Masai Mara Manyatta Camp, Masai Mara 09-2013

Much more simple setting, small buffet with slightly more local-type food, paid for a short walking tour to the local Masai village - be aware of being asked/pushed to pay more to see things or buy trinkets whilst walking.

The Masai Mara itself - how can you compare? River crossings, animals everywhere, a bit of bustle with other vehicles but all in good nature.

Ndutu Safari Lodge, Ndutu 08-2013

This lodge has basic stone huts rather than a tent in the middle of open plains, lots of little colourful birds flying around.

I was very reluctant to come to this park enroute to Serengeti especially given how quiet of animals it was at the start, but turned out to be a park isolated from other vehicles and came across a herd of elephants and pride of lions lounging around then facing off.

The Blue Heron, Arusha 08-2013

After crossing the border from Kenya to Tanzania, our new guide Freddie drove us straight to Arusha for lunch. This was a stopover to get lunch and some supplies before heading to Lake Manyara.

The setting is quite nice - there's a large open lawn with tables, ornaments, a fountain and the warm sun shaded by umbrellas was very pleasant. I'd have to admit the clientele seemed largely tourist/safari tours and the menu prices of AUD15 mains (albeit already included in the tour price) reflected this also.

- Beef Tenderloin (300g Kenyan fillet medallions served with onion marmalade, potatoes & rosemary red wine sauce) - the relatively local beef was decent quality and nice tenderness. The sauce added well to the otherwise plain fillet beef flavour;
- Schwarma seafood - sauteed prawns & calamari in garlic lemon served in pita bread with greens, tomato, cucumber & onions and a light garlic yoghurt dressing;
- salad of egg, avocado, lettuce, corn, greens.

The pizza and gelatos also looked like nice options.

Local lunch, Tanzania 08-2013

During the safari, every lunch was planned to either be at our tented camp or a (less exciting) packed lunch for the road. One day I asked the driver Freddie if there was anywhere to have local food for lunch. He was quite happy to arrange a nice "local lunch" which was cheap and included a walking tour of the village. This took place just after a morning tour at Lake Manyara National Park.

It was an incredibly cheap lunch with a large amount of food for us 2 guests, Freddie and our tour guide and also the mama cook herself. Everything was cooked over wood fire in large pots and the variety was large. It included lots of vegetables, some fish and an excellent pulao rice dish.

This was probably my favourite meal in the entire safari.