We trekked through thick fog, a snowstorm and white out conditions to reach the summit in the late afternoon. Before us was Crater Camp, 1000 feet below. We could almost touch the clouds as they parted to reveal the descent before us and Kili’s full majesty. Even now, when I close my eyes, I still see her beauty.
Helen Irving, Kilimanjaro Grand Traverse Route (Thomson's Grand Traverse was recently recommended by Travel + Leisure)

This photo was taken on the road from Arusha through Moshi and then to Marangu, in January of this year. After being shrouded in clouds all day, the "shy mountain" [Kilimanjaro], as a Tanzanian man described it, finally emerged as we returned to Arusha from Marangu. The spectacular day was filled with brilliant blue skies and towering white clouds.
Helen Parrish, Private Thomson Safari, January 2013

Our 15-year old son, Nicholas took this shot; I was too enthralled watching these sibling elephants play with each other to pick up the camera. The smaller elephant was a rascal and kept nudging and taunting the older one with her trunk. They were clearly having fun and we were very entertained. It was one of the standout moments of our safari and a highlight in Tarangire National Park.
Allyson South, Signature Thomson Safari, December 2012

Before I left for my safari, I kept saying how great it would be to get a photo of a leopard - I never expected to get one like this. It is one of the most beautiful animals I have ever seen.
Danny Nestor, Signature Thomson Safari, March 2012 / www.DANNESTORIMAGES.com

Sunrise view of trekkers at Stella Point, photo taken from Crater Camp.
Dennis Newton, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, February 2013

This was a very opportunistic Vervet monkey! I took this photo just after it stole, and devoured, a banana from tourists in Ngorongoro. A French couple had just laid a blanket out on the trunk of their car with some food for a picnic; when they weren’t looking, the monkey ran up and helped himself.
Tom Dunlap, Private Thomson Safari, August 2012

These alert impala do everything together. It seems when you get their attention, they all stare at you at the same time, and when they are sure there's no danger, they all go back to grazing at the same time. I just love their gentle, soft expressions and their beautiful markings.
Fain Zimmerman, Private Thomson Safari, January 2013

Baobab tree at twilight at Thomson Tarangire Nyumba.
Chris Kezer, Private Thomson Safari

After arriving at Shira 2 camp, the clouds cleared briefly. As I was taking in the beauty of both the sunset and the views of Mt. Meru, I asked a fellow climber to take this photograph. It captured the breathtaking moment perfectly.
Michelle Rademacher, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, February 2013

While we were in the southern Serengeti, our guides found a mother cheetah teaching her four young cubs to hunt. After we watched mom catch a baby impala, we saw her four cubs corner a baby wildebeest. The cubs captured, killed, and fed off their kill as proud mom watched nearby.
Jim Austin, Signature Thomson Safari, February 2013

This photo was taken in the southern Serengeti. We found the mama and babies resting in the shade in the afternoon. As soon as we pulled up to watch, the mama walked off a short distance to look for lunch and the babies stayed behind next to the vehicles and watched. We stayed there for quite a while watching these siblings play.
Mary McKay, Private Thomson Safari, January 2013

This group of Great white pelicans caught my eye early one morning because the soft light highlighted their subtle pink colors in their plumage. The water was fairly still, giving a nice rippled reflection. This lake was close to our lovely Serengeti Nyumba.
Fain Zimmerman, Private Thomson Safari, January 2013

My niece took this photo of a lovely Maasai woman when we visited a boma in the Eastern Serengeti. Her beautiful face radiates the warmth and generosity with which we were received by the Maasai at their boma. Reflecting upon our adventure in Tanzania, our children have announced that their visit to the Maasai boma was their favorite part, beating out the gazelle-chasing cheetah and the belly-scratching zebra!
Luisa Frankenburg, Private Family Safari, December 2012

All of the nature shows I ever seen claim that lions don’t climb trees, so when we came upon this pride up in the branches, I just stared in amazement. Although, I admit - I found myself staring in amazement often during my safari in Tanzania!
Danny Nestor, Signature Thomson Safari, March 2012 / www.DANNESTORIMAGES.com

As a reward for successfully climbing Kili, I gave myself the four-day safari extension, part of which was spent in Ngorongoro Crater socializing with its inhabitants - two of whom seemed as curious about me as I was about them. Sharing a moment in the wild with the wildlife...priceless.
Wayne Murray, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari, October 2012

The nyumbas were our enchanting homes away from home and nothing evoked that feeling more than our nightly gatherings around the fire beneath the mighty Baobab tree at the Thomson camp in Tarangire National Park.
Ginny Van Dyke, Signature Thomson Safari, October 2012

