Village Service and Safari

Arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (ARK) in Arusha and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the Usa River village where you’ll be staying and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Have some snacks before bed and get some sleep for your adventure.

Focus on an education and infrastructure project designed to enhance the capacity of the community to provide an improved and sustainable learning environment for students. Engage in after-school games and activities with the primary school students to enhance their cross-cultural competence, communication, and teamwork skills. Immerse in village culture as you learn to cook local foods, milk a cow, try to make the local style of pottery, and explore the geography of the village. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evenings, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.

View the country through a different lens on an epic two-day safari! Spend a half day in Tarangire National Park, which has the most dense elephant population left in the world. Make the most of your safari by picking the brains of your experienced guides, who are eager to teach you everything they know about animals, their behaviors, and their environment. Overnight at a cozy tented campground over the Rift Valley, fenced for safety and comfort.

Wake up before sunrise and head to the famous Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive through dense animal populations. Experience the scenic descent into this lush valley, known for its herds of zebra and wildebeest, lion prides, and hyena packs. If you’re lucky, the group could spot the endangered black rhino, but there are no guarantees in the wild. Return to Arusha in the evening.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Enjoy a delicious meal in town and do some last-minute souvenir hunting for family and friends. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.