I am very thankful that all the arrangements for my three different journeys in Tanzania worked out without a hitch!

On Kilimanjaro: I miss the team of porters, their cheerfulness, friendliness, and hard work. They always cheered me when I arrived at each camp, about half an hour or so after everyone, calling out “Jambo Bi Bi” (Bi Bi means grandma, an endearing term).

On Safari: All of the Nyumbas were luxurious and had bright lights. Gibbs Farm was totally unexpected – felt so relaxed in luxury after the Kilimanjaro trek and Tarangire drives. The Eastern Serengeti Nature Reserve was a most appropriate place to end the safari. So peaceful.

Zanzibar was a most appropriate place to end the safari. A therapeutic visit.

Thomson Safaris has done a great job.

Beatrice P.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Trek, Signature Safari & Journey to Zanzibar, March 2013

View photos from Beatrice’s trip here:

Beatrice with her Kilimanjaro guide

View from Barafu Camp, Kilimanjaro

Lions in Serengeti National Park

Ralaxing by the camp fire at a Thomson Safaris Nyumba Camp

Leopard in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti Balloon Safari

Sunset in Stonetown, Zanzibar

View of the Indian Ocean from Zanzibar

Stonetown Market, Zanzibar

We had an excellent time! William, our head guide, was amazing!! The porters were extremely helpful. Every time you turned around they were there to help you with the pack, tent or warm water.

I felt safe and cared for. Thank you for the great adventure!  I will recommend Thomson to anyone due to the team’s professionalism, customer service and concern for our safety.

Corie & Donald S.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Trek, February 2013

I wanted to write and tell you what an awesome trip I had! I didn’t want to come home. I enjoyed the safari but the trek was my favorite part. All of my guides (Bernard, James, David and Alphayo) were great!

The first camp we all did yoga even the porters, Adam and Innocent (our waiters) joined in. They were so much fun to be around. Bernard was always around to have a good conversation with while we were hiking. I was confident of his experience and trusted his expertise. Whenever anyone was tired, all they had to do was look for Alphayo and he would immediately cheer them up with his infectious smile and a good fact about the mountain or wildlife. I could really tell that he likes his job!

James was by my side and looked after me like I was his sister. Abu (my porter) was on my other side the whole time. I didn’t feel unsafe at any time. I would do another trek in a heartbeat if I could find someone crazy enough to go back with me! I had so much fun with all the Thomson staff and will recommend the Umbwe route to anyone who wants to do a trek, the privacy we had on the first day and a half were great!

Jennifer R.
Kilimanjaro Umbwe Trek & Safari Extension, January 2013

We had a fantastic experience and were continually grateful to have the Thomson Safari guides and porters leading the way. Wilfred was professional, attentive, knowledgeable and trustworthy, a calming presence to have managing all of the details. We were especially impressed by Liberate whose intuitive and sensitive nature was noticed by many on our trip. He was wise and thoughtful and a great support system for our group. Calvin was also a stellar resource and leader. He was always good for a joke – he has the best smile and laugh I think I’ve ever seen – but, also knew when to keep it serious.

The accommodations and food were also great. Our porters made us comfortable and always aimed to please. The staff did a good job ensuring my gluten-free diet was safe.  Thank you again for all of your support throughout this process. We were so happy to have Thomson as our outlet … our memories made in Tanzania will last a lifetime!

Lindsey G.,
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Trek, March 2013

Click to enlarge photos from Lindsey’s trek

Matt and Sean at the summit of Kilimanjaro

Matt and Sean with Thomson Kilimanjaro staff

Above the clouds on Kilimanjaro

Matt F.
Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route, September 2012

One of the greatest experiences of my life. From the physical preparation to execution, it was a tremendous personal commitment and accomplishment. I believe in my heart and mind that Thomson was a very big part of my success. We had a wonderful experience made all the better by the many wonderful Thomson Safari people that guided, supported, transported and advised us on Kilimanjaro and on our safari. I am a raving fan of Thomson!

Ben C.
Kilimanjaro, Grand Traverse Route, October 2012

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Click to enlarge photos from Ben’s trek

Where to start? The trip was absolutely AMAZING! With the real highlight being the Kilimanjaro trek. I can’t say enough about the experience…and the experience was all about the staff.

Our guides, waiters, cooks, porters, camp manager, really everyone that we were in contact with were just perfect. Super smiling, friendly, singing, dancing, joyful-essentially these guys made the trip. I think Sunday must be the best guide on the mountain! Calvin and James, his assistant guides, are wonderful people.  In addition to Sunday, Godfrey – who was our waiter – became a true and heartfelt friend.