This was Day 4 of 9 at Kilimanjaro's Lava Tower Camp. My dad and I were pumping ourselves up to conquer Kilimanjaro on Day 7!
Lauren & Frank Boitano, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, January 2013

This elephant herd was just one of many spectacular views from our hot-air balloon ride over the Serengeti. We had decided to take the balloon excursion at the last minute and were so glad we did not miss it. It was great chance to see everything from a different perspective. It was amazing!
Patti Sandoval, Signature Thomson Safari, October 2012

This is one big sleepy guy, who honored us by opening his eyes. We thought he was extremely handsome!
Martin & Donna Siem, Tanzania Discovery Safari, October 2012

When we arrived at Barafu camp on day 9 of our trek, I went out to scout for photos and came upon this overlook. The view seemed to capture what lay ahead for us, not only our summit attempt the following morning but also our insignificance in the face of Kilimanjaro’s cold immensity. The camp lived up to its name ("barafu" means "snow" in Swahili), several inches fell overnight.
Wayne Murray, Western Approach Route & Safari, October 2012

We found this scene of a mother feeding her baby so touching. It was amazing to watch such an enormous creature have such a delicate touch when caring for her young. The Thomson staff told us March was a good time of year to see a lot of babies and they were right!
Danny Nestor, Signature Thomson Safari, March 2012 / www.DANNESTORIMAGES.com

The Lilac-breasted Roller was my favorite of all the birds I saw on safari; we spotted this one not far from Thomson's Eastern Serengeti Nyumba Camp. We feel this is the best picture Martin has ever taken of a bird!
Martin & Donna Siem, Tanzania Discovery Safari, October 2012

This cheetah mom and her 3 babies were playing around for a while when suddenly the mother took off after a gazelle and left the babies. They apparently knew they were supposed to stay put until she returned. They stayed in the same place for a little while, and then they sidled up near our vehicle and sat down to wait for their mother to return.
Esther Weiss, Private Thomson Safari, October 2012

This is when we were just beginning our climb up the Barranco Wall. I remember looking down the mountain, to my right, and seeing clouds and fog. But when I looked up over my left shoulder, I saw this magnificent view of the mountain, with the clouds lifting off, and that’s the picture I took.
Joel Goldwein, Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route, September 2012

I zoomed in tightly to single out this noble, male impala from his herd. I felt like he was showing off and saying “Hey you, look at me!”
Danny Nestor, Signature Thomson Safari, March 2012 / www.DANNESTORIMAGES.com

While we were in the northern Serengeti, our guide spotted not one but three rhinos from a distance. As we made our way closer, we discovered that it was a family – a father, mother and young male. We sat and watched as they began walking closer and closer to our Land Rover. It was an amazing site and experience! We spotted the Big 5 in one day before lunch!
Patti Sandoval, Signature Thomson Safari, October 2012

It's the circle of life! An adorable, little simba cub visited our office to celebrate Halloween. How could we not recreate this familiar scene from the Lion King? Happy Halloween from all of us at Thomson Safaris!

We came across a large family of elephants in Serengeti National Park. These three young elephants distanced themselves from the adult family members so they could engage in this playful fun.
Lester McGuire, Private Thomson Safari, August 2012

The sight of these clouds rolling in over the Shira Plateau stopped us in our tracks. It was one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever witnessed!
Rachel Seely, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route, August 2012

Two young, male, brother lions greeting each other. They are seen here resting in the shade of a tree after we watched them hunt in Central Serengeti National Park.
Lester McGuire, Private Thomson Safari, August 2012

We were enjoying our first day on safari in Tarangire National Park when we stumbled upon a playful group of elephants. My wife and I marveled at their sheer elegance and power. As we continued to watch the babies playing with their mothers, my camera focused on this particular elephant who decided to show me what he was eating!
Clarence Wong, Highlights of Tanzania Safari, September 2012

After nine months of anticipation my daughters were finally meeting their Tanzanian pen pals in person. The first handshake, encouraged by the school’s principal, was somewhat tentative and awkward but my heart melted twenty minutes later on the school’s soccer pitch when I spotted the girls skipping hand-in-hand along the dusty red earth and snapped this picture.
Ed Prutschi, Thomson Family Safari, July 2012

The views all along the Umbwe Route are truly unforgettable. This photo was taken while we were packing up and getting ready to leave our camp site. As I sat, breathed deeply, and waited for my teammates to finish packing up, I contemplated what lies ahead, and reveled in what I had already accomplished. It is one of my favorite moments of my trip.
Cindi Fetch, Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route, June 2012

