School Expedition

Tanzania

Tanzania School Expedition Overview

Here is a great video made by a young student from Writhlington school near Bath about his trip to Tanzania, and it captures the essence of the trip really well:

Our Kenya school trip programme, which has been running since the early 1990’s, has been so successful that it’s developed across the border in Tanzania since 2013. We work very closely with the Moving Mountains Trust with all our school projects and create a trip that benefits not just the visitor, but equally so the local communities where we work. The partnership has allowed us to directly give back, support and develop the regions where we work. Our youth trips allow the visitor to experience real life in Africa, discover the local cultures and communities, which also allows reflection upon their own circumstances and opportunities at home. After some time supporting the communities we work with, we then move to an adventure and a personal and group challenge followed by some well deserved rest and relaxation as we explore the African wilderness and her wildlife!

The location for our project with Moving Mountains is close to Marangu village, right on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, an area which has seen many changes as the climate change on the mountain changes the geography of the land. Our plan is ambitious, but already well underway; in 2013 an immediate need was identified to build, from scratch, a primary school as the closest one was heavily oversubscribed and during the wet season an arduous journey away for small children. Since that time, with the help of a number of schools we’re building the school.

This area is pristine and also where we employ many of our staff that work with us on our climbs of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. These very same people will then join us on the second stage of our adventure, as we head off to climb to the 4600m summit of Mount Meru. This is a marvellous ascent to reach the summit high above the clouds. It starts as we trek through lush green forest, then up on to barren volcanic scree, before gazing across a sea of clouds to the sun rising behind Kilimanjaro as we stand on the summit. This is a four day / three night climb non technical climb using huts to stay in overnight on the mountain.

After all the hard work we then spend a few days of rest, relaxation and reflection exploring Tanzania’s wild life on safari!

Just like the trip in Kenya, this expedition has the hallmarks of travel and culture and adventure, combined with service to the community and interaction with local people. We are particularly proud that our team in Kenya, who have had years of experience running similar trips in their own country, work hand in hand with our team in Tanzania to deliver a trip, that we have seen time and time again, improve the lives of all involved – visitor and host.

The project which is determined by Moving Mountains is at Ng’aroni Primary School in Tanzania, and our aim over the next few years is to create an excellent educational facility for up to 350 children, with an Early Child Development centre as well. This is a priority for the education authorities.

We work closely with many UK, Irish and international schools to provide international school trips such as the one mentioned above to Kenya, Tanzania, Borneo and Nepal. We can tailor all of our trips in terms of activity, duration and budget. Do please contact us to find out more!

CLIMB MOUNT MERU as part of our TANZANIA SCHOOL EXPEDITION

This is a great adventure for everyone. It’s not a technical climb but has one short ‘via ferrata’ adventurous section near the summit, but your always under the watchful care and attention of our amazing team of guides. There’s lots of wildlife for you to walk past and comfortable huts to stay in. Standing on top of Mount Meru, at nearly 4600m, staring across a sea of cloud to Kilimanjaro and down to the plains below, is a real achievement, as this video shows very well!

SAFARI ON THE TANZANIA SCHOOL ADVENTURE

Every trip to Africa has to have a safari and Tanzania has some of the finest parks on offer. We use our overland safari vehicles to enjoy the best that the land has to offer, an unforgettable holiday out on the plains of the southern Serengeti.

Find out more and book a life-changing Kilimanjaro Trek at Adventure Alternative

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TANZANIA SCHOOL EXPEDITION COST:

From £1245pp plus £400 charity fundraising for a 3 week adventure

Includes

UK, Tanzania and Kenya staffing and ground support
All internal transport, airport transfers and travel
All meals and bottled water
Accommodation provided in safari tents (huts on Mt Meru)
Guide and Porter support on Mount Meru
Fees/Permits for Mount Meru
All National Park fees for the safari

Excludes

Moving Mountains fundraising target - minimum of £400.00 per person
International return flight to Kilimanjaro Int airport (or Nairobi airport and a shuttle across the border)
Travel Insurance
Tanzania Visa
Travel vaccinations and anti-malaria tablets
Tips for Mountain Staff (~£30.00)
Personal spending for souvenirs, snacks, etc

Payments

A deposit of £100 per person is required on booking to secure your place and we ask that the remaining balance (trip price minus the deposit) is paid in full 4 weeks prior to your departure. When you book with us you’re given your own secure online account which you can access 24/7. Through this account you can edit your booking, add flight, health, insurance and dietary details and also make interim payments. We make payments as flexible as possible and you can choose, if you wish, to pay a bit off your trip fee whenever it suits you. For schools we can also arrange flexible term in case some people drop out and set fundraising targets and are there to support you and your students throughout.

Moving Mountains Fundraising Aim

Please note that we have deliberately seperated out the fundraising total for the Moving Mountains Trust from the trip fee paid to Adventure Alternative. This is to allow you to see exactly where the money goes. The fundraising total therefore does not go into the Adventure Alternative account but goes directly to the charity. The money paid to Moving Mountains will fund the project you are doing and also some educational programme costs for the charity.

“Superb Leaders, Staff and what an Experience!”

“What an Adventure! My students gained so much from their experience with Moving Mountains at the school on Kilimanjaro. What a humbling and motivating experience. My students came back with a worldly vision, an understanding of what the word ‘charity’ actually means, and have grown from their experiences at the project, the challenges of the mountain (tough!) and the wonders of the African savanna. Thank you so much and keep up the great work. We will be back!”

