Serengeti to Zanzibar

Arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to Tanzania. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight.

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Settle in to a guest house for your first night. There will be electricity, flush toilets, and hot showers, but electricity in Arusha does go out from time to time and the guesthouse does not have a generator.

Shake off your jetlag with a light hike in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro! Drive to Marangu Village, one of the main starting points for those attempting to summit the mighty mountain. Take a short hike to a viewpoint and religious pilgrimage site, where the Moshi Valley opens up on one side, and if you’re lucky, the Kili summit will be visible, though it’s often shrouded in mist. On the way down, stop by a historic Chagga tribal cave, a refuge this innovative tribe built into the sandstone to hide from their enemies. Finish the day with a hike down the foothills to the famous Ndoro Waterfall.

Head to a rural village on the slopes of the mighty Kili, where you will learn about the culture of the local community and partner with them on a development initiative. Participate in projects such as building fuel-efficient stoves, building trash cans, planting trees, or cleaning the litter scattered throughout the area. Learn from the mamas of the village as you try your hand in harvesting bananas, and cooking and eating a traditional Chagga meal. Dance along with the mamas as they share with you their local cultural songs and dances.

Start your drive to Arusha, stopping at a sprawling, local market to experience what a shopping day in Tanzania is like. Take in the sounds, smells, and vibrant colors all around you as your leaders guide you through the market. Try bargaining for any Tanzanian snacks or souvenirs you’d like to take home with you. Wind down in the afternoon on the peaceful shores of Lake Duluti, a tranquil contrast to your morning at the market.

Rise with the sun and hop into your safari vehicles as you head to Arusha National Park. Escorted by park rangers, hike through the park and spot giraffes, zebras, baboons, and other wildlife native to the slopes of Mt. Meru. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush and journey to a hidden waterfall before heading back to Arusha for a barbeque dinner.

Say goodbye to Arusha and drive toward Mto Wa Mbu, the gateway to Tanzania’s most iconic national parks. Hop on bicycles and explore the local banana farming communities, making stops along the way to take in the views and learn about the vital role that agriculture plays in the economy of this part of the Rift Valley. Head to a safari campsite nearby, and marvel at the panoramic views of the nearby Lake Manyara from the poolside.

For the next 3 nights you will be staying in camp style tents that hold two people at a time. The camping area is designated by the National Park service. There are squat toilets and sinks/water taps that run off of collected rainwater for washing.

After an early morning breakfast, participate in a community-centered program to promote the culture and way of life of the famous Hadzabe, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes. Start by joining a hunt. Through observation—the Hadzabe don’t speak English—you’ll learn how and where they make their fires, what type of animals live around Lake Eyasi, and how the Hadzabe track even the smallest of creatures. Finish your time in the bush today with a visit to a blacksmith who will show you how he makes the various arrowheads and tools of the tribe.

Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Hop back into your safari vehicles and head into the world-famous Serengeti National Park, one of Tanzania’s most important protected areas. Without a specific schedule or route, your game drives allow you to follow the rhythms of limitless wildlife as you witness the daily struggle between predators and prey. After exploring the Serengeti, board a plane for a quick flight to Zanzibar. Witness ancient Islamic ruins, dense jungle, noble Arabic houses, and white, sandy, palm-fringed beaches coexist on the vibrant island.

While in Zanzibar for the next 5 nights, accommodation will be at pleasant hotels in Stone Town. There are hot showers, Western-style toilets and comfortable beds.

After days on the dry plains of the Serengeti, wake up in a place rich with history and a melting pot of different cultures. Explore the fragrant ingredients that give this island its nickname. Enjoy a spice tour with one of our local guides, and take this opportunity to focus on the colors and textures that surround you. Wander the winding alleys and narrow streets of historic Stone Town, a neighborhood which was once the seat of power and trade on the coast of Tanzania for many years. Snorkel on the reefs just beyond Stone Town’s bay, and visit the mysterious Prison Island just beyond Zanzibar’s coast.

Launch from the beach on a traditional wooden sailboat into the waters of the Menai Bay Conservation Area, home to dolphins, coral reefs, and various tropical sea life. Snorkel in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean, then take a break for a phenomenal seafood buffet and sunbathing on the beach at Kwale Island. Sail back to Zanzibar in the late afternoon.

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.

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for a short flight to Arusha before your flight home or to your next Rustic program. Say goodbyes to your new friends and reflect on your adventure.

If you’re staying in Tanzania, your Program Leaders will take you to your next accommodation to meet your new group. If you’re continuing on to another Rustic Pathways destination, you’ll board a connecting flight to that country.

Arrive home and recount some of the wonderful memories you have of the last few days to your family and friends.