In July Asilia started the introduction of night vision equipment to enhance the night game drives. Initially this has been tested with great success at Oliver’s Camp, Tarangire and later this year it will be introduced to Naboisho Camp in Kenya.

Oliver’s Camp is running the initiative for a trial period, where there will be one monocular and a set of goggle styled night vision with headgear for hands-free use in the vehicle (see picture). Ultimately the goal is to have night vision units available to all guests. The night vision units are Generation 2x, which is the best night vision available commercially, and provides exceptional night time game viewing from a completely new perspective.

Oliver’s Camp is testing the units along with a conventional spot light with red filter, and thus enhances the traditional night time game drive experience. This is proving to be a very effective way to best view nocturnal animals without disturbing them. The use of spot light and night vision is unique to Oliver’s Camp and provides a unique selling point over their competitors in this regard.

Oliver`s Camp has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence, which honors top-rated lodging businesses, restaurants and attractions, as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site.

To qualify, these businesses must maintain an average rating of four or higher out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include volume of reviews and how recently they have been submitted by TripAdvisor travelers. The accolade is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.

“The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence program gives exceptional businesses in a variety of different industries around the world the recognition they deserve,” said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business. “From top-rated restaurants in Boston to top-rated attractions in Barcelona, we want to applaud these businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience.”

It's true, Tanzania is a place of great marvels – Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar… But that's not all. It also has great herds of elephants in Ruaha, tree-climbing lions around Lake Manyara, chimpanzee sanctuaries in Gombe and Mahale and packs of wild dogs in Selous. There are also sunsets on the Rufiji River, when the water boils with hippos and crocodiles.
In fact, the country has the whole panoply of east Africa's wildlife – including such rarities as the red colobus monkey, black rhino, hawksbill and leatherback turtles and Pemba flying foxes – concentrated in an unrivalled collection of parks and reserves.
So you think you've seen it all? We're betting Tanzania still has a surprise or two for you.

It has been a week with some light rains here and there. Not much on the wildlife activities side but within the camp we managed to see herds of Elephants passing through, Zebras and Waterbucks below the fire place. There were two Honey Badgers fighting behind the office which was really interesting. Birdlife around the camp has also been very good.

It has been a quiet week at Oliver`s and we have been blesssed with rains – or better light showers, but it managed to settle the dust within the park and encouraged the new shoots on the burnt areas of Silale swamps to grow.

Wildlife is still good, herds of Zebras and Buffaloes are still being seen on the unburned area of Silale. Elephants are starting to move to the northern part of the park because of the rains. We managed to see 2 Leopards along the boundary hill road. Two Lionesses killed a Zebra, seen on a night drive near the Silale Picnic Area. More Ostrich being seen with chicks near the old Oliver`s Camp. Lots of Lesser Kudus and Eland were near the camp.

Birdlife has been very good with lots of Pericans and Marabou Storks flocking to the swamp. The water has started to evaporate which means that the cat fish get trapped in the mud, making it easier for the birds to catch them.

Asilia Lodges, Oliver's Camp has successfully completed the Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification level.

'Thank you for supporting sustainable tourism development and congratulations once again on your achievement! We look forward to supporting your continued success'

- Robert Chappell, Director of Eco-certification and Standards Development