Our 12 Favorite Memories from 2017

Written by Thomson Safaris

Here are just a few of our favorite moments and big accomplishments from 2017.

Hillary Has a Close Encounter with Gorillas

Thomson staffer Hillary Camara always wanted to see gorillas in the wild. She stood just inches away from a whole gorilla family in Bwindi, Impenetrable Forest in Rwanda and Uganda in November.

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We Congratulate Our New Oldest Summiteer

At 82 years old, John Thelen became our oldest summiteer on Kilimanjaro. What was the journey like? He told us he “didn’t seem to have trouble going up!”

Oldest Kilimanjaro trekker for Thomson

Annifreed Conquers Kili

Thomson staffer Annifreed Sinjour had a similar experience on Kilimanjaro’s Western Approach. We got the chance to live vicariously through her in a video she sent from the summit.

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Gibb’s Farm Builds a Goat Tower

Annifreed paired her successful summit bid with a visit to the (NEW) most magical place on Earth – the Gibb’s Farm Goat Tower. Gibb’s Farm completed construction in October.

Goat tower at Gibb's Farm, Tanzania

We Win Awards from Travel + Leisure

Another proud achievement for the luxury eco-resort, Gibb’s Farm was named the “Best Safari Lodge in Africa” by Travel + Leisure. Thomson Safaris was also named a “Top 10 Safari Outfitter.”

Gibb's Farm and Thomson Safaris accolades

 

Kilimanjaro Welcomes its Best Dressed Trekker

If we could give an award for most-stylish trekker, it would go to Tom Sharpe, who blew us away with a 3-piece suit at Uhuru Peak in August.

Sharp dressed man on Kilimanjaro summit

Guests Exchange Their Wedding Vows on the Summit

Six months earlier, two of our guests said their wedding vows in that same spot with a head guide officiating the ceremony. Wedding on Mt. Kilimanjaro

We Celebrate Three Marriages and a Baby

Back at our headquarters in Boston, we celebrated a few wedding ceremonies of our own. Nicole Scherr, Hillary Camara and John Muiruri were married, and Andrew Doherty became a father. His daughter Oona is now our favorite office guest.

so much to celebrate wedding and babies

The Office Recounts Countries We’ve Visited

Tanzania isn’t the only country we visited. Our office is filled with eager world travelers. Argentina, Iceland, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Rwanda, Uganda, and Vietnam were just a few other countries we crossed off the list this year.

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A Giraffe Photo Bombs our Guests

Need we say more?

Best photo bomb by giraffe

FoTZC Turns 20

Focus on Tanzanian Communities, our sister nonprofit organization in Tanzania, celebrated two decades of improving access to education, empowering women and funding health care initiatives across the country.

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New Projects for the New Year

After receiving generous donations from guests, partners and friends, FoTZC is pressing on with a freshwater borehole project that will install clean water wells for thousands of people who desperately need them in Tanzania.
maasai women collect clean water from borehole