Comments on: Guide Willie Kissanga Retires

By: Margaret MacKenzie

Margaret MacKenzie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:23:04 +0000

A little late finding this post, but we, too, had Willie as a guide and he made our trip so memorable, even when we got lost on Christmas Day and couldn’t find the kopje were the group was having lunch (we did eventually, and we got to see so much more wildlife in the process)! Thank you, Willie, for sharing your beautiful, amazing country with the MacKenzie Family in December 2003!

By: O'HAGANS

O'HAGANS — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:11:59 +0000

Dear Willie,

Your sunshine smile and happy disposition added so much warmth to our safari. We wish you many years of joy and relaxation with your family. The elephants, lions and zebra’s will miss you.

Best wishes

Malcolm and Virginia O’Hagan

By: HEATHER RAMSAY

HEATHER RAMSAY — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:06:15 +0000

WIIIILLIEEEE!!! It’s HEEEATHERRRR! I had a blast with you in November 2009 on SAFARI. You are all the notes above say. I am so glad I met you on SAFARI as you showed me the beautiful wildlife of your country. Take care, enjoy your retirement. Heather from Canada

By: Lise Lapointe

Lise Lapointe — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:25:34 +0000

Hi Willie,
Melissa and I want to thank you for a wonderful trip. You have put a smile on our faces everyday. You have such a good sens of humor. Don’t forget, monkeys do climb into jeeps
Tanzania has been the best trip of all times.
Have a great time in your retirement!
Lise & Melissa

By: Claire Swindell

Claire Swindell — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:08:19 +0000

Jambo Willie!
I am happy for you but sad for all the future safari goers in their cargo pants with “tourist pockets” who will not have the pleasure of riding in your truck! You taught us all a very important lesson once we saw the elusive leopard…..”patiency pays”.

ALSO, I saw the comment above about the Lilac Brrrrrrreasted Rrrrrrroller and I remember those R’s as well! You were so humorous and funny in your own Willie, unassuming way!

Our safari in Tanzania will always remain one of the best experiences of my life and I have you and Leonard to thank for making it so special.

You will be missed! Wishing you all the best in your retirement!
Claire

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:18:23 +0000

Hongera sana Willie. You are talked about fondly by many people inside and outside of Thomson, and you are one of the great ones!
Thomas

By: Mary Blackwell

Mary Blackwell — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:36:58 +0000

Willy,
My son Justin and I were lucky to have you as one of our guides during our trip to Tanzania January 2010. Your knowledge and stories you shared with us will always be apart of our wonderful memories. I wish you many happy,healthy years of retirement.

Asante Sana & Aloha,

Mary Blackwell
Maui Hawaii

By: Edward & Gail Thompson

Edward & Gail Thompson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:01:55 +0000

It was great travelling with you Willie. You always had the answers and always kept us laughing. Congratulations on your retirement.

By: David Heinsma

David Heinsma — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:28:28 +0000

Willie,
Bonnie and I remember you well from our Harvard Museum of Natural History tour in 2008 with Farish Jenkins as the group leader. You may recall that a herd of elephants walked through our temporary camp in the middle of the night.
You helped make that trip special.
Enjoy your retirement.

By: Jacque Randolph

Jacque Randolph — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:18:41 +0000

Willie – I cannot tell you thank you enough for your leadership, your beautiful spirit and love of the Mother land warmed my spirit. I came on safari from Dayton, Ohio, the only sister:)You made the difference in my experience. I had planned to do it again in a couple of years and I can’t imagine you not being part of the experience. Enjoy you well deserved retirement, may God richly bless you and your family.

Jacque Randolph

By: Philip

Philip — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:37:10 +0000

What an inspiration you have been to those of us presenting your country through Thomson Safaris to valued friends and clients here in the US. Your love of country, nature’s greatness and humanity will long outlive you, Willie…Thanks!

By: Jim Kackley

Jim Kackley — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:02:51 +0000

Willie

This is great news. You’ve earned your days in retirement. You will be missed by all of your friends at Thomson. I know my sister-in-law, Jayne will be happy to hear that you are now able to retire.

