On the morning of November 18, 2023, it was time to say goodbye to the Fairmont Norfolk. Our adventurers had to exit Kenya to start the formal part of their safari in the African wilderness. They needed to fly to Tarangire National Park where they would begin exploring all the most famous national parks in Tanzania. The journey involved a flight by a regional airline to Kilimanjaro International Airport, passing through customs and immigration in Tanzania and then boarding a chartered bush plane for a second flight to a dirt airstrip in Tarangire National Park. Later in the day, from the Kuro airstrip, they would have their first game drive, as they made their way to the Sopa Lodge, located inside the park. They would then spend the night there.
Kintai, their Masai safari guide and Daniel their driver in Kenya, were at the hotel early to pickup our hero, his trusty sidekick and Bree. Safari-goers and their luggage were then transported to the Wilson Regional Airport. At the airport, all passengers cleared immigration control and security and then boarded a 12-passenger Cessna Caravan for the one hour- flight south to Kilimanjaro. The plane was operated by Safarilink, a regional East African air carrier that has a dozen Caravans in its fleet. The flight was one hour in length. Kilimanjaro Airport is just across the border from Kenya. The group landed there and cleared Tanzanian customs and immigration and then went through security again to get back into the departure lounge for the next flight. From there, it was a 35 minute flight to Kuro in Tarangire National Park. Emmanuel, the Micato driver in Tanzania, was waiting for us at Kuro. He had chilled champagne on a table next to the runway.
As it was already late in the afternoon and they only had a few hours of sunlight left. But, on the drive from Kuro to the Sopa Lodge they made the most of of it. With Emmanuel at the wheel and Kentai in the copilot’s seat, we started our first game drive on the way to Sopa Lodge. In the 3 hours before dusk, we saw three of the “big five” African mammals. including the buffalo, lion and elephant. We also spotted scores of other animals in that pristine savanna.
We spent the night in the Sopa Lodge where the service was wonderful. The staff all sang and danced for us, as we were finishing our dinner.
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| Safari link to Tanzania |
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| Farms from the Cessna Caravan |
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| Second flight to Kuro dirt strip |
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| Caravan |
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| Emmanuel on the left with the champagne and Kintai on the right |
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| Our Land Cruiser |
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Maribou stork
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| Guinea Fowl |
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| Impalas and elephants |
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| Vervet Monkey |
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| Sopa main lodge |
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| Sopa pool which we had no time to experience |
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