Sally and Phelps Bristol

Review of Thomson Safaris

We took our granddaughters, 9 and 12, their parent...

We took our granddaughters, 9 and 12, their parents, and were joined by their other grandparents on a ten-day, family safari with Thomson in Tanzania, an outstanding experience this August 2018. Saw forty varieties of exotic animals in their natural environment--the objective of this crowning bucket-list adventure--but found so much more to enlighten and inspire us. Couldn't count the number and species of African birds which came as a delightful surprise to all of us, their presence, size, and vibrant colors a remarkable bonus. Our hunt for new sightings spanned 750 exciting miles facilitated by our three engaging guides, two amazing vehicles, and staff at the lodges and camps who were relentless in making us comfortable. Real highlights: walking up to a family of giraffes; observing the unsuccessful, half-hour stalking of a reedbuck by two still-hungry lionesses; the stately march of a lone cape buffalo to and through a watering hole as hordes of zebra and wildebeest made way; the striking pose of a spitting cobra in the middle of our road as we approached at 40 mph. None of us will forget the vistas from the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti Plain seen from atop a kopje jutting up as another timely rest stop, the panorama of grazing ruminants from the front porch of our tents at Eastern Serengeti Nyumba, the Sunday morning drive by Tarangire Hill, or glimpses of Kilimanjaro from the vicinity of Arusha. If our finicky eaters were satisfied, imagine our general delight with the freshly made soup course each dinner and the incredible camp kitchen tour is not to be missed; absolutely delicious cooked-to-order eggs each breakfast. The people we met are another endearing dimension, school kids and their teachers, Masai women and children, and the origins of our species at the Olduvai Gorge and Museum. We learned about nature, geology, geography, history, sociology, and cultural anthropology, even felt an earthquake! Truly, our Thomson safari was an education that exceeded our expectations with thought-provoking, life lessons on our planet.