Tanzania » Heart & Soul of Africa

Tanzania: Heart & Soul of Africa
Our 21-day Flagship programs provide the ideal amount of time to satisfy every dimension of the GLA Experience. Although many of the same objectives can be achieved on shorter programs, students and parents report that three weeks is the optimal time to develop lifelong friendships with local people and fellow students, to make a greater impact on the community, to fully immerse themselves in a culture, and to explore difference facets of the host country.

Explore the myth and magic of the real Africa.

Highlights:

Volunteer at a village primary school
Learn basic phrases in Swahili
See zebras, elephants, lions, rhinos and more on an authentic African safari
Hike to a waterfall on the side of Mount Kilimanjaro
Spend a weekend among the Masai to learn about their culture
Learn African dance, percussion, bead making and even how to throw a spear
Watch video: Esther Simba, GLA local director, introduces you to the Tanzania program.

Overview

Go beyond the movies and discover the real Africa: welcoming people, zebras, giraffes, lions, percussion, Masai warriors and the astounding Mount Kilimanjaro. Work side-by-side with local leaders in orphanages and village schools. During the weekends, experience a real African wildlife safari and live among the Masai people and learn first-hand about their unique culture.

Community Service

You will work at the local village schools and orphanages fixing up facilities by painting and building playgrounds and classrooms for the children. In addition, we will teach English and math by playing educational games as well as engage local kids in sports.

Watch video: GLA Alum Lisa W. shares with you her experience teaching orphans in Tanzania.

Hands-On Learning

You will learn about Tanzania’s rich culture. Specifically, you will experience the traditions of the Chagga people who live around Mount Kilimanjaro, including visits to their coffee farms and banana plantations. You will also learn about and meet members of the Masai nomadic tribes who follow their livestock and do not adhere to national borders. Although English is widely spoken, you will also learn to speak some Swahili. You will hear from guest speakers about social issues facing the community, such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the history of East Africa and even participate in art workshops such as batik and bead making.

Adventure

In addition to spending a day hiking around the base of Mount Kilimanjaro to a stunning waterfall, you will also visit some of the world’s most spectacular safari parks. During the first weekend you will visit two of the world’s most famous wildlife reserves: Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park. During the weekend safari, you will have the opportunity to get up close to zebras, lions, leopards, elephants, wildebeest, rhinos, and many other species in their natural habitat. For those on our 21-day Flagship Program, the second weekend will take us to a Masai village where we’ll live in a traditional community and learn about their unique nomadic culture. Here, we’ll learn to throw spears, make bead jewelry and identify medicinal plants in the wild.

Watch video: Check out our video of students learning to throw spears with the Masai.

Lodging

GLA has two Home Bases; both are located 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro airport. They are both typical walled African compounds located in villages outside of Arusha and Moshi. Each room has bunk beds and a private bathroom with western toilets.