I can’t say enough about the safari portion of the trip as well. Our guide, Kileo, was AMAZING!  He found us the big 5!!!!  I could just move completely into Gibbs Farm, none of us wanted to leave!!!  I hope I’m lucky enough to spend some more time at Gibbs Farm in my lifetime.  At the Serengeti Nyumbas we were fed well and treated even better by Sufi and his colleagues.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend Thomson Safaris to anybody. The experience was more than I could have imagined from both the cultural and spiritual perspectives. Thanks for making this a trip of a lifetime, I am forever changed. To be honest, just thinking of the trip brings tears of joy to my eyes.

Sophia M.
Kilimanjaro Grand Traverse Route & Safari, September 2012

Umbwe was a beautiful route, it was peacefully private; I didn’t see any other groups climbing this route. It was a great choice for me, it gave me a chance to get away and reconnect with myself.  Though there were a few steep parts, the technical aspects were never a concern.

I always felt as though I was being taken care of better than any other group on the mountain. The Thomson guides were amazing and the equipment was superb. It made me proud to trek with a team and a crew wearing warm uniforms provided for them by Thomson.

Michael B.
Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route & Safari, July 2012

We had a great experience with Thomson! We can’t say enough about how professional the porters were, how organized, how caring, what great cooks they were, and how willing they were to share local information about their culture, food and cooking.

As a dietitian, I was particularly interested in the food. They allowed me to go into the cooking tent one night and watch them prepare dinner. As I work in a kitchen every day, this was particularly special for me.

Brent and I felt the affects of the mountain pretty early in the trip, so our guides, Prosper, James and Calvin were always checking on us. We eventually made it to the summit, and Brent proposed there! Thanks to Prosper and James who took the extra time with us to make sure we got to the top!

Brent and I were married on March 10th! Kili & Thomson will always have a special place in our hearts.

Casside & Brent R.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, January 2012

Our group summited Kilimanjaro at 1PM on a Sunday after 10 days of trekking Thomson’s Grand Traverse route. What a fabulous adventure! Thomson was, by far, the most professional outfit on the mountain. Our guides were experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable. Our porters were strong, fast, and friendly. My fellow travelers encouraged each another the entire way.

All in all, it was the perfect mix of adventure, challenge, and relaxation on the most beautiful place on earth. What more can I say? Thank you, Thomson, for a life-changing adventure!

Leslie B.
Kilimanjaro Grand Traverse Route, January 2012

This was a fantastic trip with a fantastic staff. Please congratulate and commend your guides, porters, and cooks for doing such a great job. We couldn’t have done it without them! Godlove and his crew should be highly commended.

Also comparing our guides to those we saw with other groups… there is no comparison! Ours were the best!  It truly was a wonderful experience for us.

Erin S.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, September 2011

It was a totally amazing experience!  Thanks for the help in coordinating and providing us with all the trip details and guidance. We feel so fortunate to have had this experience and know that we got our money’s worth by choosing Thomson.

Talking with the staff and learning a little Swahili was a real trip highlight.  I was blown away by the kindness and diligence exhibited by each of the guides, waiters, and porters on our journey to the top of the mountain.  Besides a safe summit, it was obvious during the hike that customer service is Thomson’s number one goal.

At first we were all surprised by the amount of support crew (38) traveling for just our group of eight climbers.  Then, after seeing just how much went into setting up camp and getting us to each site, it was obvious that this was an immensely coordinated production.  With that much support and comfort there was no question that we were getting to the top!

It was a real surprise to see so much wildlife at Ndarakwai Camp [before the trek].  What they’ve done and are currently doing there is awesome. We were especially impressed with our walking guide who wouldn’t give up until we had seen some elephants up close.

We had such an amazing vacation and feel so satisfied to have made it to the top!  Thanks so much again for your help and for the great experience that Tanzania and Thomson provided!

Dave & Amy M.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, July 2011

It really was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so glad I did it and even happier I did it with Thomson.  Our guides, porters and the whole Thomson staff made this trip amazing!

There was not one moment where I felt nervous, unsafe or unsure that our whole group would make it to the top.  I really do attribute our successful summit to the amazing guides we had.  They were so attentive to us and were constantly motivating us on our hike.  The guides, porters, cooks and waiters were always so upbeat and friendly that even when some of us felt extremely sick and tired we stayed in good spirits throughout the trip.

