A great simulation would be to swap the ages of all the drivers in the top 10.
Make Hamilton 28 years old and make everyone else 41 years old.
That question alone puts into perspective the significance of this Hamilton renaissance.
15/ One safari hack:
Choose bush lunches whenever possible.
We never returned to the lodge for lunch.
That meant more time in the wilderness and more sightings.
Best decision we made.
16/ Bring binoculars.
Every guide has them.
You should too.
You'll spot leopards in distant trees, birds on far branches and predators long before they come close.
17/ If photography matters to you:
Bring a zoom lens.
A proper one.
Your phone will get some amazing memories.
A camera with reach will get the shots you'll frame forever.
18/ Most safari vehicles have pop-up or open roofs.
Stand up.
Look around.
Feel the wind.
It's one of the great joys of safari.
19/ Accommodation surprised me.
Excellent food. Massive buffet spreads. Comfortable rooms. Warm hospitality.
Most places had great facilities and surprisingly good food after long safari days.
20/ One thing you absolutely want:
Turndown service.
Not for luxury.
For insects.
Trust me.
21/ Tanzanians are some of the kindest and most polite people you'll meet.
The guides are incredibly knowledgeable and patient.
The hospitality is exceptional.
22/ Tipping is common:
๐ฐ Around 10,000 TZS for porters ๐ฐ Around 50,000 TZS per day for guides
More if you feel they've gone above and beyond.
23/ Final thought:
Safari isn't Disneyland.
You can't schedule a leopard at 10:15 and a lion at 11:30.
You surrender to nature's timeline.
And somewhere between the dust, the sunrise, the elephants, the birds, the endless plains and the long roads...
You remember how small and beautiful this planet really is.
Tanzania is not just a trip.
It's a life-changing experience.
And if you're planning one, having a partner like @amarkedia that helps you choose the right route, the right lodges and the right pace makes a huge difference.
๐น๐ฟโค๏ธ
Happy to answer any Tanzania safari questions.
@TravelBluez thank you again
10/ Speaking of birds...
The birding in Tanzania is absurd.
Even if you don't care about birds today, Tanzania may convert you.
Lilac-breasted rollers. Secretary birds. Bee-eaters. Hornbills. Kingfishers. Eagles. Vultures.
The diversity is mind-blowing.
11/ The daily weather rhythm:
โ๏ธ Cold till around 8 AM ๐ Pleasant till 11 AM โ๏ธ Hot from 11 AM to 4 PM ๐ Pleasant again till sunset
Dress in layers.
12/ Avoid:
โ Blue โ Black โ Dark colours
Tsetse flies LOVE them.
Their bite isn't dangerous for most tourists but it's extremely annoying and unpleasant.
Stick to beige, khaki and earth tones.
13/ Also carry clothes you don't mind getting dirty.
The open-top Land Cruisers are workhorses.
Grease and dust are part of the experience.
14/ If you have a sensitive back:
Carry Moov, Volini or your preferred pain relief spray.
The roads can be rough and long.
6/ One thing I would NOT compromise on:
Spend at least TWO FULL DAYS in Serengeti.
Minimum.
Three is better.
The Serengeti isn't a park.
It's a continent disguised as a park.
7/ Tarangire deserves way more love than it gets.
Huge elephant herds. Ancient baobab trees. Fantastic birdlife. Great predator sightings.
Do not skip Tarangire.
8/ Ngorongoro only needs one full day.
But make it a FULL day.
It's one of the most unique wildlife experiences on Earth.
A collapsed volcanic caldera packed with animals.
You feel like you're on another planet.
9/ The biggest misconception about safari:
People think you'll spend all day searching desperately for animals.
Reality?
You may go hours without seeing the exact 4 animals you came for...
But there is NEVER a moment without life.
Birds. Antelope. Insects. Reptiles. Trees. Tracks. Dung beetles. Jackals.
Nature is everywhere.
1/ Tanzania is not a vacation.
It's an expedition.
You'll leave your lodge around 7 AM, return around 6 PM, spend hours on rough roads, stand in moving vehicles, eat dust, wake up early and get exhausted.
And you'll love every second of it.
2/ First things first.
A huge shoutout to @TravelBluez@amarkedia
From helping us choose the right circuit, recommending fantastic lodges, coordinating transfers, guiding us through paperwork and answering dozens of questions before departure, they made the entire process seamless.
The difference between a good safari and a great safari is often the planning.
@TravelBluez nailed it.
3/ If you're travelling from Mumbai, the easiest options are usually via Nairobi or Addis Ababa.
โ๏ธ Kenyan Airways via Nairobi โ๏ธ Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa
Both work well, but Ethiopian was consistently recommended to us and generally has a stronger reputation for punctuality and connectivity. The plaza premium is a decent lounge, with re check-ins every 2 hours.
4/ Worried about paperwork?
Don't be.
โ Tanzania e-Visa is straightforward โ Yellow Fever vaccination is simple to obtain and widely available
Both were far easier than we expected.
5/ If you're doing the Northern Circuit, my recommendation:
๐Arusha ๐Tarangire ๐Ngorongoro ๐Serengeti ๐Arusha
OR
๐Arusha ๐Tarangire ๐Lake Manyara ๐Ngorongoro ๐Serengeti ๐Arusha
Lake Manyara is beautiful, but if time is limited, that's the park I'd skip.
#MonacoGP ๐ฒ๐จ | Lewis Hamilton on getting podiums back to back:
โIโm grateful to have moved forwards [in the race] cause we started 3rd and to get to 2nd is awesome. To have two 2nds, especially, I think, with a good race in Montreal. Everyone was kinda like โyea, but heโs quick there,โ I feel like Iโm in a period where Iโm having to remind people of who I am. My fans had to remind me of who I am, and now, Iโm having to show up each weekend to try and do that.โ
Btw Kohli has been on an insane clutch run since 2023.
117(113) in 2023 SF
54(63) in 2023 Final
Player of the Tournament of 2023 WC.
76(59) and MOTM in 2024 final
84(98) and MOTM in the SF of Champion Trophy 2025
43(25) in Qualifier 1 2026
75(42) in Final 2026
Patidar, Krunal etc maybe in form, but what they can never manufacture is what Kohli has.
Nerves for a Big match. Thatโs what separates champions from the merely great. Tremendous mental fortitude. Thatโs something VK has.