Camps International: Discover Tanzania

Camps international - volunteer with Explorica
With a rich and varied multicultural heritage, Tanzanians are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you'll ever meet and our trips give you privileged access and insight into their way of life by allowing you to become part of the community. Living and working as part of the community, you'll help local adults and children improve their standard of living in a sustainable way and support various conservation efforts to safeguard the future of Tanzania's famous wildlife.
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Day 1 Start tour
Please note you may have to depart a day earlier to arrive on Day 2
Day 2 Hello Kilimanjaro
Details: Meet your tour director and travel to Camp Mbokomu
Nestled in the foothills of the mighty Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, lies Camp Mbokomu.
Details: Check into the traditional style accommodation
Camp Mbokomu is an attractive rural camp located in the foothills of the mighty Kilimanjaro within a typical Chaga community. Accommodation consists of tents with comfy mattresses & bedding and the camp has flushing toilets, showers & sinks. On a clear day you'll be rewarded with some spectacular views of the mountain the minute you step outside your tent.
Details: Community and project sites overview
Mbokomu School is based in the small village of Korini Kusini in the Kilimanjaro foothills. With around 14,600 inhabitants, this region has experienced a steady increase in primary school attendance since the abolition of school fees in 2001. However, access to good quality education facilities outside of the cities is very limited and few students continue to secondary school. For this reason, it's important that the young children of Mbokomu receive an effective primary education to support them in gaining employment once they leave the education system. Mbokomu Primary was built in the 1950s but has lacked enough funding to maintain and upgrade its facilities since then. Currently around 350 students between the ages of 5-16 years are enrolled and many have to walk over 15 miles a day just to attend class. This area also suffers from large-scale soil erosion caused by biannual floods, which makes it very difficult to cultivate vegetation and leaves children with virtually no usable sports field or recreation area.
Details: Safety and Orientation brief
While at camp, three healthy, well balanced and tasty meals will be provided daily. For example toast, cereal, and omelet for breakfast; rice, beef stew/curry with vegetable for lunch/dinner, and fruit. The signature dish is Pilau & Chapati.
Day 3 Camp Mbokomu
Details: Mbokomu Primary School project
We will walk a short distance to Mbokomu School where the team is given a briefing on daily school life and an overview of the ongoing projects. This is an opportunity to play some games with the local children and make friends. The school constantly struggles with a lack of adequate funding, which puts children's lives at unnecessary risk from dilapidated classrooms that are close to collapse, as well as poor or non-existent sanitary conditions. You'll help by building or renovating school buildings to create inspirational and stimulating learning resources for the students.
Details: Group discussions and evening activities
The group has some time to think deeply about their goals for the week; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Mbokumu we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group start to create and then work towards their own objectives.
Day 4 Camp Mbokomu
Details: Continue Mbokomu Primary School project
The team should be prepared to get dirty as you are divided into small groups to undertake important projects around the school. Project work includes desk making, painting, tree planting at our indigenous nursery, and improving the school infrastructure with classroom construction. These are very rewarding days spent working alongside Tanzanians, whilst also picking up some useful phrases in Swahili.
Details: Group discussions and evening activities
The group has some time to think deeply about their goals for the week; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Mbokumu we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group start to create and then work towards their own objectives.
Day 5 Camp Mbokomu
Evening Fire with stories of local traditions and Folklore
Details: Continue Mbokomu Primary School project
The team should be prepared to get dirty as you are divided into small groups to undertake important projects around the school. Project work includes desk making, painting, tree planting at our indigenous nursery, and improving the school infrastructure with classroom construction. These are very rewarding days spent working alongside Tanzanians, whilst also picking up some useful phrases in Swahili.
Details: Group discussions and evening activities
The group has some time to think deeply about their goals for the week; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Mbokumu we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group start to create and then work towards their own objectives.
Day 6 Camp Mbokomu
Details: Continue Mbokomu Primary School project
The team should be prepared to get dirty as you are divided into small groups to undertake important projects around the school. Project work includes desk making, painting, tree planting at our indigenous nursery, and improving the school infrastructure with classroom construction. These are very rewarding days spent working alongside Tanzanians, whilst also picking up some useful phrases in Swahili.
Details: Group discussions and evening activities
In the evening, sitting by a campfire gives the group a chance to reflect on the day's activities, think about the impact they are having and plan for how best to exploit their time the following day. The noise of the cicadas accompanies you whole you get some well earned sleep.
Day 7 Camp Mbokomu
Native Warrior Training with traditional dancing
Details: Continue Mbokomu Primary School project
The team should be prepared to get dirty as you are divided into small groups to undertake important projects around the school. Project work includes desk making, painting, tree planting at our indigenous nursery, and improving the school infrastructure with classroom construction. These are very rewarding days spent working alongside Tanzanians, whilst also picking up some useful phrases in Swahili.
Details: Group discussions and evening activities
The group has some time to think deeply about their goals for the week; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Mbokumu we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group start to create and then work towards their own objectives.
Day 8 Camp Mbokomu
Evening soccer match
Details: Complete Mbokomu Primary School project
On your final day there will be a gathering whereby your group can handover the work you have done to students and teachers. There will be a proud moment of reflection as you look at what you have achieved and the positive impact you have made.
Day 9 Camp Mbokomu
BBQ al fresco in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro
Details: Hike to Kwamambori Waterfalls
Today the team are driven to the Kwamambori Waterfalls for a morning walk through the valley and to the falls, which are rooted in local mythology.
Details: Traditional cooking class in Kidia village
We visit Kidia village where we learn to cook traditional foods with a local women's group before enjoying a BBQ "al fresco" in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro.
Day 10 Camp Mbokomu
Details: Arusha National Park safari
Arusha National Park is located less than 2 hours drive away and the team departs early from camp following the saddle of Kilimanjaro to Mt. Meru. Arusha National Park is one of the most beautiful National Parks in Africa, and is home to abundant wildlife including leopard and hyena.
Day 11 End Tour
Travel to Kilimanjaro
Camps International - Map
Tour Includes:
  • Round-trip airfare
  • 7 overnight stays in group-oriented accommodations
  • Breakfast daily
  • Lunch daily
  • Dinner daily
  • Full-time services of a professional tour director
  • Guided sightseeing and city walks as per itinerary
  • Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
  • Tour Diary™
  • Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
  • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
  • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.

We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.378.8845 to price this tour with your requested options.

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5681.00 total fee
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