Usuário convidado
19 de dezembro de 2023
What began as a long-shot discussion amongst family to someday go on an African Safari turned rapidly into reality when things evolved, and tickets were purchased. All of a sudden, a group of 6 of us were going ~ for real !! For 13 days !! Flying into Kenya, overland to Tanzania and back to Kenya for our return flights home. Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge in Tanzania is located on the shore of Lake Manyara, as the name suggests. It is also almost within a large township and hordes of resorts / hotels / camps scattered along that same lakeshore ~ so is the most “urban” of the camps we stayed in. The resort has rooms arranged 4 to a 2-story unit, which seems to be the Serena group’s chosen style of architecture, stretching along a high ridge overlooking the township and lakeshore below. The resort grounds are less game-populated because of its urban surroundings, but still very scenic, and the game on-site seems to be more of a captive group….??? The grounds are well laid out and scenic.. though we still had the distance-discount rooms from the central pavilion where all the facilities are, we were used to that model of business by now… our last night in Africa. We arrived late after the day’s travel from the Serengeti and safari-ing and stops along the way, and did not do much as we were to depart the next day for another long drive back to Nairobi, and our return flights to the US. But we got to see some of the property, and wildlife that wanders around freely in the resort grounds, as some animals just roam around and even come up to the beautiful, large infinity-edge pool for a drink of water (ugh !... I’m sure the water IS chemically treated.) Meals are generally served “buffet” style, and are all-inclusive, with the exception of dinks. Drinks are extra, and expensive. Bringing in your own liquor to avoid or minimize the bar tab is technically prohibited.. but one gets around these annoyances. The spread is extensive: offering many choices of non-veg, veg, vegan and some unfathomable cuisines. But desserts are blah ! They should concentrate on the simple ones… trifle, caramel custard, and the like. Due to the remoteness of some of these locations, the food is mostly prepared onsite, and is fresh from the kitchen – BUT is not the strongpoint or of the best quality at all the resorts. It is plentiful and hot (or cold, as intended) and is a good way to start the day’s jouncing around in the dust. And besides, one doesn’t want to scare away the wildlife with one’s stomach rumblings ! Breakfast is served very early to allow visitors to get out to catch the proverbial worm (or alligator ?) … and dinner is also relatively early, so one can rest and recover from the day’s excitement, bouncing and dust in the jeeps. Because of the proximity to the urban area, there is a lot of souvenir shopping available in this area, if one can drive around and explore… but that needs time that we did not have at that moment in our trip. Luc
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