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OUR CUSTOMERS SPEAK |
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Dr Utpal Parekh – the President of IAMA – for IAMA CME Tour of Africa |
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Dear Friends, |
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I just got back from Africa. I did not have access to internet or TV. No broadband available in the jungle. Dial up internet can really teach and test your patience especially when it keeps disconnecting. |
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We all had a blast. It was the most exciting trip I ever had. Actually I always thought India provided my most exciting travel experiences till I went to Africa. Air Tours vendors provided great services and facilities (A+). The most credit still would go to the African people whose hospitality and grace was exceptional. The country is clean and no beggars anywhere in East Africa. Mosquitoes are not a big problem. Indian food is easily available everywhere. Bottled water is not a problem. The CME went well. We had friendly zebras, giraffes, wild buffalos and hippos often roaming outside our huts. The safari game drives were excellent. We saw every possible animal in large numbers including kills. We were lucky to see all the BIG FIVE in action - lions, elephants, wild buffalos, rhino and the leopard. We went to the Masai village and got a first hand glimpse of their very unique lifestyle. I have great pics if anyone is interested. |
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I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone whose spine is healthy enough to handle the really rough jungle safari ride. The minimum no. is 6 and max. optimal no. for a cme trip is about 50. Beyond that we may have to split the group between 2 facilities which leads to logistical problems. |
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Well, back to reality and the urban jungle with the metal beasts |
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Miss Shobhana Kamdar - the customer for IAMA CME Tour of Africa |
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Hey, finally I made it. To travel only - tour - no work just relax. This is my 1st trip only pleasure.
It's very refreshing with all your hard work in arranging Great Experience. All these lodges & Hotels had a wide selection of INDIAN breakfast - lunch or dinner. Most of them has prepare masala chai which is good. |
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1st day reaching Nairobi - flight was little late - but kadai- restaurand had co-operate - So every one had a delicious dinner - after long travelling. |
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In the moring all the vans ready to go. I gave them names -
# 1 United
# 2 Multiplex
# 3 Ahemdabad (Guju)
# 4 Mumbai (Guju)
our driver name Joseph (mid 50) Smart 1st stop was |
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All the same drive we had a good look for all Big Five / Small Five. We had changed little to go - Mara River & see Hippo & Crocodile. Next day morning breakfast same drive then mara Air trip - Flight to Nairobi - By Safari Link - Connect to Kilimangaro flight to Tanzania - New visa for & 100 & yellow fever-certificate to give. Out by early afternoon - Box lunch - drive to Conservation area passing. Arusha town (Where all Tanzanite mines located.) also 3000 hindu living there. |
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Reaching Ngorongora - high attitude Excellent location - Sunrise / Sunset. Lots of Green forest - decent Roads wonderful place - cottages are 2 units in 1 huge space- separate balcony. Nice size bed - every lodge bed set up with hot water bag that's cool - now we have leopard tour safari van - driver name is Soloman young boy. Lots of knowledge. |
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Shilling is Tanzania $ 1 = 1300 even employee don't make much chi but they are simple happy - smiling - good food selection I met cook whose name was Pius. Who cooks all Indian food dosa-idli- panipuri. But late evening we couldn't plan for next day. Since we were leaving early morning. Cool boat ride- Seeing several hippo family & giraffe. |
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Reaching Masia Mara on height sopa lodge little smaller room B05 in jungle 2 unit / per builing. Some need to escort in the night . Dinner we has moon & roti and I met cook name Jospht who has made Samosa (spicy) & khaichade - kadhi for all of us. Night masi dance sicular set up fire place to relax & enjoy. |
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Next day –Masai village –Unusual experience – Their small little own world. 1 family – 1 town – Approximate 100 in the family. Good to know that they are learning in school but still have a same family system. Simple – out of the world in their own world they are leaving.Their little circular shop is reasonable to buy souvenir, Bargain is always expected |
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By Ngorongo - coffee farm is owned by Patel N. D. (for last 3 generation ) you can visit there 1 same drive long is enough if everyone agree save 2nd day from Ngorongo check out early pick box lunch come back to Arusha in the evening may be cheaper lodge to this town has a 3000 hindu. Laxminarayan temple, Jain Derasar & most important - cheaper shopping for most our desi spices / cockery that can be done in the morning 9 am to 12 pm . |
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Next day early morning same drive. Almost 6 hrs. on crater th thuge crater we would see all big five very thrilling experience. Previous night I met name Isarel, he knew Asian cooking he made delicious samosa in lunch & dinner, chapati, moong too masala tea was so good----------best. A little then our group decided to have happy their. So all of us meet closely shared experience group photo taken some jokes, shayari and little dance & antakshri. |
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Next morning via Arusha shopping at cultural Heritage lunch back to airport thrilled experience in sitting 13 passenger small plane - back to Nairobi city tour & pick up luggage up and go for fancy restaurant for dinner carnivore 9 pm ready for airport - at Nairobi and back to Chicago via London. Good happy all lot's of fun with the group tour guide Jagdish Bhatt is good listener. |
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Miss Nancy - the customer for IAMA CME Tour of Africa |
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The trip is over , and I sincerely am impressed the way entire tour was organized ,I loved those beautiful unique looking lodges we stayed in , all the restaurants we dined and the breathtaking sites we visited , with all these few added comforts , we loved it all.
Thanks. |
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