About Us
Safari Pioneers Since 1981
In 1981, adventure travel in Tanzania was still new. Rick Thomson and Judi Wineland saw a country of vast wilderness, extraordinary wildlife and possibilities that few travelers had begun to explore.
They built Thomson Safaris with Tanzania at its heart and Tanzanians central to the experience.
The early years demanded ingenuity. Supplies could be difficult to find, communication in the bush was limited and traveling far from established infrastructure meant being prepared to carry much of what you needed with you.
Built From the Ground Up
Thomson’s early mobile safaris traveled with sleeping bags, small tents, food, equipment and even spare lightbulbs. Becoming increasingly self-sufficient gave the team something valuable: the freedom to go farther into the wilderness rather than letting available infrastructure determine the journey.
For years, Thomson groups could even camp on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, waking before dawn and heading out before vehicles descended from the lodges along the rim.
A Thomson safari looks very different today. A-frame tents and sleeping bags have given way to Nyumba camps with beds, en suite bathrooms and hot showers. Bedford trucks carrying guests, gear and weeks of supplies have been replaced by custom safari vehicles designed for wildlife viewing and Tanzania’s rugged tracks.
But the thinking behind it all hasn't changed much: draw on local knowledge, bring care and expertise to every aspect of the journey and give travelers the chance to immerse themselves in Tanzania's wilderness.
More than four decades later, Tanzania remains Thomson’s foundation.
