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My husband and I agreed that our Grand Safari experience with Thomson in November 2025 was our best trip EVER. It was our first time to Africa. Our priorities were an immersive,authentic, wildlife focused Safari with the ability to learn something about the country, and the people. Thomson FAR exceeded our expectations. When we first determined that Tanzania was the best country to go to, we decided on Thomson. Tanzania is their speciality with small group tours. We wanted a company which directly managed their own lodges, guides and vehicles. (Not a tour consolidator). The quality and responsiveness showed. This is a first rate operation and experience. Food was plentiful and delicious. Health (food and water),safety and concerns of guests evident every day. Service 5 star. Staff were wonderful and kind. Lovely to have interesting chats with many of them. Our guide, Hashim, was the best! Great person to spend 13 days with! Very experienced interesting and knowledgeable. Highly recommend him too! Guides and staff were fluent in English. We did not want to stay in ‘hotels’ or fancy lodges but liked the idea of luxury tents. They were wonderful and allowed us to be close to the wildlife. However our 2 night stay at Gibbs Farm was exceptional. The custom LandRovers were perfect for standing up and viewing the amazing wildlife. (Much better than open sided jeeps). We went in ‘low season’ which was perfect. Tons of animals, and huge migrating herds. AND it was not a mob scene with hundreds of other Safari vehicles. Awesome pictures with iPhone of animals right beside truck. Few bugs (didn’t need spray), nice temperature, fewer visitors, and only a couple passing rain showers.
At the private Eastern Serengeti Lodge having a conversation with a Masai Storyteller/Midwife is something I’ll never forget. Thomson is very involved with the communities which was another reason we chose them.
Thomson staff in Watertown, MA and Exito (airfare booking) were easy to work with. I’m recommending this to everyone I know!
At the private Eastern Serengeti Lodge having a conversation with a Masai Storyteller/Midwife is something I’ll never forget. Thomson is very involved with the communities which was another reason we chose them.
Thomson staff in Watertown, MA and Exito (airfare booking) were easy to work with. I’m recommending this to everyone I know!
We searched for over two years reviewing various tour groups for African Safaris. When we discovered Thomson it had all the criteria we were seeking. From our first phone call to the completion of our travels, Thomson exceeded our expectations. Lewis in the front office was very knowledgeable, answering of our questions and explaining different tours they offered.
After booking the Grand Safari tour, we were contacted by our “trip manager”, Cat. She was amazing! She kept us informed of the timeline related activities when we needed to take actions. Her correspondence included helpful documents and links to helpful resources. When we had questions for Cat, she had the answers or typically got back to us with responses on the same day. Her excellent customer service is what we expect but rarely receive from businesses these days. The travel plans included transfers and timelines that took place just as expected. Once the safari began, we met our safari guides, Babu and Ashein after a short flight from Arushia. They were very knowledgeable, cordial, and a joy to be with over our two weeks on tour. Overall, all of our encounters with Thomson personnel were very positive. We definitely recommend considering them for your safari.
After booking the Grand Safari tour, we were contacted by our “trip manager”, Cat. She was amazing! She kept us informed of the timeline related activities when we needed to take actions. Her correspondence included helpful documents and links to helpful resources. When we had questions for Cat, she had the answers or typically got back to us with responses on the same day. Her excellent customer service is what we expect but rarely receive from businesses these days. The travel plans included transfers and timelines that took place just as expected. Once the safari began, we met our safari guides, Babu and Ashein after a short flight from Arushia. They were very knowledgeable, cordial, and a joy to be with over our two weeks on tour. Overall, all of our encounters with Thomson personnel were very positive. We definitely recommend considering them for your safari.
Our experience with Thomson Safaris was simply amazing! From our first interactions with the management team to making our final flight connections, we received the best care. The staff at every camp was so amazing, taking care of our every need. The food was so good, especially the soups! I want to give a special shout out to our guide, Remi. He took wonderful care of us, and his animal spotting skills were amazing! We got to see all of the Big 5! He also gave us so much interesting information about the animals. Thomson Safaris gave us the trip of a lifetime!