Thank you so much for helping us with planning this trip and for answering my unending list of questions.  This was the best trip I have ever taken and I have to thank the whole Thomson staff for that.  I plan on going one of your safaris in the future and have already recommended Thomson to family and friends who want to hike Kilimanjaro.

Kara T.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, July 2011

It was such a life changing journey that it’s hard to articulate the impact it has had, and will have, on my life. I know I speak for our entire group when I say that Thomson exceeded our expectations in every way. From start to finish, the entire journey was outstanding. The most memorable part of the journey was our guides and porters.  They were so giving of their time, energy, knowledge and took care of us every step of the way. They got us to the top!

I love Tanzania and the philosophy behind Thomson so much I wish I could go back and be a part of the Thomson team.

Amanda L.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari, July 2011

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The gear, single tent, and food were so beyond what I imagined. I realize that I was extremely fortunate to have climbed Kili with Thomson Safaris and that this is not the typical experience on the mountain.

I am also so thankful for the opportunity to have witnessed the work that everyone does on the mountain. I now can better understand the extent of the hard work that the mountain crew performs. I have nothing but high praises for the quality of work and care that was provided for me. Nashukuru sana (I am very grateful)!

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Karen Valenti, Program Manager
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project – Moshi, Tanzania

Karen monitors activities with the Partner for Responsible Travel Program. She is also Acting Director of IMEC in Moshi, Tanzania.

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Everyone on the trek, safari and on transfers were outstanding.  They surpassed my expectations on friendliness and devotion.  Since I was a single woman traveling alone it was important for me to feel safe.  I always did!  I always felt protected.  My safety was a priority for all guides and my porters!  No one from Thomson Safaris was average – everyone went beyond what I expected.

Bea P.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari, Feb 2011


Thomson Safari guides and porters deserve credit for getting us up and down the mountain. CSDW gave porters plenty of PUR for their families. – Dr. Greg Allgood (via Twitter)

Humanitarian, Dr. Greg Allgood, traveled with Thomson Safaris on MTV’s Summit on the Summit Kilimanjaro trek. Dr. Allgood travels around the world distributing PUR packets, which turns dirty water into clean, drinkable water, helping to prevent illness and save lives every day. Thus far, he and his partners have delivered more than three billion liters of clean drinking water for children and their families in more than 60 developing nations.

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Watch footage from MTV’s Summit on the Summit trek below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

See more photos and read about the trek from the perspective of the celebrity climbers on the Summit on the Summit blog.

To all at Thomson Safaris,

I realized I never personally wrote to thank you for the amazing experience I had during our trip to Tanzania last winter. Not only did we accomplish our goal of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with the entire team including our two challenged athletes, Erica Davis and Tara Butcher, but we were looked after like kings and queens by Thomson Safaris staff. Every part of our trip was so well-planned that we hardly noticed we were traveling with two wheelchairs and about twice as much luggage as everyone else!

Special acclaim must go to our porters and guides for our trek up the mountain. Their unflagging energy, enthusiasm and support for what I am sure looked to them like a very strange endeavor was amazing. Without them we would not have made it to the top and back down again in one piece. I know that Derek Gates as thanked you, but I felt another thank you would not be out of place.

Once again, thank you for your support of the Through the Roof trip and documentary. I hope that I will be able to return to Africa with Thomson Safaris – probably without the wheelchairs and film crews – in the future for another amazing experience!

Yours sincerely,
Penthea Crozier, CEO, C.H.E.K Institute

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Purchase the Through the Roof DVD, a movie documenting the trek of the first female paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro!

Read the daily dispatches from the mountain on the Through the Roof blog.

We just can’t say enough good things about Thomson’s support and organizational skills on the trek.  Our guides, Sunday, Prosper, Simon and Calvin, were the main reason for our success but the porters and cook/waiters who made sure we had the food/energy etc. to get through each day were of critical importance.

Many, many other trekkers around us did not reach the top and I attribute the difference to Thomson’s staff.  We liked the service from office to field.  It was timely, open & honest.

After the trek, I saw a book in the gift shop called something like Hiking Kilimanjaro at 70.  Of course, I was 67 during the trek and turned 68 a few days later, but I said I didn’t need to buy that book.  All you have to do to reach the Uhuru Peak is go with Thomson!

Allan & Dorothy R.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, January 2011

I recently returned from my climb of Mt Kilimanjaro with Thomson Safaris and it was AWESOME. It was just what I wanted: an adventure of a lifetime. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole crew of Thomson for a wonderful experience.