This is a 4 hour exposure of the night sky over a Baobab tree, illuminated by our campfire in Tarangire National Park.
Wesley Bernard, Private Thomson Safari, August 2011 - www.wesleybernardphoto.com

During day two on the Umbwe Route, I realized just how much fun I was having on the mountain. The weather was perfect and conversation was flowing with the guides about the climb ahead as well as African life. Anticipation of crossing the remaining climate zones over the course of the next 2 days - and the achievement of standing at Uhuru - allowed for nothing but a big smile.
Michael Blum, Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route, July 2012

I was amazed at the size and power of the silverbacks; I believe this one was 38 years old and 440lbs. They are very tolerant, sitting there in quiet, peaceful restraint, allowing you to be as close to them as another gorilla. The way they look at you is different from any other animal I have experienced...they look at you as another person would. Just an amazing experience overall!
Peter Black & Scott Webster, Kilimanjaro Grand Traverse Route & Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Extension, July 2012

This cheetah mom and four cubs at Ndutu were one of the highlights of our trip. When we first found them, the cubs were racing around and playing; something we could have watched for hours. We like the juxtaposition of the cheetahs with the wildebeest in the background, which were always around us throughout our trip—constant motion and groans (not to mention babies!).
Mark & Elna Jones, Africa Through the Lens Safari, February 2012

We waited 3 hours while the herd, which was congregated at the edge of Mara River, pushed forward 2-3 times but refused to venture into the water. Finally, a few brave wildebeests jumped in and the rest of the herd followed, it was the most awe inspiring event I have ever experienced. Thousands of wildebeests must have crossed throughout the day. It is true good things come to those who wait, for me in particular, it was the photo worth waiting for.
Wesley Bernard, Private Thomson Safari, August 2011 - www.wesleybernardphoto.com

We visited this leopard near Ndutu several times during the course of a day. Each time was memorable, whether he was straddled over a branch sleeping and slowly swaying, gnawing on an impala leg, or jumping around the branches. With all the animal watching we did, some of our most memorable moments where when, like this, the animals were watching us.
Mark & Elna Jones, Africa Through the Lens Safari, February 2012

On our first day of safari in Tarangire National Park we came upon a pride of lions laying beneath this tree. I took this shot of the male watching his pride walk to safety as a huge herd of elephants approached in their direction. In this moment I learned that simba is NOT, in fact, the “king of the jungle,” despite this male appearing to be quite mighty in the moment.
Keeley Kennahan, Highlights of Tanzania Safari, October 2011

I love this one of the giraffe from our morning game drive in Arusha National Park. Later that afternoon, we saw close to 20 giraffes lying down on the plains - it was a rare sighting. I found giraffes to be beautiful, graceful and at times not so graceful...LOL!
Deb Hammer, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari

As my trekking group and I were preparing for afternoon tea and dinner at Karanga Camp (13,000’), I noticed the porters taking a much deserved break to bask in the setting sun and build this rock sculpture. In the background, the top of Mount Meru (15,000’) was peeking out above of the cloud layer, which settled at about 10,000 feet that day.
Gerry Lichtenberger, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route

One wears a mask to observe the wild chimpanzees. Their DNA is so close that they catch our diseases but have no defenses. The natural world comes closer here.
Helen Parrish, Private Thomson Safari with Mahale Mountains Chimp Trekking Extension

Standing 4’ tall with the head of an eagle and the body of a crane, the secretary bird is truly unique. It gets its name the dark feathers on its head, which resemble quill pen feathers that might be tucked behind its ear...if birds had ears! Although they have the ability to fly, secretary birds are most frequently spotted hunting for food in the grasses of the savannah where they use their long legs to stomp on and stun larger prey, like mice and snakes.
Randy Hanna, pro photographer & Thomson trip leader - for more info: www.thomsonsafaris.com/sa_pho09.shtml

Chris and his group drove through The Great Migration in the southern plains of the Serengeti last March. He describes seeing such large herds of wildebeest and zebra at close range as a breathtaking experience.
Chris Donovan, Highlights of Tanzania Safari, March 2012

My Rafikis!! This is one of my favorite photos from my trek. It is me with Godlove, our head guide amazing man; my personal porter, Ali, who I will be forever thankful for – I never would have made it to the summit without him; the young man who carried my tent everyday; Godlisten and Joaquim, our assistant guides. I have the most respect for all of these men. It is unbelievable what they do around the clock everyday.
Deb Hammer, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari

