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Tanzania is known for Mount Kilimanjaro and its famed safaris. Most visitors skip over major cities, and have little interaction with locals outside of the tourist industry. That's what makes Venture Travel the adventure of a lifetime. 

Join us on this custom 9 day/8 night Venture. We immerse in the rapidly growing Dar es Salaam with leaders in art, media and business. We make Maasai home visits, visit enterprises, engage socially with students and participate in entrepreneurship week while based at the Lodge at SEGA Girls' School in Morogoro. We end with a safari at Mikumi National Park. The Experience connects us to Tanzania's future--culture, education, entrepreneurship and sustainability are a focus. Personal learning and connection are your key souvenirs. 

This venture is limited to 8 curious, adventurous, globally-minded travelers. There will be numerous opportunities to engage pre-trip, which will enhance our learning experience. 

BACKGROUND

Between safaris and Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania offers much to explore. We always recommend arriving East Africa (or Europe) a few days early to alleviate jet lag. Learn a few words of Swahili and settle into the more relaxed African pace. Soon you'll be ready to launch into our exploration of Tanzania's present and future. 

To connect to Tanzania, SEGA Girls' School, and some of the people you'll meet, enjoy Jodi Morris' Tanzania blog posts.

Below are resources to help you learn more about Tanzania, traveling within the country, and culture & customs:

• CIA World Factbook: Tanzania's geography, people and economy
• Lonely Planet Tanzania: A high-quality tourism website
• Cultural Guide: A brief introduction of what to expect
• Recommended Reading for Tanzania: List from Longitude Books
• Top 10 Films to Watch Before Your Trip to Tanzania: We recommend watching Tanzania Transit, which includes William Moses (Maasai Prince) and viewing Aida Mulokozi's 2019 TEDx Talk. We meet both William and Aida during the trip.

PRE/POST TRIP TRAVEL

We encourage you to extend your time in Tanzania. Popular destinations and activities in Tanzania include:

• The Serengeti National Park
• Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
• Lake Victoria
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Tarangire National Park
• Zanzibar

Should you need assistance in planning, we recommend Lara Ray (lara@ejafrica.com) at Extraordinary Journeys, which generously donates 5% of the cost of trips to SEGA/Nurturing Minds.

GETTING TO/FROM DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

To reach Dar es Salaam, we recommend flying into the Julius Nyerere International Airport (Airport Code: DAR). A variety of airlines fly into DAR, with most flights connecting through Europe or the Middle East. The airport is located 22 km (30 minutes) away from the Hotel Slipway, our base while in Dar es Salaam.

Our trip officially begins at hotel at 5:00pm on May 20, 2024, and ends as we return to the Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam around 3:00pm on May 28, 2024. Don't book outbound flights any earlier than 6:00pm.

- Ideal Participants are curious, adventurous, globally-minded travelers.

- Group Size is a minimum of 5 and limited to 8 to create a community-building experience. 

- Per Person Trip Cost for 9 days/8 nights lodging, transportation, meals and beverages, excursions and tips is $4295 per person (early booking). This includes a $500 donation in support of SEGA Girls' School. For solo travelers, a $800 single-supplement applies. 

- Your Venture Host is Jodi Morris

Given the unique and personal nature of this venture, itinerary details are subject to change.

To reserve your spot, make a $1000 USD trip deposit. You'll receive a confirmation upon receipt of payment. Full payment is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip.

CANCELLATION POLICY

We understand that unforeseen circumstances can occur. For cancellations made more than 60 days prior to the trip, we will gladly reimburse you, less your non-refundable initial trip deposit.  Any cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the trip will incur the full 100% cancellation fee.  We always recommend the purchase of travel insurance, which typically covers trip cancellation fees. For more information, see Terms & Conditions.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

In order to enter Tanzania, you will need a valid passport with at least two blank pages and six months validity remaining. Passport and any other required travel documents are to be presented along with the appropriate visa to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point, such as border station, airport or harbor. 

We encourage travelers to obtain a tourist visa for Tanzania online (e-visa Tanzania). Visas may also be obtained upon arrival, but are subject to processing times.

U.S. citizens must select a MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA ($100 USD) and pay via Visa/ Mastercard. Note that you are traveling to Tanzania for leisure, are self-hosting, and staying at Hotel Slipway. You will need to upload a copy of your passport, a passport photo and proof of Tanzania departure.

We highly encourage U.S. travelers to register with the U.S. Government Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and to review the pages for the U.S. Embassy Tanzania and  U.S. Department of State Tanzania.

MEDICAL RECOMMENDATIONS & IMMUNIZATIONS

All trip participants should visit their doctor at least 4-6 weeks in advance of their departure date. Participants should ask their doctor for recommendations about malaria pills and other travel medications and immunizations. 

If traveling from certain countries, travelers will need to show proof of Yellow Fever immunization upon entry. If you are traveling to another country before Tanzania, please be aware of this.

For more information on immunizations recommended or needed for travel to Tanzania, please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Tanzania website.

