CLIENTS ON TRAVELING WITH KIDS TO TANZANIA
When KEARSLEYS (KTL) received a heart-warming feedback from a recent traveller, Harini Krishnamurthy (HK) from the U.S.A; we were overwhelmed. “Barnabas was great with the children. My son, Nikhil, was so upset on the last day when we said goodbye, he cried for a long time after he left.”
Curious, we couldn’t resist to know from Harini about her recent trip to Tanzania with her family, who opted from a classic Northetn Safari Tour to Tanzania covering; Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti and Manyara National Park. Here is what she shared with us about ‘traveling with kids to Tanzania.’
KTL: How would you describe your first time experience in Tanzania and did it match your expectations?
HK: Our Tanzania trip was memorable beyond our expectations. We started out thinking this would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip but came back with the hunger to explore more.
KTL: Although your kids are small, why did you think it was a good idea to bring them to the wilderness? Did you feel safe?
HK: We were not too worried about safety for our kids. On the contrary, we knew that this would be an amazing educational experience for them – not just seeing nature, but also being exposed to a different culture and people.
We checked with a travel clinic to make sure we were adequately vaccinated and took measures to safeguard ourselves against insects, and food-borne diseases. We pre-treated our clothes with permethrin and carried DEET with us. Other than these basic measures, we were not worried about traveling there with children. It helped that we had family in Zambia who guided us. Throughout our trip, we were happy with the accommodations and food, and trusted our guide Barnabas.
KTL: How was your visit to Tanzania different than all your other travel experiences? Why would you recommend one to come here?
HK: This was our first trip to Africa. The national parks and conservations areas we visited provided us with an unprecedented experience of natural beauty, vast landscapes, and wildlife. The people were genuine, friendly, and welcoming, which made traveling in Tanzania a very pleasant experience.
KTL: You travelled during the off-peak season, which is not favourable to many. Did the rains disturb you during your travels?
HK: The last week of May was perfect for us. We had almost no rains during our stay there except for some rains in the Arusha area, had no problem seeing wild animals, and likely saved a significant amount on our travel expenses. Above all, there were already quite a number of jeeps when we were there, we can only imagine what the crowd would be like during the high season. Glad we beat the crowds!
KTL: Share some of the most memorable sightings you witnessed during your travels; the wildlife, people, places you stayed etc. What kind of an impression has this created for you and your family?
HK: It felt surreal to wake up in Serengeti, one of Earth’s most famous natural wonders. The landscape is simply stunning. Witnessing the wildebeest migration will count among our top memorable moments. Also, we were lucky to drive up to a trio of male lions sleeping right beside the road. Our presence attracted the attention of one of them and we were able to get a close-up view of him and the fierce look on his face.
KTL: It looked like your kids enjoyed a lot, especially with our driver guide. Share with us what rendered this fantastic experience.
HK: All of us, but the two children in particular, had a lot of fun with Barnabas. His welcoming nature and how he engaged with the two will remain one of our fondest memories. Even now after our return, Nikhil sings the song he learned from Barnabas and says how much he misses him.