The first time I met you, you were driving that Chevy van and you took me to Karatu. Man that was a car to beat all cars. The roads sure have gotten a lot better since then.

Good luck my friend.

Jim Kackley

By: Debbie

Debbie — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:34:35 +0000

Hey Willie,
Congratulations on your retirement! Peter and I have very fond memories of you from the early days in Tanzania — yes, a long time ago! Will always remember your warm smile, sweet personality, competence and gentleness. We wish you all the best. You will be missed!
Debbie Rosen & Peter Robertson

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:11:36 +0000

Congrats, Willie. I remember meeting you in 2000 when I worked for TS and you were everyone’s benchmark for greatness. Well done, you should be so proud of representing your country and sharing your knowledge with so many guests. You’ve been a talented ambassador. Enjoy your retirement.

By: Cheryl Chacka

Cheryl Chacka — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:39:00 +0000

Dear Willie,
I will never forget your wonderful smile and the enthusiasm you had for your job. You are a real gentleman with a great sense of humor.
Okey-Dokie, Arte-Chokie!! I hope you enjoy your much deserved retirement.

By: Andrea Holmes

Andrea Holmes — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:31:53 +0000

Willie:

My Tanzanian Safari was a trip of a lifetime and I have you to thank for making it so memorable. Your warmth, grace, insight and expertise made you most suited for leading our group. I wish you great joy, peace and health as you transition into your new “life”. Here’s to observing another Lilac-Breasted Rollllllller !!!! Best wishes Willie.

By: Kris vaccariello

Kris vaccariello — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:42:30 +0000

Willie-congrats on your retirement. I’m so glad my brother steve and I had the pleasure of Sharing our African experience with you.

By: Suzie & Alexandra Provo

Suzie & Alexandra Provo — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:53:25 +0000

Willie,
Congratulations on your retirement! You made our Highlights of Tanzania safari last summer so special! You always had an answer and a smile no matter how many questions we asked:-). Your knowledge of the wildlife, geography and your many insights made our trip truly a trip of a lifetime! We hope you will enjoy your retirement and much deserved relaxation time!! We send you our warmest regards.

By: Rick & Judi

Rick & Judi — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:32:48 +0000

Willie,
You’ve been one of the staff who has been the backbone of our company. You didn’t need to be loud or aggressive. You were gentle, kind, and always had that wonderful smile. You have helped make thousands of safari guests very happy.

By: Mark McMahon

Mark McMahon — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:29:06 +0000

Willy,

Your wealth of knowledge made The Nature Conservancy Trustee Field trip a very special and rich experience. Your comments, on what we were seeing and as Mike mentioned, your work in saving us from disaster, will always be fondly remembered.

By: Ali Riley

Ali Riley — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:24:01 +0000

Willie, you were a huge part in making my trip so awesome. You knew how excited I was to be in Tanzania and seemed to match my excitement by answering all of my questions with so much enthusiasm. In fact, I think your energy and spunk outlasted mine!

Not only are you forever a part of my first fabulous safari memories, whenever I see a Lilac Breasted Roller, I will think of you rolling your R’s! (Lilac Brrrrrrreasted Rrrrrrroller)
Asante sana and congratulations!

By: Mike Martin

Mike Martin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:09:38 +0000

Willy,

You added a lot to our experience on The Nature Conservancy Trustee Field Camp in 2010. From helping us identify wildlife, to straightening a bent tie rod on the Land Rover, to changing flats and getting us to all activities on time — you did a super job. You will always be a part of our experience. Many thanks.

By: Perry & Chad Sheraw

Perry & Chad Sheraw — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:51:56 +0000

Willy,

Thanks to you and Ojuku, we had a trip of a lifetime. We talk about it almost weekly, even though our honeymoon in Tanzania was in 2005. We remember you fondly and as a fantastic guide!

Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for being such a great guide! All the best!

Perry & Chad

By: Kristen Patterson

Kristen Patterson — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:42:53 +0000

Congratulations, Willie, on your retirement, and thank you for being such a wonderful guide for The Nature Conservancy’s Trustee trip to Tanzania last year! All the best to you and your family.