Days 1 & 2 : Africa Here We Come!
Your adventure in Africa begins as soon as you board the flight to Tanzania. All of Rustic Pathways’ scheduled group flights to Tanzania depart from New York and are escorted by a flight leader. After boarding the flight in the evening, you’ll have sixteen hours to relax, get to know your fellow travelers, and sleep in preparation for your arrival in to Africa. Your trip leaders will be ready and waiting to take you on the adventure of a lifetime when you arrive at the airport.
Welcome to Tanzania! You will arrive into Arusha in the evening and transfer to the Rustic Pathways Base. This first night in Africa will offer the chance to get to know the other students on your program, your staff members, and your new host country. Your guides will give you a quick orientation that will introduce you to the local culture and prepare you for an exciting week of service.
Day 3: Service with Heart
Today we will drive up to our northern base located in the heart of the village you will be serving, Mongola Juu. Your first day will be one of familiariazing yourself with the village and the people that you will be working closely with for the next two weeks including respected village elders, teachers from the primary school, the headmaster, masons and of course many of the children. You will also be introduced to your conversation partner, one of the students in their final year of study, who is thrilled to teach you Swahili in exchange for practicing English. During the next two weeks, you will have the chance to get involved in a number of different service projects while you are here, giving you a broad perspective on life in Tanzania.
After a long day, filled with a lot of information, we will return to our tented camp for a delicious hot meal and discussion around the fire.
Days 4, 5, 6, & 7: Giving Back
The next two weeks will offer you the chance to really dig in and get to know the community during your service projects. Each morning, you will be assigned to a specific project, and your team will work alongside and under the guidance of a Rustic Pathways staff member and various members of the local community. There will be plenty of time at the school, where you can get to know local students by tutoring the younger kids in English, getting involved in sporting events, or helping with classroom activities. You may help upgrade school buildings and build new amenities. Your work may also involve members of the community during special clinics designed by you! Whichever project you end up on, the work you do here will have a direct impact on the community.
After lunch you will return to the project and continue to work for a few hours. When the service work ends, your afternoons will be filled with fun activities that introduce you to the area. You may watch the village children play a soccer match, hike to a neighboring village or learn a local handicraft. Each day you will have time to meet with your conversation partner to discuss anything you wish. Share stories about your families, daily schedules, classes, hopes and dreams, developing a strong friendship along the way!
Day 8: Animal Tracking with the Hadzabe
After an early morning breakfast, we will be joined by a guide who will lead us to where the nomadic Hadzabe tribe is currently camping. Today is a fascinating day of discovery, as you get the rare chance to spend time with this endangered culture! Once we locate them, we will head straight out on the hunt, possibly even bows in hand. Through observation, as the Hadzabe speak no English, you will learn about their unique culture; one of the few nomadic tribes left on the planet. You will learn how and where they make their fires, what type of animals live around lake Eyasi, how their trained senses can track even the smallest of creatures and even visit a blacksmith who will show you how he makes the various arrowheads and tools of the tribe.
Days 9, 10 & 11: Back to Work
Back in the village, you will return to your various projects. By now you should be able to use a little Swahili and surprise the villagers and children with greetings and basic conversation. Now used to the area and projects, we will dig in twice as hard and focusing on service and cultural immersion as well as continuing to meet with your conversation partner each day.
Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater
After all that hard service work, a trip to explore the wilds will be well earned. Ngorongoro is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. Inside the crater is a thriving ecosystem of lush forests, vast grasslands, a freshwater lake, and some 25,000 wild animals, including lions, zebras, elephants, and gazelles. It is also the traditional home of the Masaai, who live both within the crater and around its rim.
As you climb in a private safari vehicle and begin the short drive to the mouth of the crater, prepare to catch a glimpse of some of Africa’s most magical creatures. The famous Big Five game animals – lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo and rhinoceros – all make their home here. You may also catch a glimpse of the Masaai grazing and herding their cattle.
Days 13, 14 & 15: Last Days in the Village
Once again, return to Mongola Juu and your various projects. You have three more days to complete your work and for your language exchange with the student that has most likely become one of your closest friends of the trip.
On the last day, we will have several surprises in store for you, the villagers and the students. Exchanging addresses with new found friends, saying goodbye to the village that has been your home for two weeks and hopefully planning your return one day!
Day 16: Goodbye Africa
Today will be your last day in Tanzania. If you are departing to your home country tonight, your afternoon will be spent in Arusha shopping for any final gifts or souvenirs. After a final meal with your group, you will travel to the airport and bid Tanzania farewell (at least until next year). You will arrive back into New York on Thursday (Day 17). If you are continuing on to another Rustic Pathways adventure, your staff members will help you connect to your next trip!
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.
Village Service on the Edge of Ngorongoro Crater
Mongola Juu