We recommend that participants bring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to Tanzania. For more information on COVID-19, please see COVID-19 information per U.S. Embassy in Tanzania. 

MEDICAL & TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend that participants purchase travel insurance, or ensure their regular health insurance plans cover travel-related illnesses and injuries. Insurance must cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, and evacuation expenses. A reminder that Medicare does not cover international medical expenses. All participants to note health insurance information as part of trip registration. 

Even if you have health insurance covering international travel, we strongly recommend you also obtain coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, curtailment, and personal property. Two options are Travelex and World Nomads. Consider which plan is best for you.  

Money Major credit cards accepted; ATMs widely available; local currency & USD accepted (make sure bills not older than 2011)

Currency Tanzanian shilling (TZS); $1 US = 2,580 TZS (approx 50,000 TZS = $20 US)

Weather & Climate Tropical. May is the end of the rainy season. Expect temperatures in 80s (daytime) and 60s (nighttime). Be sure to bring a jacket/sweater for cool nights and mornings, sun protection for daytime, and rain jacket/umbrella for showers

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type 230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): D, G

Religions Christianity, Islam

Time Difference UTC+3 (+7 hours from Eastern Daylight Savings Time)

Potable Water Bottled water is recommended. for drinking (even teeth brushing). Please bring a personal water bottle for refilling throughout.

Population  61 million (6 million in Dar es Salaam)

Government  Current President of Tanzania is Samia Suluhu Hassan (since 2021)

Safety Always be aware of your belongings, especially in markets or crowded areas of larger cities. Avoid walking alone at night.

Transportation  Uber is widely available (recommend using Uber Cash for better service)

Arrive in Dar es Salaam. Transport and check-in at the Hotel Slipway (+255 22 260 0893, reception@hotelslipway.com). Transportation will be arranged from the airport to the hotel, located on the Msasani Peninsula of Dar es Salaam about 22km (30 minutes) from the Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). 

You will stay in an Executive Sea View room. Our group reservation number is #80701 (ask to link any earlier reservations).

At 5:00pm, we meet as a group at the Waterfront Restaurant of the Hotel Slipway. We transport to dinner at a rooftop terrace at nearby Alexander’s Restaurant. We are joined by award-winning journalist Daniel Kijo, who shares what we should know about today's Tanzania and its place in Africa and globally.

Complimentary breakfast on your own at the hotel. Today, we explore Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's commercial center and one of the world's fastest-growing cities.

In the hotel lobby, we meet William "Maasai Prince," who will join us for the next two days. Straddling traditional Maasai and modern culture, William's insights are fascinating. You will get to know William and his family over the next few days.

We drive to the newly-renovated Old Boma. Built in 1866, it is one of the oldest buildings in Dar es Salaam. We meet Gwamaka of Dar Es Salaam Centre for Architectural Heritage (DARCH) housed at Old Boma. 

Founded in 2014, DARCH plays a critical role in helping Tanzania preserve its architectural history while modernizing for its future (read more). We learn about Dar Es Salaam’s colonial history, links to Zanzibar, and the East African slave trade. We view the port and Dar's changing skyline from DARCH's rooftop.

We tour through central Dar es Salaam and head to local favorite Makuti Dar. We are joined by Mary-Louise Kidaha from Renew Capital. Renew has been inviting individuals to invest in Africa for more than a decade. Mary Louise ("ML") opens our eyes to Tanzania's start-up scene. Joining us is one of Tanzania 's climate leaders, Gibson Kawago. Gibson is the founder of lithium battery repurposing company Waga. 

We return to the hotel and relax for the afternoon.

Over dinner at the Slipway's Waterfront Restaurant, we have more time with William, who shares stories of growing up in a rural Maasai village, his quest for an education, and his young adult life as a musician (YouTube and Instagram). Read more about Wiliam in Venture Stories.

Complimentary breakfast on your own at the hotel. Check out and meet in the lobby with luggage at 7:30am.

Joined by William, we transport via private coach to Morogoro, a town of about 350,000 people located 125 miles west of Dar es Salaam. The ride alone introduces you to the many facets of Tanzania.

We stop to pick up box lunches in Chalinze to enjoy with William's family in Bwawani. It's an opportunity to see life for a traditional Maasai family, and more deeply connect to William's personal story. We continue onward to SEGA Girls' School.

In Tanzania, 28% of girls who complete primary school do not enroll in secondary school. So educating and empowering young women is the most powerful way to break the cycle of poverty and further economic prosperity. 

Founded in 2007, SEGA educates 280+ girls annually, equipping them with academic, business, life and leadership skills; 100% of SEGA graduates qualify for continuing education. SEGA is supported by U.S. based non-profit Nurturing Minds. Read about SEGA's founding and achievements and latest annual report.

After getting oriented and settled in at SEGA Lodge (watch this video!) we are welcomed by SEGA students and staff and learn about the school's history, programs and impact. Form 3 student ambassadors lead us around the 30-acre campus which is a model of environmental sustainability; it is entirely run on solar-power, has a rainwater catchment system, and its organic gardens provide nearly half of the school’s produce. 