What an experience. Beautiful vistas, lots of animals (including babies), great guides, very comfortable accommodations all made for the perfect vacations. We missed the rhinos but saw the land great migration. The hot air balloon ride was stunning with a beautiful sunrise
We went on our safari back in October of 2024 but my two daughters, 12 & 9.5 at the time, were both just reminiscing about how they wanted to go back on safari, which has prompted me to write this.
My family, my sister's family and my parents all were together on this trip, which I bring up b/c of the variety of ages, from 6 to 70+, and how comfortable we all felt during the trip. The guides were able to talk to both the young kids and ancient ( =P ) grandparents in ways that were both informative and educational. There wasn't a question that anyone asked that they didn't have an answer for. And the camp staff did a particularly great job making sure the kids were entertained during the downtimes, even playing games with them during the evenings.
Accommodations were more than I could've hoped for, with comfy beds and toilets in the tent. The wildlife was so close there were often animals wandering through camp at night. The food was great and the kids loved interacting with the guides during meals.
And I haven't even gotten to the wildlife! Words can't do enough to describe just how many interesting animals, birds & plants we saw. The sheer number of animals was often overwhelming.
I really can't say enough great things about Thomson and, honestly, take every chance I can to rave about them to friends and, often, strangers. If you're thinking about booking with them do it!
My family, my sister's family and my parents all were together on this trip, which I bring up b/c of the variety of ages, from 6 to 70+, and how comfortable we all felt during the trip. The guides were able to talk to both the young kids and ancient ( =P ) grandparents in ways that were both informative and educational. There wasn't a question that anyone asked that they didn't have an answer for. And the camp staff did a particularly great job making sure the kids were entertained during the downtimes, even playing games with them during the evenings.
Accommodations were more than I could've hoped for, with comfy beds and toilets in the tent. The wildlife was so close there were often animals wandering through camp at night. The food was great and the kids loved interacting with the guides during meals.
And I haven't even gotten to the wildlife! Words can't do enough to describe just how many interesting animals, birds & plants we saw. The sheer number of animals was often overwhelming.
I really can't say enough great things about Thomson and, honestly, take every chance I can to rave about them to friends and, often, strangers. If you're thinking about booking with them do it!
Just returned from a 13 day Grand Safari and no words can describe the experience, emotions and feelings for Thomson Safaris and the wonderful treatment provided by all. From the arrival and pick up at the airport to the final drop off, the experience was top notch!! Food was amazing and they were able accommodate all my requests for gluten free food (have Celiac Disease and never got sick). Tents were great! Showers were hot! Camp staff was friendly and wonderful…especially Patrick, IDD, Rose and Hussein. The guides, Robert and Moudy, were knowledgeable, funny, and made the entire experience magical. Robert and Moudy were the best part of the Safari and always looked forward to the days activities. Highly recommend Thomson Safaris. You will not be disappointed!
One of the most exhilarating, humble, heartfelt and memorable experiences of our lifetime! My husband and I were on the “ULTIMATE SAFARI” during Sept/Oct 2024. From beginning to end, the adventure exceeded our expectations. The camps were rustic, beautiful and comfortable. The food was fresh… delicious and farm to table (Gibbs farm). The service and Thomson staff, including our guides, Freddie and Simon, were professional, friendly, eager to please and just overall amazing! Our animal viewing was abundant and spectacular…the highlight being the wildebeest crossing the Mara river… YES WE WITNESS IT!!! Worth every penny.
Had the most amazing time of my life with my family !! My life long dream finally came true this is one vacation I will never forget… Thank You Thompson Safaris …
My safari was Soso awesome!! Our guide Mustapha was amazing going out of his way so we could get amazing veiws&pictures. Camps awesome& food amazing. Thank you so much Thomson for my wonderful memories!!
