About Tanzania: Tanzania’s welcoming people, cultural vitality, and extraordinary natural beauty make it a favorite destination for travelers. A well-established democratic government and a widely respected system of public education are keys to Tanzania’s reputation as a stable, safe country. Comprised of over 120 different ethnic groups, Tanzania’s people rely heavily on agriculture for both subsistence and livelihood. The country hosts abundant wildlife, including elephants, zebras, giraffes, water buffalo, hyenas, and lions. Tanzanians pride themselves on their rich natural resources and peaceful history.

The Project: In our fourteenth summer in Tanzania, three separate projects will take place in agricultural villages outside the northern town of Arusha. Situated on the slopes of Mt. Meru, approximately 80 kilometers west of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the fertile Arusha area is well suited to agricultural production. The towns are close to many national parks, including the Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. Working with local people, students immerse themselves in village life by helping complete community-initiated projects. These may include building a classroom at the school or simple housing for teachers; improving a local water supply system; working on local farms; planting, harvesting, and selling crops at market; and helping in an orphanage. To foster working relationships and friendships with the local communities, the basics of Kiswahili are introduced to students in an intensive language workshop. Use of the language is encouraged throughout the summer. Students engage in independent research projects in their villages. Possible topics include: how the village political structure functions, the role of music and dance in Tanzania, how ujimaa (villagization) shapes community interdependence, the role of women as the primary agricultural producers, tourism and the economy, and wildlife management. Each day, students help prepare meals for the group. Living accommodations are simple. Weekend excursions include visits to nearby farms and hikes into the surrounding hills.

The Safari: The program culminates in a safari conducted by close friends of Putney, who introduce students to Tanzania’s fascinating tribal culture, wildlife, and history. The safari lasts seven days and includes a stay as guests of the Maasai tribe complete with a reception by a village elder and the roasting of a goat in our group’s honor. Guides introduce students to Tanzania’s abundant wildlife in Tarangire National Park, and take them to an area of the park where they can view animals up close. The safari continues to Ngorongoro Crater, where guides take students on a two-day expedition into the ten-mile-wide crater. Driving through grassland, swamps, and along lakes and rivers, students can safely encounter lions, zebras, cheetahs, rhinos, elephants, monkeys, flamingos, wildebeest, jackals, and hyenas.