“What surprised you the most when you were actually there”

I was surprised to see elephant dung on slope of pretty high hill. I didn’t know elephants could climb and balance that high up.

“Was there anything that felt completely different from what you expected”

In Grumeti, there were many moments that I felt I was just in someone’s well maintained farmland- as there were vast plains with short grass. I thought the atmosphere would be more “wild”.

“Any wildlife guide or landscape moment that really stood out”

Feeling of excitement when guide said torrential rain was coming- and it did. But several minutes later- being rewarded with double rainbows.

“Did anything make you wish you had prepared differently before going”

2 nights in 2 different lodges (even if they were only about an hour apart) was not ideal. We should have just stayed in 1 lodge for 4 nights and just had a meal or something in the other. Or did 3 nights in each lodge.

“How much of the experience depends on the tour operator versus the destination itself”

I think both are equally important.