Oh my, our best experience! We don't usually do tours, but this was amazing, we both loved the journey. What an experiece!!
Let me make this simple, “You can pay more but you won’t get better!” My wife suggested I go with my two sons as a bucket list item for myself so I spent a significant amount of time researching several safari companies to ensure we got the best experience possible. I can say Thomson exceeded my expectations. Since this has been my only Safari I will summarize the highlights made by our group at the conclusion of our Safari. Our group was “right-sized”. There were 9 individuals in our group and had two vehicles, perfect for ensuring everyone had easy access for viewing/picture taking. Schedules were perfectly balanced. Had the right amount of time to pursue the Big Five while at the same time had adequate time to reflect on the experience within our group and share stories with others staying at the camp. By the way, we DID see the Big Five, our guides were fantastic, knowledgeable, and could spot game far earlier than most anyone in the group. Don’t pass on the optional balloon Safari ride, could not have been more satisfied with it. Both sons thought it should be added as part of the program rather than an option, they enjoyed it that much. They thought too many people were missing one of the top experiences. Two other items that make Thomson stand apart from the rest. They have a privately owned 10,000 acre reserve that only Thomson safaris have access to. While there we saw giraffe, zebras, elephants, wildebeest, etc. The second item setting Thomson apart is that the facilities we stayed at were owned/operated solely by Thomson and no other safari companies use the facilities. I believe this to be unique to most all other camping facilities. If I were to refer back to my opening statement, you may get something more by paying more, but I personally don’t think it would make the experience any more enjoyable or comfortable. Our group of 9 was unanimous that any additional creature comforts would not have been worth the value, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience from arrival to departure. Our entire group would use Thomson without reservation for any future services we desired they were to offer.
We are so happy we chose Thomson Safaris for our trip to Tanzania! Right from the start, our safari planner kept us informed with everything we needed to know, right up to the end. Every single day on the safari was amazing. Every camp beautiful, comfortable, excellent food and the best staff ever. Our guide, Seph, was the very best. He was a joy to be with and so knowledgeable about EVERYTHING Tanzanian! Highly recommend.
It was a trip of a lifetime. I have spent decades dreaming of going on a safari and I am confident that Thomson Safaris was the best company to help make my dream trip come true. Their passion for wildlife, exceptional guiding skills, coupled with top-notch service and amazing food made this trip the adventure of a lifetime. Thomson Safaris exceeded all our expectations.Thank you for all you do for your customers and the communities of Tanzania.
Life enhancing!! The entire experience of deciding if to take a safari, deciding which to take, living every moment of the safari and continuing to share the memories weeks after returning was amazing. Thomson Safaris, the US based staff (especially Lewis and Joshua) and that in Tanzania (we were blessed to have Nasibu as our guide, teacher and talented driver throughout the Safari) were knowledgeable, friendly, patient with our 1000 questions, and really understood customer service and satisfaction. First and foremost, we always felt safe and the staff in Tanzania (especially Nasibu and Joseph) and at the camps made it clear our safety was their primary concern. The Founders Safari provided 11 days of unbelievable wildlife, culture, learning, and amazement. We never felt our time was not richly used and never wished we could do more. Downtime was built in and appropriate. With the Thomson Safaris, it was the little things that made the difference. Having a single guide for the entire safari allowed us to develop a relationship and made the experience more personal. The accommodations at four camps were comfortable and our every request was answered. Every detail was considered and planned from Jambo Jambo in the morning to start the day, to amazing meals, to hot water bottles in our beds on cool evenings, to hot showers daily, to star gazing, to surprise breakfast in the bush after an early morning walk, to fairly comfortable Land Rover (the Tanzanian massage) which took us to incredible vistas and animal sightings. We unconditionally recommend a safari and Thomson Safaris as the best provider of that experience. For us now, we catch ourselves browsing through our many pictures and remembering exactly where we were and what we were feeling. The memories are life-enhancing. Asante sana.
