a game drive in Chobe Park. There was also the unique aspect of seeing the abundant shore and bird life from the perspective of the tender boats. In these boats we sidled up to a herd of elephants as they swam across the river, against the backdrop of a beautiful African sunset. So, here it is; the four days on the Zambezi Queen were nothing short of spectacular. I was sad to leave.
All good things must end…but not without dessert. The final two days of the trip were spent in and around Victoria Falls including a walking tour of the falls. It was a joy spending time, and perfect for winding down, at the Victoria Falls Hotel, a beautifully restored colonial style hotel. It was there that we had time to reflect on our experiences with our fellow travelers. Many shared that this had been the time of their lives. It was for me.
AMA Waterways Africa cruises
in River Cruising
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It’s not so easy to put into words how wonderful my experience was on the AMA Golden Trails of Africa trip but I’ll do my best to convey the essence of the journey.
For me the trip unfolded like a finely planned dinner, albeit over 19 glorious days, with distinctive stages, each reflecting a singular focus and rhythm, all the while leading up to and complementing a distinctive and unique main course on the river, and capped with a relaxing and beautiful two day dessert.
Amboseli in Kenya was a perfect introduction to the African wildlife experience with magnificent herds of elephants, lion prides, wildebeests, and a fantastic array of birds throughout the plains and wetlands. Our guide was a joy and adjusted quickly to the rhythm of our group, providing information to enhance our experience while not usurping our sense of discovery. Our home base, Amboseli Serena Lodge, was everything we’d hoped for; luxurious, comfortable, and clean, with a terrific dining room and bar.
Next, we crossed into Tanzania where three distinctive wildlife areas beckoned. The first of these, Lake Manyara, is an exquisite, jungle gem, with the beautiful lake attracting myriad species into the area, making for some very up-close wildlife viewing. The Lake Manyara Serena Lodge is magnificent, perched high upon a ridge, providing a commanding view of the entire Lake Manyara park area: it’s nothing short of spectacular. Once again, the accommodations and cuisine were first rate; to put a point on it, the quality of lodging was outstanding the entire trip--- furthermore, I can’t imagine that the location of the lodges in each area could have been better.
On we travelled to Ngorongoro National Park and the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. Risking sounding like a broken record, I again have to say our accommodations were amazing; the lodge, similar to that at Lake Manyara, posits on a ridge, only this time built into and out of the lip of the Ngorongor Crater, offering unparalleled views over the expanse of the massive crater. Our full day trip down into the crater was absolutely magical; for me, it evoked a feeling of wonder that I have rarely felt since childhood. I couldn’t help but be moved by a sense of the timelessness of the place where the actions and interaction of the animals has been taking place, largely unobserved by man, for millennia.
After a sublime two nights at Ngorongoro, it was time to make our way to the magnificent Serengeti. It’s as if the table had been cleared and reset; we have began what will become part one of a two stage main course. The Serengeti is truly awe-inspiring, both in scale and scope. We covered a vast amount of territory and a variety of terrain in our three days of game drives there and I still felt that we only scratched the surface. What we did encounter were lions galore, both on the ground and some directly overhead in trees, not to mention leopards, also in trees, with and without their prey, herds and herds of elephants, a cheetah family stalking and bringing down a wildebeest (which was promptly and unceremoniously stolen by hyenas), towers of giraffes, hippos and crocodiles galore, and so much more on the land and in the air. Other highlights included witnessing the wildebeest migration and a gathering of thousands of zebras pausing at a watering hole prior to joining in with the migration. Our guide was excellent, understated but perfect at adding a piece of information here or there to enhance our understanding of what we were witnessing. He’d been with us for all of our time in Tanzania and was great at orchestrating and executing a plan for each day, leaving plenty of room for spontaneity.
By this point, we’d been to four different parks, each one unique but, step by step, grander and grander in scale. I have to say that I really appreciated the sequence of the journey to this point. And now, the ship was yet to come.
The Zambezi Queen: for the next four days, she was our home. And what a spectacular home she was. How can I describe how unique and delightful this part of the experience was? Imagine waking up and lying in bed, peering out of the floor to ceiling windows at hippos halfway submerged, marshes bedecked with grazing gazelles and impala, and elephants trudging in the distance as the ship slowly makes its way up and down the river. Then up to the top level with beautiful decks both fore and aft, settling into the dining area for a made to order breakfast, and then making ready for a game drive in Chobe Park. There was also the unique aspect of seeing the abundant shore and bird life from the perspective of the tender boats. In these boats we sidled up to a herd of elephants as they swam across the river, against the backdrop of a beautiful African sunset. So, here it is; the four days on the Zambezi Queen were nothing short of spectacular. I was sad to leave.
All good things must end…but not without dessert. The final two days of the trip were spent in and around Victoria Falls including a walking tour of the falls. It was a joy spending time, and perfect for winding down, at the Victoria Falls Hotel, a beautifully restored colonial style hotel. It was there that we had time to reflect on our experiences with our fellow travelers. Many shared that this had been the time of their lives. It was for me.