Our staff is easily accessible at our toll-free number. We've all either worked, lived or traveled extensively in Tanzania, and we'll share our expertise to make your safari planning comfortable and enjoyable.

	Rick Thomson and Judi Wineland, owners of Thomson Safaris
	Our knowledgeable staff for Safari and Kilimanjaro.

Rick Thomson and Judi Wineland, Owners of Thomson Safaris
Over two decades ago, Rick Thomson and Judi Wineland took their passion for Africa and found a way to make a living from it. Together as co-owners and co-founders they began Thomson Safaris, the first U.S. safari company to open offices in Arusha, Tanzania.

From 1980 to 1985, Rick lived in Arusha, building relationships with local tradespeople, training guides and designing customized safari vehicles. Today, he directs programs from our office near Boston.

In 1978, Judi Wineland founded Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), one of the nation's pioneering adventure travel companies. She teamed up with Rick in 1981 to form Thomson Safaris, and their safaris became an essential part of OAT's success.  Judi sold OAT several years ago to take a more active role in Thomson Safaris and concentrate once again on her first love: Tanzania.

Both Rick and Judi devote their energy to the development of itineraries and the daily running of the business, seeing to the endless details that ensure a wonderful safari experience. They return to their second home, Tanzania, for at least eight weeks each year with their children, to rekindle friendships with their Tanzanian friends and discover new and exciting safari opportunities.

General Manager

Director of
Customer Service

Affinity Program Manager

Ina Steinhilber has been traveling the world since her teens and continues to pursue her passion for trekking, hiking and ice climbing in the mountainous regions of the US and abroad, including Tanzania where she attained the summit of Kilimanjaro. Her 10 years experience in the art market fostered her enthusiasm for travel and culture, and now she is dedicated to helping you make your trekking or safari dreams a reality.

Gregg Pokraka
has adventured throughout the US, Central America, Europe and more recently, Tanzania. He has summitted Kilimanjaro and
Ol Doinyo Lengai.
In addition to his dedication to travel, he brings with him over 18 years of customer service experience. As our Director of Customer Service, his friendly manner, attention to detail, and in-depth knowledge of safari logistics ensure the success of your entire trip.

Claudia Dunn's love for the outdoors and culture has brought her to the mountains of Switzerland, to the desert of southern Utah and throughout the Hawaiian islands. More recently, she traveled to northern Tanzania accompanying distinguished members of the American Zoological Association. Claudia now uses her planning skills to make sure prominent organizations such as Harvard Alumni, Smithsonian, MIT and others have a perfect safari.

Safari
Program Manager

Safari
Planning Specialist

Safari
Planning Specialist

Safari
Planning Specialist

Kaki Trimble has traveled extensively to such exciting locations as Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, the South Pacific and throughout Europe. Most recently, she visited Tanzania, where she explored the northen region. She received her MBA from Simmons SOM, and now combines her business savvy and extensive travel experience to help you choose and plan the safari of your dreams.

Andrew Doherty is a serious fly-fisherman and a true animal lover. His interest in wildlife and biodiversity has led him to northern Quebec and Ontario, Costa Rica and northern Tanzania. He fell in love with Tanzania’s sheer abundance and variety of flora and fauna, the warm and friendly people and the vastly changing landscapes. He is eager share his safari experiences and help you plan a memorable safari.

Bryan Rotundo is
a true adventurer.
He has trekked through the outback of Australia, explored New Zealand on a solo back-packing journey and sailed the islands of the South Pacific. His personal explorations along with an extensive background in travel planning make him
a great partner in creating the trip of a lifetime.

Emily Martin fell in love with Tanzania during her first safari in 2006. In fact, her master's degree in global development policy was inspired by conversations she shared with the locals about employment challenges in Tanzania. In addition to living in Dar es Salaam, her travels have taken her to Brazil, India, Morocco, Poland and Greece. Her experience and passion for Tanzania is invaluable to the Thomson team.

Kilimanjaro Program Manager

Kilimanjaro
Planning Specialist

Predeparture
Kilimanjaro Specialist

Predeparture
Safari Specialist

Katie Cordes lists conquering Kilimanjaro as one of her most memorable trips. Experiencing different cultures is her passion, having volunteered throughout Eastern Europe and adventured in Tanzania, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. With her degree in International Development, the love of hiking and the outdoors, and an understanding of travel logistics, she is excited to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.

Sarah Towle's favorite adventures include hiking through Glacier National Park, rock climbing The Gunks, and summiting one of the five Taoist sacred Peaks in China. During her stay in China, she taught at Hebei University in Baoding, and ran the Great Wall of China Marathon. With her experience with complex logistics and an extensive knowlege of mountaineering, she can help you plan your Kilimanjaro summit.

Michael Moitoso has explored a myriad of cultures around the world. He has travelled to Mexico, Italy, Morocco, and trekked volcanos in Guatemala and Portugal. During his last two trips to northern Tanzania he has explored the safari circuit as well as summited Mount Kilimanjaro. His travel experience enables him to share his enthusiasm and knowledge of travel logistics with our guests.

Eliza Hatch thrives on adventure travel. She has circumnavigated the globe, visiting India, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and more! But it was during her trip to Ghana and Tanzania where she discovered her passion for travel to developing nations. Her love of languages and other cultures combined with her enthusiasm and instinctual grasp of travel details make her an ideal person to prepare you for your safari.

Predeparture
Safari Specialist

Marketing

Data Adminstrator

Receptionist & Guest Liaison

Evan Ruhwedel is a winter-loving native Californian. With her desire to experience new places and people, she has planned extensive trips across North America. Our guests appreciate her thorough and detailed work-ethic and find her friendliness and enthusiasm for Tanzania simply contagious!

Ali Riley's passion for travel has taken her to several continents, including the forest canopies of Costa Rica, the top of the Alps and Mount Kilimanjaro and to the plains of the Serengeti. Her design skill, good humor and attention to detail make her an invaluable member of the Thomson team.

Jacqualine Faria is our resident language expert, with conversational skills in Spanish, French, German and American Sign Language. Swahili is next on her list! Her interest in travel, language and cultures brought her to Thomson where her organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence lend themselves to providing guests with the highest level of personalized service.

Gabriela Arnold, an avid traveler, has lived in Germany, traveled on medical missions to the Dominican Republic and visited many other destinations around the globe. Fluent in Spanish, her love of languages has led her to study Italian and German – she has her sights set on learning Swahili next! She provides our guests with the highest level of personalized service.