HEART & SOUL OF KILIMANJARO

Welcome to the continent of Africa! You’ll arrive on the first day of the program at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. GLA staff will be there to welcome you upon your arrival. From the airport, we’ll travel together to Home Base, which is about an hour away. Begin settling into your new home-away-from-home in Africa!

Start your day with a delicious breakfast prepared by your Home Base staff, who will quickly become like family over the next few weeks. We’ll settle into our new surroundings with an orientation and an engaging tour of the community to get acquainted with our neighborhood. To make things even more exciting, we’ll dive into a crash course in Swahili, equipping us with new vocabulary to impress as we connect with community members in the days ahead!

You’ll have the unique opportunity to connect with a local “host family” in the neighborhood this afternoon, immersing yourself in Tanzanian culture and building personal connections with the individuals who call it home. Later, we’ll explore a vibrant Tanzanian marketplace, where you can select beautiful fabrics that will be transformed into custom-made clothing and bags, crafted just for you!

The group’s service work kicks off! Our group will divide into teams to start contributing at a local school. The students are full of energy and eager to learn, making your role both exciting and challenging! GLA teams will take turns tackling various tasks, from teaching basic English to working on hands-on projects like renovating classrooms and improving school walkways.

During the next few days of your program, mornings will be spent continuing your service work, forming meaningful connections with local children. In the afternoons, you’ll engage in enriching cultural activities: learn Batik cloth dyeing and explore traditional Tanzanian fabrics, try your hand at local cooking by shopping at the market and creating delicious dishes, and tour a family-owned coffee farm to experience the journey of coffee from bean to cup. Evenings will be a mix of leadership sessions, global issue discussions, lesson planning for teachers, and time to relax and reflect on your experiences.

On our final morning at the school, we’ll reflect on our achievements, from the school refurbishments to the lasting bonds we’ve formed with the children we’ve worked with each morning.

Safari time has arrived, and it’s going to be unforgettable! Over two thrilling days, we’ll set off early each morning, grabbing snacks for the journey ahead. Our first day will take us on a full-day safari drive through the iconic Tarangire National Park—get ready for an adventure like no other! The next day, we’ll explore the incredible Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll have the chance to see lions, elephants, zebras, and buffalo in their natural habitat. After an exciting day of wildlife spotting, we’ll head back to Home Base for a well-earned dinner. This is an experience you’ll never forget.

After two days of wildlife adventures, we’ll return to Moshi Home Base, our minds and camera rolls full of unforgettable sights! We’ll continue engaging with community guest speakers and then settle back in to rest up for the final days of our time in Tanzania.

Today, get ready for an epic adventure as we hike the legendary slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro! You’ll explore vibrant communities nestled in the mountains, soaking in breathtaking views of this iconic landscape. Along the way, we’ll stop to picnic at a stunning local waterfall, making memories in one of the world’s most famous hiking destinations!

It’s our final full day together! Today, we’ll wrap up our community service projects and say farewell to our new Tanzanian friends. Celebrate the meaningful impact you’ve made, the lessons you’ve learned, and the friendships you’ve built with a special farewell dinner at Home Base. Students who purchased fabric earlier in the program will receive their custom-tailored clothing from the seamstress and have the chance to get their hair traditionally braided before departure.

Sadly, the time has come to say goodbye. GLA staff will escort you to the airport, help you check in for your flights, and see you off as you begin your journey home. It will have been an unforgettable experience, and we will be so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. We’ll miss you, but we know you’ll carry the memories, lessons and friendships from this journey with you forever. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again soon!