Amazing describes our stay at Mawe Tented Camp—an ultimate safari experience, perfect in every way. As the three us were escorted to our tents upon arrival, we saw In the distance a herd of elephants, and realized that we were truly in the midst of the Serengeti wilderness. The tents were a joy of African ambiance – comfortable beds, private bathroom and shower. They were also environmentally friendly, the water for showers heated by solar power. Can’t say enough about the Mawe staff –so enthusiastic and eager to help. The chefs rival those of the finest gourmet restaurants. One day, arriving back at camp early, we were prepared an elegant lunch, served outdoors—we felt we were in a movie scene. Every evening for dinner, there was always tasty soup – pumpkin, cucumber - a wonderful salad and a delicious entrée, with fresh vegetables and fruit. Although the dining tent is convivial and comfortable, reality sets in after dinner: an armed ranger must escort guests to their tents. It is a reminder that Mawe has no fences. Animals—maybe dangerous animals—could be nearby, which made the experience even more special.
Our guide/driver for our three days with Mawe was Anderson, and words alone can’t describe his kindness, his experience, his knowledge. On our game-viewing drives he displayed the eyes of an eagle, spotting animals hidden under trees and bushes and places where no ordinary human eye would have spotted them—his eyesight seemed downright superhuman and he knew just where to find the animals. We saw many lions, both male and female (one male gluttonously devouring a freshly-killed wildebeest under a tree), families of elephants, cape buffalo, giraffes, cheetahs, and antelope of every kind. He had an encyclopedic mind as well, answering every question about Tanzania.
Enroute to Ngorongoro Crater, we drove past an enormous herd of cape buffalo crossing the Serengeti, and antelope were everywhere. Then there was a wonderful, added bonus: an unplanned detour to a Masai Village. So fascinating! the Masai were an unexpected delight.
Even more than the Serengeti, the crater teemed with wild animals and exotic birds of every description. Anderson even pointed out a pair of black rhinoceros in the distance, a very rare animal (unfortunately, close to extinction). The beauty of the animals and landscape of the crater is just beyond description—you feel as though you have entered the Garden of Eden, an experience that brought tears of joy to (at least) one of us. All in all, the entire Mawe experience was exceptional. We loved it and know everyone will. We will never, never forget it.