• Tanzania

Overview

In this program, open to both Biology & non-Biology
majors, we’ll explore the country’s ecology &
evolutionary patterns. Excursions will include safaris
in the Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Crater,
visits to Olduvai Gorge where Australopithecus once
roamed & ancient rituals with the Maasai Tribe. Join
us as we experience one of the most ecologically
exciting & evolutionary significant sites in the world!

Highlights

  • Lake Duluti – Canoe excursion
  • Natural History Museum – Learn how Tanzanian fossils shaped our knowledge of evolution
  • Wild Nature Institute – Lecture with the giraffe researchers
  • ECHO – Field visit to study anti-erosion techniques
  • Carbon Tanzania – Talk about carbon credits & land-use plans
  • Noloholo – Learn how their educational center impacts the local community
  • APW – Students work hands-on with projects to prevent human wildlife conflict
  • Boma – See how the Maasai live
  • Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti – game drives

Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha

The Ecology group will do a canoe excursion on Lake Duluti (crater lake). Students will see several species of birds, monitor lizards & monkeys, as well as a variety of fl ora & fauna. The genetics group will visit the Natural History Museum. Much of what we know
about evolution came from fossils unearthed in Tanzania now on view in the museum.

Day 2: Arusha

Enjoy a lecture by the Giraffe Researchers from Wild Nature Institute. Then, take an afternoon field visit to ECHO, a non-profi t that aims to reduce hunger & improve the lives of small-scale farmers. Learn how they work with two small NGOs, RUCONET & RGEEPT, to reduce water runoff & prevent erosion. ECHO’s trainers have worked to enact new bylaws to compel villagers to construct swails to divert water from roads into fields & eliminate plowing up & down on slopes. And, ECHO’s Nursery is providing trees & grasses being planted on the contour ditches – all to safeguard soils for future generations.

Day 3: Arusha B, D

This morning a member of Carbon Tanzania will talk to students about a successful initiative using carbon credit payments to incentivise villages to comply with responsible land-use plans. Then, transfer to Noloholo, an important resource for local communities,
conservation organizations & government authorities throughout the region.
Located within the Maasai Steppe & sharing a boundary with Tarangire National Park, Noloholo acts as African People & Wildlife’s (APW’s) regional headquarters as well as an educational center where rural villagers can improve their understanding of the environment & develop hands-on skills in natural resource management. APW runs on 24-hour solar power, donated by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s solar project & donors; it also participates in rainwater harvesting.

Day 4: Arusha

The clash of wildlife & human communities can have a devastating eff ect on the animals, their habitat & on the community itself. APW studies & works with local Maasai communities on issues concerning
the safety & well-being of the local people, wild animals & environment. Students will gain a better understanding of these issues through hands-on involvement in some of APW’s projects, such as constructing living walls in communities & working on their human wildlife conflict prevention project.

Day 5: Tarangire National Park – Isoitok Camp

Enjoy an exciting game drive through Tarangire National Park en route to Isoitok Camp. Upon arrival, students will receive a welcome briefi ng & introduction to the African Roots Foundation’s water catchment & sanitation initiatives. Then, take a Maasai-guided walk to learn how the local people traditionally use the trees & plants for medicinal purposes, ending at the Rift Valley viewpoint for “Sundowners” (a snack while the sun sets over the valley). End the evening with songs by the Maasi warriors.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater – Serengeti

Early morning Boma visit to see how the Maasai live. Then, travel to the Ngorongoro Crater & drive down to see the incredible array of animals. Keep your eyes peeled for the rare black rhino. Then, drive on to the Serengeti, enjoying more game viewing.

Day 7: Serengeti – Karatu

Game drive your way out of the Serengeti on your way to the Olduvai Gorge dig site, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world in furthering understanding of early human evolution.  

Day 8: Karatu – Arusha

Enjoy some free time before departing for Arusha.

Day 9: Arusha

Take a tour of the Kimemo Coff ee plantation, learning the entire process of coffee production – from the field to the table.
Enjoy some last-minute shopping before catching your flight home.