We unpack and relax at SEGA Lodge. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm, where we are joined by Headmistress Elly Sarakikya to learn more about SEGA student life.

Up early? Walk the campus grounds before morning coffee (6:30am).

Enjoy breakfast at SEGA Lodge. We drive to Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) campus where we visit the Belgium organization APOPO which trains rats to detect Tuberculosis (TB). Slow and inaccurate detection methods make TB the world's most deadly infectious disease; 10 million people globally contract the disease each year, and Tanzania is one of the higher-burden countries. 

Afterward, we visit some Morogoro markets. We start with the souvenir and fabric market, learning about the traditional Tanzania fabric called kanga. Feel free to purchase some of your favorite patterns—a tailor at SEGA Lodge can create your ideal customized garment and deliver to you on Saturday.

At the local produce market, we purchase gifts for our afternoon home visit with SEGA student Evaline Jakobo Kimaya. Evaline is a 16 year-old second-year (Form 2) student whose family lives around 60km from the SEGA campus. We enjoy lunch with Evaline and her family and learn about day-to-day family life.

We return to campus, with the option of joining the girls for afternoon sports or games. We relax at SEGA Lodge before enjoying our casual dinner.

Up early? Walk the campus grounds before morning coffee (6:30am).

Enjoy an early breakfast at SEGA Lodge. We depart early to drive to Morogoro town to meet our guides for a beautiful hike through Choma village and the Uluguru Mountains up to the Choma waterfall. The medium-grade round-trip hike will take several hours. It's a wonderful way to get a perspective on the city and day-to-day life in Tanzania. Bring your swimsuit and towel to enjoy swimming at the waterfall. 

At the hike's end, we stop for lunch with a local family. 

We return to the SEGA campus. As students wrap up classes for the week, it's sports time! Join a skills session led by SEGA visitors--yoga (Jamie Morris), soccer (Shannon McWilliams), or paddle/net ball (Pam McWilliams).

Enjoy a well-deserved rest before enjoying dinner at SEGA Lodge. 

Still awake? Join students for a Friday night tradition—movie night in the Big Banda!.

Up early? Walk the campus grounds before morning coffee (6:30am).

Enjoy breakfast at SEGA Lodge. The weekend is the perfect time to see SEGA students and graduates outside of the classroom. There are opportunities to play sports (soccer or netball) and practice some Swahili.

In the morning, we partake in the SEGA Entrepreneurship Program. The program teaches Form 3 (third-year) students essential life and business skills. We enjoy tea with SEGA Director, Laina Mwandoloma, and learn about students' post-graduation journeys.

After lunch, we head to the Morogoro Town Community Center to see graduates in action. “Msichana Kisasa” or Modern Girl is SEGA's community outreach program, providing a safe space for girls and boys mentored by SEGA graduates. We participate in their training activity and game—it's led in Swahili, but the coordinators translate.

Back on campus, we enjoy our last dinner at SEGA Lodge while preparing for our early morning departure. 

Still awake? Join students for Saturday movie night in the Big Banda!.

Enjoy breakfast at SEGA Lodge. It's time to say farewell to SEGA as we depart via private vehicle for Mikumi National Park. We enjoy driving to the park on a newly paved road; expect to see our first animals on the drive.

We stay at Foxes' Vuma Hills Tented Camp. Our accommodations are luxury tents on elevated wooden decks with thatched roofs, each containing comfortable beds, showers and bathrooms. A large veranda looks over the bush. 

After being welcomed with lunch, we enjoy leisure time and an afternoon game drive with our exceptional guide Fraida Boaz. Female safari guides are rare in Tanzania, and Fraida is one of the few who fight the stereotypes. 

At sunset, we gather for a relaxing dinner at the Camp. We are joined by Juliana Moses Sengalai. Juliana is William's younger sister who graduated from SEGA in 2022. She is currently studying tourism at nearby Mikumi Veta. Through Juliana's story, our family learning journey comes full circle.

Enjoy a hearty Camp breakfast prior to a full day in the bush. 

We are led by expert wildlife guides on morning and afternoon game drives and walking safaris in the park. Expect to see a wide variety of African birds and wildlife--giraffes, zebras, impalas, wildebeest, lions, hippos, warthogs and more.  

We gather at sunset to view animals around the watering hole, followed by a relaxing dinner at the Camp. We enjoy our last evening together, reflecting on the most impactful moments of the week and what it is leading us to think about next.

We take our breakfast to-go and enjoy one last game drive before departure.

Our drive to the Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) for our international connecting flights will take approximately 5-6 hours. Departing flights should leave no earlier 6:00pm (most international flights depart late in the evening). For those departing earlier, alternative transport will be arranged (additional $350 fee).

As we say farewell to Tanzania, we consider the new connections made and rich experiences enjoyed, and think about ways to share our learnings with our family and friends back home.