RA Safaris boasts a long experience of over five years in handling school programs in Tanzania. This experience has built high degree of confidence in handling young people and making sure they learn while at the same time enjoying their trips. One of the outstanding school programs that RA Safaris organizes is outlined below and it covers a seven nights’ stay at a local school, four days mount Meru trek, and three days safari to the Ngorongoro, Olduvai Gorge and Lake Manyara National Park.
Activities usually involve learning sharing between the local and foreign schools of which accompanying foreign teachers and share with local teachers to promote education. Other activities would be nature walk, visit to households and sports.
RA Safaris also organize other programs as shown below and are flexible to meet any schools’ requirements.
- Biology Field Trips
- Ecosystem studies
- Mountain climbing Adventure including Kilimanjaro, Meru and Oldonyo Lengai
- Geography Field Trips to the Rift Valley, active volcanoes and many other related areas.
Click Students’ Adventure Travel brochure for some insights about the program
17 Days–16 Nights School Adventure, Northern Highlights, Meru Trek
Day 01: On arrival at Kilimanjaro you will meet RA Safaris staff (Please look out for the board with your name on it) to transfer you to Colobus Camp for dinner and overnight. Accommodation: Colobus Campsite, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 02: After breakfast, you will have time to listen the retired Park warden Mr. Orengorick about Tanzania general overview and thereafter walk around in Arusha town for shopping. Lunch in town (local food). Accommodation at Colobus Camp.Accommodation: Colobus Camp, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 03 – 09: Depart with packed lunch to the selected Primary School, Dinner and overnight at the school (2pax per Tent). Activities at the school as planned and around the village for learning local culture. Accommodation: Camping at Selected Primary School, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 10: After breakfast drive to Arusha, lunch at Colobus Camp, evening meet for briefing and preparation for Mount Meru Climbing. Accommodation: Colobus Camp, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 11: Momella Gate (1500m) to MiriaKamba (2750m): After breakfast transfer from Colobus Camp to Arusha National Park gate where you will register and meet your guide and porters. You will spend your first night at Miriakamba Hut (2750m.). This day is mostly through the forest where climbers see a variety of forest birds and mammals. There are two routes from Momella gate to Miriakamba, Southern and Northern.Accommodation: MiriaKamba Hut (2750m.), Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Southern route (road): It takes 5 hours walk from Momella gate to Miriakamba hut. Clients pass through the montane forest with different features such as the Fig Tree Arch, Maio Water falls and different kind of Vegetation.
Northern route: It takes between 3-4 hours walk from Momella gate to Miriakamba hut.
This is the shortest and steepest route. Along this route the views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Momella Lakes are spectacular.
Day 12: Miriakamba to Saddle Hut (3750m): It takes 3-4hours. Along this portion of the route visitors enjoy the spectacular view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Momella Lakes, Meru Crater, Ash cone, Mt. Meru Cliff and the little Meru. Wild animals can be seen and altitudinal change of Vegetation becomes apparent. While at this hut, the ascent to little Meru can be done in the afternoon. Accommodation: Saddle Hut (3750m), Meal Plan: Full Board Basis.
Day 13: Saddle Hut to Summit: It takes 5-6hours.This is the place where clients enjoy the features of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Little Meru (3801m.), Meru Crater, Ash cone, Momella Lakes, Cliff face, Meru Peak, Ngorongoro Crater highlands, Arusha town, sunrise and sunset.
Klipspringers and mountain Reedbuck are seen over rocks. High altitude bird’s e.g. Lammergeyer and flowers like everlasting can also be seen. The start for the summit is preferably at 00:30, that’s 30 past midnight. After reaching the summit at 4566m take pictures and walk back to Saddle hut for breakfast/brunch then proceed down to Miriakamba hut. Accommodation: Miriakamba Hut, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis.
Day 14: This is the final day and takes 2 to 3 hours for the short and long route respectively from Miriakamba to the gate where you will be transferred to Colobus Camp for lunch, dinner and overnight. Clients who used the short route while ascending can descend through the long route or Vice versa. Accommodation: Colobus Camp, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis.
END OF MT. MERU CLIMBING.
Day 15: After breakfast, with lunch box drive to Jambo Campsite at Mto wa Mbu located nearby Lake Manyara National park. on arrival, unpack and proceed to Lake Manyara National Park for game viewing till 17:00hrs then drive back to the campsite for dinner and overnight.Accommodation: Jambo Campsite, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis.
Lake Manyara National Park’s lush green vegetation, silvery waters and abundant game inspired the writings of Ernest Hemingway and many other travelers. This pocket-sized park has a phenomenal diversity of plants and animals.
Day 16: Early Morning after breakfast depart with packed lunches for excursion at Olduvai Gorge and Shifting sand and thereafter drive for game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater Floor till late afternoon then proceed to Jambo Campsite for dinner and overnight.Accommodation: Jambo Campsite, Meal Plan: Full Board Basis.
Day 17: After late breakfast drive back to Arusha, lunch and Maasai market shopping in town before driving to Kilimanjaro International Airport for onward flight.
End of the trip
RA Safaris can customize a variety of students’ adventure programs so let us know your school’s interest and we will work on that. Some may need to extend this to Zanzibar and we are a specialist too.
Click Students’ Adventure Travel brochure for some insights about the program
Note the following:
- The accommodations can be on the basis of Basic Camping (public or private), Permanent Tented Camps, or Lodges.
- If you like us to arrange your accommodations for the night (s) before and after safari please let us know.
- If you are arriving at Julius Nyerere/Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport or by a bus let us know so we can arrange meeting you on arrival to make things even smoother.
- We will be happy to know your travel plans so we can customize this itinerary or any other itinerary for you. We are a full service company and we will be able to take care of all accommodations: before safari, on safari and after safari; airport and hotel transfers; and internal/regional flights.
- Click here for packing list. Camping and lodge safari have almost same packing list but in case you have questions let us know.
- This itinerary can also be extended (number of days and/or parks/activities) to cover other parks in the northern circuit, Kilimanjaro trek, Meru trek, Oldongo Lengai trek, Usambara Mountains, Zanzibar/Mafia/Dar beach holiday, Southern parks or western safari parks, or either way depending on your needs.