I am writing to express our heartfelt gratitude and immense satisfaction with our recent safari in Tanzania and gorilla trekking in Rwanda that we booked through Thomson Safaris. This trip was nothing short of spectacular, and much of that credit goes to the incredible local guides and staff that made it an unforgettable experience.
Firstly, I must sing the praises of Robert, our lead guide in Tanzania. Robert is an outstanding ambassador for both Thomson and Tanzania. His knowledge of the wildlife, geography, geology, and a myriad of other subjects is truly impressive. Despite undoubtedly having heard the same questions countless times, Robert was infinitely patient and always provided detailed and enthusiastic answers. His upbeat, unflappable, and professional demeanor made everyone in our group feel safe, well-organized, and exceptionally well taken care of. I cannot recommend him more highly.
Harrison was equally remarkable. Like Robert, he was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, with a fantastic sense of humor that added a wonderful dimension to the trip. Both of these gentlemen are true assets to Thomson, and their long-standing tenure no doubt is a testament to their excellence.
In Rwanda, we had the pleasure of spending two days with Anderson, our guide and driver. Anderson's performance was also nothing short of exceptional. Despite our inbound flight being delayed, which resulted in a long wait for him at the airport, Anderson managed to keep everything running smoothly. His professionalism and ability to adapt to our tight schedule ensured that we didn’t miss out on any part of our itinerary. He was a wonderful ambassador for Rwanda and significantly enhanced our experience.
While the accommodations, agenda, food, and overall organization were all first-class, it was the dedication, expertise, and warm personalities of Robert, Harrison, Anderson and really everyone we can in contact with that truly made this trip extraordinary. At every camp, the staff was warm, attentive and amazing!
I would also like to extend a special thank you to Angela for her assistance throughout the planning process. Her responsiveness to our questions and efforts to ensure my wife's birthday was recognized while on safari added a personal touch that we greatly appreciated. Her recommendations on where to buy Tanzanite also paid dividends!
Thank you for providing us with such a memorable adventure. We will undoubtedly cherish these memories for a lifetime.
Firstly, I must sing the praises of Robert, our lead guide in Tanzania. Robert is an outstanding ambassador for both Thomson and Tanzania. His knowledge of the wildlife, geography, geology, and a myriad of other subjects is truly impressive. Despite undoubtedly having heard the same questions countless times, Robert was infinitely patient and always provided detailed and enthusiastic answers. His upbeat, unflappable, and professional demeanor made everyone in our group feel safe, well-organized, and exceptionally well taken care of. I cannot recommend him more highly.
Harrison was equally remarkable. Like Robert, he was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, with a fantastic sense of humor that added a wonderful dimension to the trip. Both of these gentlemen are true assets to Thomson, and their long-standing tenure no doubt is a testament to their excellence.
In Rwanda, we had the pleasure of spending two days with Anderson, our guide and driver. Anderson's performance was also nothing short of exceptional. Despite our inbound flight being delayed, which resulted in a long wait for him at the airport, Anderson managed to keep everything running smoothly. His professionalism and ability to adapt to our tight schedule ensured that we didn’t miss out on any part of our itinerary. He was a wonderful ambassador for Rwanda and significantly enhanced our experience.
While the accommodations, agenda, food, and overall organization were all first-class, it was the dedication, expertise, and warm personalities of Robert, Harrison, Anderson and really everyone we can in contact with that truly made this trip extraordinary. At every camp, the staff was warm, attentive and amazing!
I would also like to extend a special thank you to Angela for her assistance throughout the planning process. Her responsiveness to our questions and efforts to ensure my wife's birthday was recognized while on safari added a personal touch that we greatly appreciated. Her recommendations on where to buy Tanzanite also paid dividends!
Thank you for providing us with such a memorable adventure. We will undoubtedly cherish these memories for a lifetime.