Tanganyika Big Game and Tourist Organization

An American Mr. K V Painter started building the New Arusha Hotel in 1927 on the south side of clock tower at its present location. Arusha already had the Arusha Hotel located on the right hand corner of the road leading up to the Boma. It was owned by Jane and Goodall Bloom. My mother had vivid recollections of those days.

Grand father Ray was to lease the New Arusha Hotel in 1928 from K V Painter who during the same period purchased Meru Estate from Ray. The opening ball of the Hotel was attended by the Prince of Wales Edward the eighth (the un-crowned King.) The Hotel register with the Prince of Wales signature remains in the possession of some member of the family! The register was treasured by my late Grandmother Marjorie Ann Ulyate.

On the sale of Meru Estate Grandfather Ray was to start the Safari Company Tanganyika Big Game and Tourist Organization operating out of the New Arusha Hotel. The company was to become well known for its six day Safari's to the Ngoronogoro Crater and Serengeti Plains and brought world renown to the lions. Grandfather Ray was to take many famous people on photographic Safari's.

Grandfather Ray started his hunting career in Kenya working for a big Safari company called Newlands and Tarlton operating out of Nairobi. While this experience gave him the safari back ground it was his love for wild life photography that was to lead to the formation of TBG & Tourist Organization in Arusha

His second eldest son my late Uncle Kenyon was to work for his father Ray as a Professional Hunter becoming involved in the Safari business. On completion of his education Ray's youngest son my Uncle Ted was also taken into the company .Grand father Ray during this period was to take numerous cinematographic films of wild life in particular of Lions

TBG & Tourist Organization operated until the outbreak of war in 1939 when operations ceased