SAFARI + ZANZIBAR ESCAPE
By Haylea & Ryan (United States)
How We Made It Happen
When Ryan and I first spoke with Shrike, we wanted a journey that felt alive in every sense — one that balanced adventure and intimacy, raw wilderness and quiet escape.
We dreamed of:
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Northern Tanzania’s wild drama: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and beyond.
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Experiences we couldn’t have imagined — not just sights, but stories.
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A celebration to remember: Ryan’s birthday, deep in the bush.
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A finale on Zanzibar — not rushed, but a true exhale.
Meeting Mark, the founder of Shrike Safaris in Arusha.
And Dickson, our private guide, immediately gave us confidence that this would be an extraordinary journey.
The Safari: Wild Days, Quiet Nights
The Serengeti revealed its untamed theater — lions passing without fear, wildebeest leaping for survival, life and wilderness inseparable.
Our journey began in Northern Tanzania with Dickson, our guide — part naturalist, part storyteller, part magician.
In the Central Serengeti, lions walked past our vehicle as if we weren’t there.
In the Northern Serengeti, we watched wildebeest hesitate, then surge across the Mara River — life and death in motion.
In Ngorongoro, the crater opened like a living amphitheater — rhinos in the mist, flamingos painting the lake pink.
And then came the hikes:
Stepping onto the sacred slopes of Ol’Doinyo Lengai.
Walking down to the Empakai Crater rim, where silence carried its own voice.
A Birthday in the Bush
A quiet day became unforgettable — lanterns glowing, laughter with lions nearby, and a birthday marked by stars and firelight.
Ryan’s birthday fell mid-journey.
We thought it would pass quietly.
Instead, Shrike turned it into something unforgettable.
A private bush party beneath acacias.
Lanterns glowing, a table set in the wild, our chef presenting a birthday cake under a sky blazing with stars.
Friends in the wilderness — lions in the distance, laughter close by.
A moment impossible to plan, yet perfectly arranged.
The Safari: Wild Days, Quiet Nights
In Arusha, we met Mark — the quiet soul of Shrike, whose vision and humility shaped a legacy of care and excellence.
In Arusha, we met Mark, the founder of Shrike Safaris.
For us, it felt like meeting the spirit behind the journey.
His humility, his vision, his stories of Shrike’s beginnings — they deepened the connection we already felt.
This wasn’t just travel.
It was joining a legacy of care, craft, and quiet excellence.
Zanzibar: Where the Story Softens
From savannah dust to ocean air — barefoot days, spice-scented nights, and the balance of wilderness and rest.
After the dust of the savannah, Zanzibar welcomed us with salt air and turquoise tides.
Days slowed into barefoot walks along endless beaches, spice-scented markets, and evenings where time itself seemed to rest.
The wild had tested us.
The island restored us.
Together, it felt whole.
From the Serengeti to Zanzibar, every moment felt personal, effortless, and unforgettable — a journey crafted just for us...
— Haylea Nisbet
UNITED STATES
Moments Curated:
Expert Guidance
Dickson’s knowledge, intuition, and attentiveness allowed us to be fully present, whether hiking, observing wildlife, or celebrating milestones.
Bespoke Experiences
Every activity — from walking Empakai Crater to Ryan’s birthday in the bush — was seamlessly woven into our adventure, so the journey felt effortless and intimate.
Moments That Endure
Every sunset, every quiet river crossing, every celebratory toast in the wild became part of a tapestry of memories — private, unforgettable, and unmistakably ours.
Why This Journey Mattered
A journey like this is measured not only in miles, but in layers of experience:
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Adventure intertwined with reflection — from volcanic peaks to serene craters.
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Celebration woven into nature — a birthday under the African sky.
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Connection at every level — guides, founder, landscapes, and wildlife all felt present yet unobtrusive.
It is the feeling that the land, the moments, and the people you meet along the way have been arranged for your eyes and heart alone.
A Note to You
What we discovered is that Tanzania doesn’t reveal itself through itineraries.
It reveals itself through moments.
And Shrike knows how to craft them.