In the beginning, all that mattered was adventure and collecting a wild array of new experiences. This was our view on “wealth”. Today, it is more or less the same.

It all began in 1994. There was no email, no cell phones, and the road to Manyara was an un-paved assortment of bumps. In the remote areas, the possibility of seeing another person never even crossed your mind.

The spirit to explore forgotten patches of African wilderness, to meet legendary safari veterans who showed us the tricks of the bush, and to learn the intricacies of the ‘walking safari’ led to the formation of Mark Thornton Safaris. Over time, it has evolved and fine-tuned and meandered, much like being on foot in the wilderness. But our long-standing team of passionate guides and our collective spirit for what ‘safari’ really means has always remained the same. And long may it last!

Here are a few pics from the good ole’ days.

Gabriel with an orphaned cape buffalo, 1995 — **GABRIEL WITH AN ORPHANED CAPE BUFFALO, 1995**

Wilderness Maasai in camp, early days (back then, these guys still rustled cattle across the Serengeti!) — **WILDERNESS MAASAI IN CAMP, EARLY DAYS (BACK THEN THESE GUYS STILL RUSTLED CATTLE ACROSS THE SERENGETI!)**

Ugalla River exploratory - lost, but still fishing! — **UGALLA RIVER EXPLORATORY – LOST BUT STILL FISHING!**

Ancient super-dhow, Lake Victoria, 1996 — **ANCIENT SUPER-DHOW, LAKE VICTORIA, 1996**

Always an excuse for a ‘recce’ — **ALWAYS AN EXCUSE FOR A ‘RECCE’**

Cross-country, ‘97 — **CROSS-COUNTRY, 1997**

Rock-climbing, Longido, ‘90’s — **ROCK-CLIMBING LONGIDO, ‘90’s**

Camping in Maasailand with the old Cruiser HJ47 - still running! — **CAMPING IN MAASAILAND WITH THE OL’ CRUISER HJ47 – STILL RUNNING!**

The best playground — **THE BEST PLAYGROUND**