The entire staff was wonderful, the following three men stand out in my mind as exceptional:
One of the associate guides, Polite, was particularly wonderful. He was diligent regarding our welfare, tactful and always helpful. He had humor, skill and strength. While these are all qualities possessed by all the associate guides I met he, nevertheless, stood out from the others.

My porter, Godfrey, was warm, friendly and very helpful. When I was slow returning to camp he came out and carried my back pack for me. Everything was always set up for me just as I wanted it.

Finally our medical porter, Aaron, (carried oxygen and medical supplies) simply rose above his duties taking on the chores and helpfulness of an associate guide when appropriate. He was awesome.

Thanks to all who made my experience so wonderful!!!

Wayne T.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, February 2011

The entire trip was one big highlight film; it was an amazing adventure that I will never forget.

I felt we were in good hands from a health perspective. Every night our guides would check our oxygen level and heart rate, and were always making sure we were feeling OK. It was reassuring to know they were concerned about our health and not afraid to turn us back if necessary. I saw some people from other groups being carried down the mountain in very rough shape, I can only guess it was from altitude sickness and ascending too fast – something our guides would not allow to happen.

The porters should also be recognized for their tremendous effort. They all worked very hard to make sure we were comfortable, and they always had smiles on their faces. I feel like I made a lot of new friends on this trip. I also could tell that Thomson took care of them; from what I could see they were better equipped than porters from other organizations. I was glad I chose Thomson when I saw that.

I have to tell you the spaghetti at 15,000 feet was the best spaghetti I ever had in my life. I think I ate three plates. Seriously, the food was fantastic throughout the entire trek.

Overall it was a tremendous experience and I’m glad I chose Thomson Safaris. The trip was well-organized and  the Tanzanian guides and porters and cooks and waiters were all fantastic!

Dave B.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, January 2011

We all agreed that we paid for first-class service and we received first-class service.  I would go with Thomson Safaris again to anywhere.  Your crew did an outstanding job. We could just marvel how they managed to keep up their happy spirits despite the heavy work.  Also the food and service was amazing under such harsh conditions.

It was reassuring to see that safety was always at the forefront.  Also Thomson’s concern about the welfare of the porters made a big difference in choosing this company.

Our tents, camp, food and staff appeared to be far superior to the other mountain trekkers’ which we encountered on the way.  Our guides were the best.  We always felt well-informed about the upcoming day and when needed they were willing to give up their own comfort just to make sure we are all well taken care of.  This is beyond the call of duty.

Helga A.
Western Approach Route, February 2010

Read more about Helga’s record-setting trek on our blog

Find out why Helga set her sights on conquering Mount Kilimanjaro and details about the trek in her article, Kilimanjaro Adventure – Why Climb the Mountain?

It was a trip of a lifetime, and I can’t tell you how frequently my mind goes back to those days on the mountain. The people we were with, our guides, our porters, and all the work done behind the scenes made this the best vacation I’ve ever been on.  Additionally, I went with my step-father, and the bond I built with him during the hike is priceless.  The same goes for the other six climbers with us… all of us are still in touch, sharing photos, laughing over memories, etc.

The best parts of the trip: Our guides, Kapange and Earnest, were AMAZING. Earnest’s positive spirit was too dear, and I felt that he was always looking over us.  Kapange was an outstanding head guide, and I felt totally safe and happy with him at the head.  My porter, Nico, is the reason I made it to the top.

The lodging was AMAZING, especially Gibbs Farm and the Arusha Coffee Lodge.  I wish I could go back to either spot right now!  They were totally appreciated after days on the mountain.

I would recommend Thomson to anyone, and I’m proud to be associated with the group.

Kelly L.
Grand Traverse Route & Safari, September 2010

I was extremely impressed with our guides and porters.  They were very happy to tell us how long they had worked for Thomson, and it was clear they enjoyed their jobs.  I’ll forever pair Thomson and Tanzania.

Bernard, Edward, Godlove, and Godlisten took their roles seriously and led us with humble confidence.  I had no reservations placing my life in their competent hands.  They clearly had each other’s respect as well as the mutual respect of the porters.  I enjoyed learning about them and the mountain, and I have no doubt their sense of humor and kindness contributed significantly to the enjoyment of the adventure.

I can’t say enough about Thomson.  Thank you for arranging such an amazing vacation for us.

Charlie B.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, September 2009