When Brian and Lisa Reinard stopped by Martin Travel to plan their next trip, they never imagined the unforgettable adventure that awaited them. Travel Advisor Judy Miron helped them book a Heart of Kenya and Tanzania trip with Micato Safaris, a luxury safari company that provided the Reinards with an adventure that they are still talking about today.
We took a 12-day safari to see some of the iconic locations in East Africa. In Nairobi, Kenya, we visited the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nursery for orphaned elephant calves and the Giraffe Center, part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, where they breed rare Rothschild’s giraffes for release into the wild. Then, we flew to Tanzania, where we explored Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. From there, we flew to Kenya to visit the Maasai Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem.
One afternoon, our safari director surprised us with a barbecue lunch at a private spot in Ngorongoro Crater. We had expected that we would buy something to eat from a vendor or have a boxed lunch—not even close. It was so special to have this fabulous spread just for us in such a scenic spot.
Another highlight was our hot-air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara-Serengeti at dawn. It was quiet and peaceful, offering a beautiful vantage point to see the animals in their undisturbed state.
One unexpected weather event turned into a memorable adventure. We were out on safari when rain caused a river to rise several feet. Since we needed to cross that river to get back to camp, we were stuck in the Serengeti.
The ongoing rain meant we had to sleep in the vehicle for the night; however, they provided dinner and transported our meal across the river by rope. The next morning, we had a hot breakfast sent via the same rope. We were finally able to cross the river at 11:15 that morning and arrived back at the camp shortly after to cheering from the entire camp staff. We were told that if we couldn't cross the river that morning, they were going to send in a helicopter to extract us. They worked in shifts to ensure we were okay over the night.
We stayed at several beautiful locations, including Fairmont The Norfolk hotel in Nairobi, a historic property and a traditional starting point for many safaris. In Tarangire, we stayed at the Tarangire Sopa Lodge. The food there was fantastic, and the animal viewing in the park was extraordinary.
Our next stop was the Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge. The property and the food were both superb. It is a great location for visiting the Ngorongoro Crater.
Next, we stayed at the Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp, which was over the top. Each of the 20 luxury tents has a spacious, richly furnished bedroom and a 360-degree veranda. Finally, we stayed at the Fairmont Mara Safari Club on the Mara River, a more traditional safari camp with excellent game drives.
Micato is a family-owned and -operated luxury safari company. Judy had traveled with Micato and highly recommended them. We found their services worth the higher cost. Micato took care of every detail, from our smooth arrival in Nairobi (they even assisted with customs) to our departure, ensuring a stress-free experience. Working with a tour operator and company with experience and connections made all the difference.
Judy has been invaluable in all our travel planning. We let her know our desires for travel in terms of places, styles of travel and experiences. Judy guides us on travel locations, travel providers and what to do. Her expertise makes us feel comfortable and safe planning our adventures. Based on our Africa experience, we have several travel plans booked through Judy, including an Alaska cruise, a Danube cruise, and trips to Italy and Costa Rica.
Absolutely! Seeing the animals in their environment was spectacular. The people, culture and food made the experience truly exceptional.
