For nearly two decades, Andrew Doherty, Thomson Safaris’ Manager of Travel Advisor Relations, has helped travelers fall in love with Tanzania.
This year, he watched his own family fall in love with it too.
Andrew brought 30 friends and relatives on safari through the country he has spent much of his career helping others discover. Together, the group of 31 crossed the Serengeti, shared unforgettable wildlife encounters, became captivated by the drama of the green season, and explored some of the places Andrew has long considered his favorites on earth.
The group spanned nearly sixty years in age and included early risers and slow strollers, CPAP users and long-distance walkers, vegans and gluten-free travelers, and first-time visitors to Africa. What emerged was less a group trip than a small, moving village making its way across Tanzania together.
By the end, the trip had become something larger than a vacation. It was a shared experience that connected generations, created new traditions, and reminded Andrew why he fell in love with Tanzania in the first place. By all accounts, he’s still glowing.
Eastern Serengeti Nature Refuge: Community, Conservation, and Rare Sightings
The journey began at the Eastern Serengeti Nature Refuge, a private 10,000-acre reserve exclusive to Thomson guests. For many in the group, it was their first real introduction to Tanzania. The scale of it all hit immediately.
“Within five minutes of entering the refuge, we probably had 50-plus giraffe in view,” Andrew said. “Everybody’s jaw just hit the floor. Our guides believe we have the highest concentration of giraffe anywhere in the Serengeti ecosystem, with over 400 individuals on the refuge.”
Unlike national parks, the refuge offers a more intimate and flexible safari experience. The group watched zebra, warthog, and impala gather at the camp’s waterhole, joined guided walking safaris, and went on night drives — experiences not permitted in national parks.
And the wildlife sightings didn’t disappoint.
“On our night drive, we saw two aardvarks, an African wildcat, bush babies jumping through the trees, golden jackals, black-backed jackals, and several hyenas,” Andrew recalled. “It was one of those nights where every few minutes something else appeared. None of us will ever forget it.”
But beyond the wildlife, it was the connection with the Maasai community that left the deepest impression on Andrew.
Because the refuge is managed in partnership with local Maasai communities, the group spent time sharing stories, laughing, and learning from community members whose lives are closely tied to the surrounding landscape.
That connection was already part of Andrew’s family story. Over the years, they have supported a women’s beekeeping initiative in the region — an effort that has helped create sustainable livelihoods and expand opportunities for women, from honey production to wax balms and salves. Seeing the women’s work firsthand, alongside the community they’ve come to know, added another layer of meaning to their time in Tanzania.
The Rainstorm Nobody Wanted to End
Like many travelers, several members of the group arrived unsure about traveling during the green season, when afternoon rains sweep across the plains. But the weather quickly became part of the experience and was talked about with as much enthusiasm as the wildlife.
One afternoon on the drive toward the Central Serengeti, the group traveled alongside a fast-moving storm system.
“For about 35 minutes, we were in a torrential downpour. The road basically became a river,” Andrew said. “But it proved just how capable the vehicles are. We got to camp and the staff were waiting with umbrellas, rushing everyone to their rooms. Everyone was laughing — it became a highlight for us.”
“We tend to think of rain as something that ruins plans,” he added. “But out here, it’s what brings life to the plains, including food, water, and everything the wildlife depends on. It’s not a disruption; it’s what the ecosystem is built around.”
Moments later, the storm passed. Blue skies returned, rainbows appeared across the plains, and the landscape deepened into a vivid green.
Floating Above the Serengeti
Midway through the trip, the group set out before dawn for a hot-air balloon safari. After days spent experiencing the Serengeti from the ground, floating silently above the Seronera Valley offered a completely different perspective.
“This balloon safari was the best I’ve ever experienced. It was mesmerizing to see just how lush everything was… it’s a green that you can’t describe. We flew over a herd of probably 40 elephants, and you could hear a pin drop. You’re just floating quietly through the air. We could hear the elephants breathing, we could hear them interacting… it was quite magical.”
For many in the group, it became one of the moments they kept returning to in conversation afterward. The feeling of peace and connectedness was unexpectedly emotional.
Wildlife Viewing Highlights
Ngorongoro & Gibb’s Farm:
From the Crater to Calm Reflection
By the time the group descended into the Ngorongoro Crater, they had fully settled into the rhythm of traveling together.
Traveling in March meant fewer vehicles, with long stretches where it felt as though the crater belonged almost entirely to them. They arrived early enough to be the first vehicle on the crater floor and shared breakfast together near the Hippo Pool before continuing through the crater.
Before lunch, they had already spotted seven black rhino and checked off the entire Big Five. In addition, they had a very close encounter with one of Ngorongoro Crater’s male lions – watch the video below.
But it was Gibb’s Farm, the final stop of the journey, that offered a different kind of experience. After days of movement and stimulation, the slower pace of the eco-lodge gave the group space to unwind and take it all in, with its gardens, organic farms, and open views across the landscape. Some explored the grounds and working farms, others lingered over their coffee overlooking the gardens, easing into the relaxed rhythm of the property.
“By the time we got to Gibb’s Farm, we were ready for a pause,” Andrew said. “While a family reunion can be extraordinarily rewarding — and it was such a privilege to see so many people in my family having so much fun and seeing what I do for work — I really appreciated this time at the end to reflect on an incredible trip and spend some one-on-one time with my girlfriend, Morgan.”
At the same time, Andrew noticed subtle shifts within the group: an ease between people, inside jokes beginning to form, shared memories settling in. Conversations flowed more easily now, shaped by everything they had experienced together across the plains, the crater, and the experiences in between.
When the Experience Proves Itself Again
After 18 years with Thomson Safaris, Andrew has seen Tanzania from nearly every angle. But experiencing it alongside his father, nephew, and closest friends brought a new perspective entirely.
While Thomson typically hosts smaller groups of 8–12 guests, traveling during the green season, and with flexibility from both guests and staff, made this unusually large family-and-friends safari possible. It was a test of both logistics and experience, one that reinforced the precision behind Thomson’s operations and the enduring appeal of Tanzania itself.
“I was so thrilled with how the safari went,” Andrew said. “Every aspect of our operations was put to the test and passed with flying colors. It gave me real reaffirmation of the strength of what we do.”
Andrew’s family and his Thomson family together at the Arusha headquarters.
The biggest takeaway for Andrew wasn’t operational. It was watching the group evolve from individuals sharing an itinerary into people connected by inside jokes, shared routines, and memories shaped by days in the field.
“I left feeling even more proud to work here,” he reflected.
And beyond that pride was the realization that Tanzania had done what it so often does. It had filled their days with extraordinary wildlife encounters and evenings of camaraderie around campfires and, without effort or announcement, left them changed by the end of the journey.
Walk in Andrew’s Footsteps
Andrew chose the Founders’ Safari, an itinerary refined over decades by Thomson Safaris’ founders, Rick Thomson and Judi Wineland, to introduce his family and friends to the places, people, and wildlife that have shaped his love of Tanzania.