Massai Community Volunteering and Safari Trip

  Tanzania

Arusha

Dates: 2008 - 26 Jan, 23 Feb, 28 Jun, 23 Aug, 20 Sep

Description: Experience the magical land of the Maasai and help preserve their indigenous knowledge.

The Maasai people of Tanzania live in a stunning wilderness which encompasses the vast grassy plains of the Serengeti, renowned as one of the world's greatest wildlife habitats, and the unique ecosystem of the Ngorongoro Crater. Until the 20th century this region was largely untouched by the western world but today the traditional lifestyle of the Maasai is fading. Imaginative Volunteers will take part in the day to day activities of a Maasai village, allowing you to experience and help preserve the Maasai culture first hand. You will also enjoy a fantastic safari with the chance to see a huge array of game including migratory herds of wildebeest, lion and cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Your Involvement

The programme

Days 8-13

The Maasai village of Eluai lies in the shadow of Mt Meru near the town of Arusha, and it is here that Imaginative Volunteers will be based. A variety of tasks await you including bricklaying, carpentry, plastering, painting, gardening and farming (including milking the goats!) although the exact activities will be scheduled according to the season and community needs. No specific experience or training is necessary, just a healthy amount of enthusiasm. Other activities for the week include Maa language lessons, hiking and a visit to a traditional Maasai homestead. You'll learn from Maasai warriors about medicines and plants and may even join the community forester on one of his outreach visits to community groups. Between August and October 2006, Imaginative Volunteers will be taking up the challenge of building the final classroom for the community college.

Itinerary:

Day 1, Nairobi - Arrive and transfer to your hotel in Nairobi. Free day.

Day 2, Nairobi - Arusha - Depart early by shuttle bus and make our way from Nairobi across the border into Tanzania, heading for Arusha, nestled in the shadow of Mt Meru.

Day 3, Tarangire National Park - Drive to Tarangire NP, which has the highest concentration of game outside of the Serengeti ecosystem. We enjoy game drives in the park. (BLD)

Days 4-5, Serengeti National Park - Take a game drive en-route to the Serengeti, one of the best known wildlife areas in the world. We enjoy further game drives in this park. (BLD)

Days 6-7, Ngorongoro Crater - Drive to Ngorongoro Crater via the Olduvai Gorge, where fossil remains dating back 1.75 million years were found. The crater is teeming with wildlife and birdlife. We descend into the crater on Day 7 for game viewing. (BLD)

Days 8-13 Monduli Juu - From Ngorongoro we drive to Monduli Juu and transfer to the Maasai Village of Eluai where we settle in, ready to begin our volunteer programme. (BLD)

Day 14, Arusha - Leaving our project we drive to Arusha where the rest of the day is free. (B)

Day 15, Arusha - Nairobi - Arrive in Nairobi around lunchtime.Tour ends. (B)

Highlights: * Game viewing in Serengeti and Tarangire Reserves
* Olduvai Gorge, home to earliest man
* 4WD safari into Ngorongoro Crater
* Living within Maasai Community
* Volunteering in Eluai
* Visit to traditional Maasai Homestead

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Tanzania Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 12

The Imaginative Traveller's Mission Statement: Our aim has always been to provide exceptional travel experiences. We believe that travel should be stimulating. We want our travellers to relish the diversity of countries and cultures our world has to offer. Our focus is on innovation not imitation and it is gratifying to see so many of our ideas finding their way into our competitors programmes. Established in 1991, The Imaginative Traveller has grown steadily to become one of the world's leading operators of small group adventure tours.

Year Founded: 1991