The trip was life changing in many ways. The power and beauty of the animals is something one doesn't get from zoos. I especially loved stopping and watching to see what would happen... 20 minutes, 30 minutes... I dream of it many nights. Robert, Casmir, Abu, and Kumbi were all impressively good spotters, knowledgable about the animals and the birds, friendly, and good at handling questions, different interests. Each day was different and amazing in its own way.
Betty Allen, Private Thomson Safari, January 2012

In the past, trekkers claim Kili’s old summit sign couldn’t withstand the weather and winds – it was often found battered, broken or leaning over. While the new (green) sign is an obvious structural improvement, it doesn’t convey the same nostalgic feel that the original sign embodied. So when we found a plank from the old sign, a sense of excitement spread through our group and everyone immediately gathered around for a picture! It was really special.
Duane Schafer, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route & Safari

We were in the northern Serengeti when this was taken. An amazing day where we saw lions, cape buffalo, giraffes, hyenas, elephants and spectacular birds. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we spotted this leopard. We had seen others sleeping in the trees but watching this one as it was hunting was amazing. We stayed and watched quietly as it made its way through the grass and faded into the colors and scenery of the land. Amazing.
Pam Art, Private Thomson Safari, January 2012

Our photography group had lots of fun one night creatively lighting these baobab trees in our Tarangire camp. The night sky in Tanzania was by far the darkest and clearest I have ever seen, with the Milky Way practically jumping out at you most nights.
Tom Schwabel, Africa Through the Lens Safari. To see more of Tom's award-winning photography, visit his Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/65316636@N00

Our extraordinary guide Abu, found this cheetah family of five, we watched them in a hunt from start to finish. They started here on the termite mound to spot prey. The mom allowed the four young to chase a reed buck, pounce, catch and eat. It was the most exciting experience of the entire safari.
Karen Celella, Private Thomson Safari

Leboi is a traditional Maasai healer at Gibb’s Farm, a working farm and living museum where I had an internship. During my time there, we became close friends and learned a great deal from each other. He told me stories about hunting lions and the plants he gives to cattle when they are sick. One day, I taught him the A chord. He played the same chord for over an hour, singing in Maa and dancing until he had to sit and rest.
Ian Heyse

We were in the Ngorongoro Crater and came upon two lionesses stalking three Cape Buffalo. When the lionesses attacked the younger buffalo, it foolishly challenged her for a brief moment before deciding "flight" would be more prudent than "fight." Fortunately, the precocious youngster escaped with only a nasty scratch on his haunch.
Trevor Stevens, Signature Thomson Safari, January 2011

On the last day of our 3-day hike, we left Acacia Camp and descended to the floor Great Rift Valley. In the shadow of Ol Doinyo Lengai, we were joined by two young Maasai who traveled with us for a mile or so before deciding we were too slow and moving on ahead. I could not resist this photo opportunity and briefly stepped aside to snap this picture shortly after they joined us. We encountered quite a few Maasai traveling between their villages during our hike.
Russ Evans, Private Thomson Safari, February 2009

25 years ago, Larry Krakauer snapped this photo of Thomson head guide, Mohammed Mbaruku. Mohammed is a shining example of Thomsons' staff longevity; he is still leading safaris for us today! We are thrilled to welcome Larry and his family back for their second safari with us in June.
Larry Krakauer, Thomson Safari in 1987

This lone bull elephant stood watching us as we were watching him in the Ngorongoro Crater. Every so often he would move a little closer, until our guide decided he was close enough, and we moved on.
Dawn Benko, Explorer's Safari / © Dawn J. Benko / www.dawnbenko.com

Some guys just have to show how macho they are. We were fortunate to catch this fight between two male ostriches in Ngorongoro Crater who were vying for the affection of a female. The fight and subsequent chase went on for several minutes before a victor emerged. In the end, the female was unimpressed and simply turned her back and walked away.
Nick Masington, Signature Thomson Safari, September 2011

Our arrival into Acacia Camp was unforgettable! Everything seemed to happen all at once: a clap of thunder set off a rain shower just as the Maasai began to chant from a distance. The chants became louder and louder as they made their way towards us to welcome us to the camp.
Thomson Staffer - Michael Moitoso, Explorer's Safari, October 2011

These two adolescent male giraffes were fighting with one another in Serengeti National Park, near Robanda. Sometimes when they hit each other with their necks, the resounding thump was so loud it almost seemed like you could feel it.
Anna Liem, Private Thomson Safari, July 2011

