We have traveled with Thomson Safaris for five extraordinary safaris, including the extension to the Mahale Mountains, and I believe our 2013  trip  was one of the best safaris yet!

The Thomson tented camps (especially in the East Serengeti) and Gibbs Farm are our very favorite places to stay. Freddy was a fabulous guide, again, and we had an amazing extension on the gorilla trek in Rwanda.

That was an experience of a lifetime.

Dorothy Linn
Private Safari & Rwanda Gorilla Trek

Click to view photos from Dorothy’s safari:

This past December, Dorothy decorated her Christmas Tree with a collection of Tanzanian masks and Maasai beadwork.

OK, you guys have totally spoiled me! Safari in 2009, Kilimanjaro in 2011 – you are now my gold standard for adventure travel. I just got back from 3 weeks in Patagonia (Argentina & Chile), it just wasn’t the same (camps, food, client service). I had to stop comparing this adventure to my previous trips with Thomson or drive myself crazy.

Thanks for doing things right!

Jane S.
Safari and Kilimanjaro Guest

I want to share a few comments about the wonderful adventures my wife and I have experienced on multiple Africa Through the Lens safaris led by Randy and Kathy Hanna. Finding the right words to capture the essence of an experience of this nature is nearly impossible, but without a doubt these photo safaris were life-altering events for us in a very positive manner. We approached these safaris with very high expectations, yet Randy and Kathy, along with the wonderful support staff from Thomson Safaris, managed to exceed those expectations in every way.

As amateur photographers, having immediate access to an experienced professional photographer, while in the middle of some of the best photographic opportunities in the world, was invaluable. Randy freely shared his expertise, doing so in a manner that benefited everyone to include the novice photographer. In the end, Randy ensured everyone (photographers and non-photographers alike) walked away with a wonderful experience and “once in a lifetime” photos.

While photography was a big part of these safaris, the experience involved so much more.  The opportunity to meet the people of Tanzania, see the landscape, and get the “red dust of Africa” on our boots, changed us forever.

I have been on three Africa Through the Lens safaris with Randy and have a fourth scheduled, so I guess you can say I’ve been bitten by the “African Bug”.  Anyone looking for a life-altering experience with an emphasis on photography cannot go wrong with a Thomson Safari Africa Through the Lens adventure led by Randy and Kathy Hanna.

Steve & Lori K.
Africa Through the Lens Safari

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Steve and Lori are planning their 4th Africa Through the Lens Safari with Randy Hanna.
Read Steve’s blog entry about their visit to a Tanzanian village on their most recent safari.

I’ve been to over 55 countries and on all 7 continents – no one else does it better than Thomson! The fact that I brought my entire family along is the highest compliment I could give.

The trip was a huge success, far exceeding my entire family’s fondest expectations. I have no doubt we will return to Tanzania with Thomson Safaris.

Dick B.
Short Family Safari, February 2012

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This was Dick’s 4th trip with Thomson.
He trekked Kilimanjaro with us in 2003 and has been on 3 safaris with us since 1999.

The trip was the best yet.  Arnold is the supreme guide and he has been our favorite for the past 10 years. Andrew is now scheduling our trip for next February including the extension to Rwanda for the gorilla trek.

Dorothy L.
Private Thomson Safari, January 2012

This was Dorothy’s 4th safari with Thomson Safaris.
We look forward to seeing her again next year!

A head guide must possess at least three important skills or elements of personality, not necessarily in any order of importance:  He must have management skills. There are things that can arise that are out of his control to prevent, like nails in the road to flatten tires, etc.  How he manages such events is what sets him apart. Leonard never lets problems land on his guests.  He works hard and long if that’s what it takes to ensure that the impact falls on him, not us.  He does it with incredibly good humor.  The number of skills he possesses just amazes me.

He must also possess knowledge about the plants, animals and the terrain so that his guests can learn, not just observe.  No need to tell you that Leonard is well endowed in that department.

The last but not least is that good humor I referred to above.  Leonard is so much fun and has so much warmth and personality that I cannot imagine going with anyone else.  We all love Leonard and Justo.  We laughed every step of the way.

The private nature refuge is so different now than when we first visited.  It’s like it’s all grown up now, a permanent camp.  It is an undeniably beautiful place.  It gripped the imagination of our companions as it did ours again.

We remembered so many people & some of them remembered us as well.  At every camp, people were kind and generous with us.

Helen P.
Private Thomson Safari, February 2011

This is Helen’s second safari with Thomson. Her first trip with Thomson Safaris was in 2009.