Tanzania School Expedition Fitness and Terrain

You do not need to be super-fit for this trip, however the expedition element is moderately demanding with some long days of sustained walking with a backpack. Any fitness training you do before hand will be very beneficial during the climb. Click here for fitness tips for climbing Mt Meru. The effects of altitude will also further tax your body on the mountain, but just go slowly and rest and drink more than usual, and it will be challenging but not terrible.

On the project phase you will usually camp, in comfortable tents close to the main Marangu medical centre and walk up to the project each day. This is a beautiful walk through semi-tropical forests and past coffee and banana fields. It is a small path and can be a bit muddy after recent rain. It is a beautiful way to start the day and to get warmed up for the project work ahead.

The terrain on Mt Meru varies throughout which leads to an interesting and ever changing environment. Durning the climb you will go from lowlands through equatorial forest and alpine heath, then across a lunar-like rocky landscape up to a rocky volcanic summit. Mt Meru’s position just below the equator offers an opportunity to experience extremely varied terrain and conditions, all in one expedition.

Climbing Mount Meru is not a technical climb and in essentially a walk all the way, though it is steep in places. There is no need to climb rock faces nor get close to precipitous drops along the way, there is one section which if a first timer may look a but risky but you have a solid metal rail to hold on to, known as ‘via ferrate’, plus of course all our guides to help you. The paths are in good condition and fairly well trodden with rangers stationed at each of the huts as well as on the trail as each team, along with guides and porters also has a ranger with them too.

During the safari part of your adventure we tend to camp in a secure site with a pool, good kitchen facilities and clean toilets., you will be entering reserves/parks usually consisting of dirt roads and sand tracks and not tarmac. If conditions are wet this can lead to adventurous driving but be assured that our drivers are well versed in safe and professional driving skills. If the weather is very dry then the terrain can be dusty so it’s worth bringing a shawl or buff to cover your mouth and nose. The vehicles are well maintained and professional safari vehicles. It is important to remember that you are in the animals environments and you are not top of the food chain!

Tanzania School Expedition Kit List

The basic idea of your kit is to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun/rain and comfortable in the various environments that we will find ourselves in.

There is a detailed kit list here under the ‘Kit List’ tab:-

BAGS – A duffel type bag for general use, a rucksack for carrying kit on the mountain and a small pack for carrying a few items on day trips
GENERAL CLOTHING – Clothing for day to day travel, time on the camp & safari
SHELL – Waterproof layer to keep off wind/rain
INSULATION – Layered system to keep you warm on the mountain- body hands & head
FEET – Day to day shoes, sturdy trekking boots, flip flops/sandals
SLEEPING – Warm sleeping bag (2 / 3 season) and camping mat to get a good nights sleep
EATING/DRINKING – Water bottles and personal plate, bowl, mug & cutlery
WASHING & MEDICAL – Suncream, anti-Malarials and a small 1st aid kit

Additional Kit Info

You will need to dress conservatively in the villages and in public in general. You will draw unnecessary attention to yourself and probably cause offence if revealing clothing is worn. Remember we are guests in a country and culture that is very different to ours, we need to be respectful guests.
Make sure hiking boots fit well and that you have used them at least a few times before the trip to break them (and your feet) in.
Clothing for the mountain needs to be synthetic and quick drying in case it rains. Make sure that you have a change of trekking trousers and base-layer top and something like a fleece top as well as a warm coat. It can be well below freezing at night and on at least the first half of summit day.
Take a good warm sleeping bag (three seasons), and a good sleeping mat for insulation. A sleeping bag liner made out of cotton (or silk) is useful too and helps to keep the bag clean or can be slept in if it gets too hot. Make your own sleeping bag liner if you want from an old sheet sewn into a mummy shape.
You will be able to wash clothes – handwash in washing powder, that is, and local women will also offer to wash your clothes on the camp for a small charge. The problem can be trying to dry things, heavy cotton garments can take ages to dry where-as light synthetic ones dry very quickly. On the mountain there is no opportunity (or need) to wash clothes at all.
Take old clothes to wear for the project and camp, they may get dirty or covered in cement or paint. You will want travel clothes which are clean for the travelling home bit, and maybe for the safari, but on the camp and project it may be pretty dirty. Choose your clothing based on usefulness and durability, not for fashion statements. Some clothes you may want to give away or swap at the end for souvenirs.
If you wear contact lenses take plenty of saline and comfort drops- it can get dusty. And obviously have your glasses on hand as back up.
Bringing your own mosquito nets are optional. The tents have inbuilt nets and people in the past have generally not had a big problem with insects.
Do not bring porcelain plates – bring plastic and a few spare spoons – they always go missing. Make sure that plates and bowls are of a generous size so that you can fit the food in; you will be hungry!
Keep your money somewhere safe, bum bags or body wallets can be useful. Do not bring large wads of notes with you. If you take sterling cash with you make sure they are good condition Bank of England notes, not regional notes, eg Northern Irish notes or Scottish notes.
For the mountain, work on a layering system which gives you versatility – Synthetic base-layer tops or thermals, shirt or warm top, fleece, waterproofs. Gloves and hats are vital too.