Judy & Grandson Summit Kilimanjaro: Thomson Treks Review

My grandson, Jacob, and I had a wonderful experience and I am sure its something we will always remember.

Your Kilimanjaro staff was just great and looked after us at all times, the porters & guides made the trek a success. Our safari was just as wonderful, Jacob especially enjoyed the balloon safari.

Our holiday just wasn’t long enough. We hope to come back someday. Thanks again for all your help while we were preparing for our journey.

Judy G.
Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari, February 2012

Posted at 4:56 am in Family Treks,Guests' Blogs & Photos,KiliBuzz,SafariBuzz,The Buzz,The Buzz: Kilimanjaro,The Buzz: Safari | Permalink | Post a comment

March 23, 2012

I would go back to Tanzania with Thomson Safaris in a second! Review: Michal S.

Michael and I found our trip to be transformative, illuminating. For the first couple of weeks home, our nights were filled with dreams of Tanzania. I would go back—with Thomson Safaris—in a second.

John, Hashim, and Abu are amazing: Great naturalists who can explain about everything from elephants to baobab trees while tip-toeing a jeep down an impossible road. Please tell them Asante sana!!

I did not expect to be as affected by people and their lives as I was. The schoolkids were great. We were impressed by the level of the 5th-grade math books we saw, and happy to learn that Thomson helps support them. Even the food was good…the last thing I thought about in anticipating our trip. Tasty and healthy!

Thomson really does put a lot of time and effort into anticipating all the details of each trip to produce the best visitor experience possible.

Michal S.
Highlights of Tanzania Safari, October 2011

See Michal’s photo diary of her safari!

Posted at 7:59 am in Culture,Food,Guests' Blogs & Photos,Guides,SafariBuzz,Sustainability,Tanzania,The Buzz,The Buzz: Safari | Permalink | Post a comment

May 12, 2011

A Day on Safari with Thomson: Bruce and Elodia

We see a lot that day. There are giraffes so close to the road that if they choose to bend their long necks in our direction, we would almost be able to touch their heads. We see enormous herds of wildebeest, mixed with zebra, impala, and gazelle – especially the variety known as Thomson’s gazelle.

…but the day has something else in store for us. As we pass by some zebras walking through the high yellow grass, Harrison stops the Land Rover. They are three adults and one foal. We wonder why he has stopped. We have seen plenty of zebra and they were a lot closer to us than these four.

While peering through his binoculars, Harrison utters the word, “lion.” We look, but we see no lion. We tell him so. “Yes,” he says. “He is lying in the grass.” We continue to scan the high grass. “Where?” we ask. “Straight ahead.” he says. “You can see the tips of his ears.”

And yes. There is the slightest bit of movement, as the lion’s head begins to rise out of the grass, with his eyes trained on the zebras, which are now walking in single file, with the foal at the end. The lion is between us and them. We watch as the line comes to a halt.

The above is an excerpt from Bruce C.’s blog.
Bruce and his wife, Elodia, traveled with Thomson Safaris in October 2010 on a Signature Thomson Safari.
Read the full story of this day on safari with Thomson.

Posted at 8:05 am in Guests' Blogs & Photos,Guides,Land Rovers,SafariBuzz,The Buzz: Safari,Wildlife | Permalink | Post a comment

March 10, 2011

Camping with Thomson Safaris Review: Cor and Julie

Thomson Safaris is one of only a few outfits that are allowed to have facilities right in the middle of the action. They have a tented camp right in the Serengeti, no fences, no barriers, just you and the animals sharing the same space. During the day we would often see animals in the vicinity of the camp, from zebras to giraffes, from warthogs to gazelles. At night, it was not unheard of for these animals to actually venture into the camp. Right outside the tent you would hear warthogs dig around, and if you’d shine your light into the edges of the camp, shiny eyes greeted you. And while you’re trying to sleep, zebras would call for alarm, while hyenas grew more and more excited. It is a feeling that’s difficult to describe.

The tents are also quite luxurious as far as camping goes. They have large beds with mattresses, a vanity area with sinks and mirrors, a bathroom and a shower. Hot water is provided on request, usually right before taking a shower. It’s not a fancy lodge, but it’s very comfortable and the experience is worth it. Being right where the animals are beats anything else there is.

…everyone agreed the Thomson tent camps are actually nicer [than the permanent lodge]. Even the food was nicer at the tent camps. I don’t know how the cooks in the tents do it, but it’s amazing that they could out-cook the permanent accommodations of a lodge.

As one of our guides told us, you can not visit Africa only once, and truer words were never spoken. Africa is in our hearts now, and we’ll certainly be back.

Cor & Julie
Africa through the Lens, February 2011

Visit Cor and Julie photo gallery and blog

Posted at 10:42 am in Food,Guests' Blogs & Photos,Nyumba Camping,SafariBuzz,Tanzania,The Buzz: Safari | Permalink | Post a comment

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