What Thomson’s 100% Vaccinated Safaris Mean for You

Safari travel is naturally one of the safest vacation choices available right now. After all, safaris take place out in the bush, distant from big crowds and any of Tanzania’s cities.

Still, we’re proud to go above and beyond by asking everyone to be fully vaccinated before they travel with us. It’s the best, safest way we can explore the world together. We’ve had a lot of guests in Tanzania lately, and their glowing reviews are a testament to how safe this decision has made them feel.

So, what does a 100% vaccinated safari mean for you?

 

What does it mean to be on a 100% vaccinated safari?

Exactly what it sounds like: everyone on a Thomson safari is fully vaccinated, including you, your fellow travelers, guides and staff. Of course, everyone will still be sanitizing often and taking precautionary measures. We’re proud to see our guests and crew so happily doing their part for their own health, the safety of their communities and the well-being of visitors like you.

To help you feel peace of mind on your safari, Thomson staff will be wearing pins in camp and on safari that indicate they are vaccinated.

Travelers who have recently been to Tanzania have seen Thomson’s commitment to safety firsthand.

“The entire Thomson team goes above and beyond to put together the perfect itinerary as well as keeping everyone safe during Covid,” Thomson guest Krista Ann said. “Truly an exceptional team to experience Tanzania with!”

We’re so thankful to all Thomson guests expressing their thanks for this new safeguard, especially those who were concerned about going on safari during the pandemic. They’ve told us they feel so much safer in their decision to travel with us. To this we say: asante sana, rafikis!

What Else Should You Expect on a 100% Vaccinated Safari?

Hand Sanitizer, Temperature Checks and the Spacious Outdoors

Since March 2020, Thomson has been following a set of Standard Operating Procedures when traveling in Tanzania. These procedures are based on CDC recommendations, and are continually tweaked following guest feedback and the availability of new information.

Thomson staff follow these protocols everywhere your safari takes you. They are trained to know what to do in every environment and how to respond to any scenario.

Here are some things you can expect:

• A fully vaccinated “bubble” of you, your fellow guests and your guide whenever you’re at Thomson camps
• Social distancing, frequent hand washing/sanitizing, rigorous cleaning protocols
• All guests, staff and guides will perform daily temperature checks before breakfast

Thomson co-founder Judi Wineland has traveled to Tanzania several times in the past couple of years, and returned from her most recent visit a few weeks ago. She said she was impressed by how safe she and her fellow travelers felt.

“We had this great little bubble,” Judi said. “It was so easy to be there. We all felt really safe. In fact I felt safer on safari than I did at home, because of all the precautions and how isolated we were.”

VIEW STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

 

But What Does Vaccination Mean for the Actual Safari Experience?

The silver lining of safari travel right now is that, with fewer guests in the parks, it’s more magical than ever. Take the word of repeat Thomson guest David McKay: he and 17 other photographers set out on safari in March 2021, when herds were coming out in groups larger than ever before. The plains were practically empty, and at times David and his group had the Serengeti to themselves. He said his entire group felt incredibly safe and comfortable from the time they landed in Tanzania to the time he left.

“This was more than life changing for all of us,” David said. “It charged us. It reignited us. It’s an epic time to go.”

And when Thomson guests Deb Perriello and her husband went on safari in September 2021, they found the adventure was literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The wildlife was incredible, the hospitality was comforting and the trip was transformative beyond expectation.

“Our safari was not a tour–it was an experience,” Deb said. “Not a day goes by when we don’t think about Tanzania–what we saw, who we met or what we learned.”