The visit to a Maasai village was another highlight of our safari. The Maasai children were so happy and smiling, as you can see in this photo. They loved seeing the pictures of themselves in our cameras after we took their photos.
Alan Rubin, Signature Thomson Safari, September 2011

This cub was using a zebra its pride had recently killed to practice the choke hold that lions often use. It was rather funny, in a grisly sort of way, to watch the cub; he (or she) was not only wrestling around with the zebra's head, but would occasionally flip entirely over the zebra's neck.
Anna Liem, Private Thomson Safari, July 2011

This picture of our camp staff captures the spirit of the camp on our last day, it was the perfect send off to an amazing trip. Tanzania is in our hearts forever.
BJ Caffrey, Signature Thomson Safari, August 2011

Dining al fresco alongside Kilimanjaro's famous glaciers at 18,000’, Krishna and his family enjoy lunch at Crater Camp on the Western Approach Route.
Krishna Yalamanchili, Kilimanjaro Western Approach Route

Giraffes are probably my favorite overall subject to photograph. First they are an animal unique to the African continent, so when you see a picture with a Giraffe in it, you know where its from, especially when you see them running over the open plain as in the image above.
Aravind Krishnaswamy, Africa Through the Lens (www.akimagery.com)

Every traveler's nightmare is to end up in a hotel room with a bad view. At Bilila, it was an amazing dream come true - we got to experience the local elephant herd's daily march to their watering hole right from our patio. It was an incredible treat to get to see these magnificent creatures from a safe distance, yet outside of the safari vehicle.
Dan Hess, Luxury Lodge Safari, July 2011

Of my 900 pictures, it’s hard to choose a favorite but this one “symbolizes” our trip to me. It was taken at our first night at our Nyumba in Tarangire. We were getting to know each other, talking about a day full of elephant, lion, warthog sightings while waiting to be called for dinner. This was the sunset we were “greeted with". It exemplifies the beauty, balance and majesty of Tanzania.
Suzanne Lamberg, Signature Thomson Safari, August 2011

Joe masterfully photographed this bee eater in the Serengeti during a photo safari with Andy Biggs. These small birds specialize in catching large, stinging insects in flight. Once caught, they use their narrow beak to remove the insect's stinger and squeeze out the venom.
Joe V. Smith, Africa Through the Lens

The highlight of the day was a cheetah hunting an impala. She made her way directly past our Rover and then jumped up on a large termite hill. After stretching and grooming, she gazed right into my eyes. Eventually she tired of her exhibitionism and disappeared into the long grasses near us. Those of us in the Rover just looked at each other speechless at what we had just witnessed!
Darrell Pardy, Signature Thomson Safari, February 2011

Congratulations to newlyweds, Lauren and Scott, who celebrated their honeymoon with a successful trek up Mount Kilimanjaro! They are pictured here overlooking Mawenzi Tarn Camp at 15,000'.
Lauren & Scott, Kilimanjaro Grand Traverse Route, June 2011

The two lions, resigned to defeat (outrun by a herd of zebras), joined each other under a tree. They comforted one another with a nudge of the nose and a lick. They then laid down to rest their bulky frames. The lions were hungry, but dinner would have to wait. Such is life in the Serengeti. - Joe Peyronnin
Photo taken by 15 year old, Zoe Peyronnin on a Family Safari, June 2011

Blue monkey in the Ngorongoro Highlands
Len Kurzweil, Boston Museum of Science Safari

Chris was very lucky to catch the great wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River last October.
Chris K., Private Thomson Safari, October 2010

Wesley Bernard, Highlights of Tanzania Safari, September 2010
www.wesleybernardphoto.com

We took this photo in the southern part of Serengeti National Park near a waterhole. This male lion was with his pride of 5 females basking in the sun after a big meal. We caught one of the females nestling up to this big guy - what a shot!
Bob & Nancy K., Highlights of Tanzania Safari, February 2011

Sharon, from our Arusha, Tanzania office & Claudia from our US office! Every spring, Rick & Judi treat a few staff members of our Arusha, Tanzania office to an all-expense paid trip to the United States. Sharon, our Arusha Transport Manager, was one of the visiting staff members this year. Sharon enjoyed her stay in Boston (pictured above) and especially enjoyed her visit to New York City.

Zebras near the Moru Kopjes, Serengeti National Park
Ken Pauley, Boston Museum of Science

Chameleon in the trees of Tanzania's Ngorongoro Highlands
Ken Pauley, Boston Museum of Science