Journey to the captivating, peaceful land of East Africa as you explore the beautiful countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Work hand in hand with a local community to build and install solar power panels. Encounter an extraordinary array of wildlife on safari and learn about wildlife conservation. Learn Swahili and take part in the indigenous way of life of the vibrant Maasai people through cultural engagement. Cook delicious Kenyan street food, and help make flip flops at a beach debris upcycling center. End your journey with a visit to the Spice Island of Zanzibar, where you explore the labyrinth city of Stone Town, swim in aquamarine water, and leave only your footprints behind on its pristine white sand beaches.
Kenya & Tanzania
Lighting Lives
21 days
Trip duration
9th – 12th
Grades
21 days
Jul 1 - Jul 21, 2025
New York, NY
Arrival & Departure
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$7,495
Tuition
21 days
Trip duration
Jul 1 - Jul 21, 2025
9th – 12th
Grades
*Airfare for group flight from New York and visa fees additional
Overview
![](https://arccprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/307678-Summer_Kenya-Tanzania-1-1024x1024.png)
Highlights
- Install Solar Energy Systems in Rural Maasai Homes
- Visit the Spice Island of Zanzibar and Swim in its Tropical Turquoise Water
- Experience a Multi-Day Safari, Searching for Africa’s “Big Five”: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino & Water Buffalo
- Learn About Public Health Initiatives at a Local Community Clinic
- Learn to Cook Local Kenyan Street Food
- Live Amongst and Learn From the Native Maasai People
- 25 Hours of Community Service
Want to learn more about traveling with ARCC or have more questions about this program?
Schedule a Call with Marisa Abrahams![](https://arccprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sum-Tanz-highlights-2.png)
Safari
Embark on a safari to search for Africa’s “Big Five”: rhino, lion, elephant, water buffalo, and leopard, and spot a multitude of other wildlife. Spend the day roaming between various animal sightings and observing life in the famed African savannah. Take in the quintessential and wild beauty of the East African landscape. At night, camp nestled around the open fire listening to the sounds of the animals in the distance.
Safari
Connect with Maasai Communities
Immerse yourself in the Maasai community and experience the unique culture of the Maasai people. Learn some key phrases in Swahili and about the mounting struggles they face in a rapidly urbanizing region of the world. Work alongside the local community members and learn to build and install solar panels in residential homes, providing families with a reliable, renewable, and clean energy source.
Culture
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Zanzibar
Famous for its spice plantations and beautiful beaches. Relax on the island’s beautiful white sand beaches or swim and snorkel in the clear blue waters of the warm Indian Ocean. Explore the cobblestone streets and night markets of the historic city of Stone Town. Sample fresh foods and shop for souvenirs at the night market while watching the sunset over the ocean.
Snorkel
Common Questions
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All food, lodging, transportation, and activities are paid for with your trip tuition. Group airfare is additional and the cost depends on the program.
In order to be sure there are enough seats available on international group flights, ARCC books the international tickets in advance and families are invoiced for the cost of the international airfare.
Families are also responsible for booking flights or arranging transportation for students to meet their leaders and other group members at the program’s arrival airport. The leaders and students then fly internationally together as a group.
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences.
The weather can vary from very hot equatorial climates on the coast to more mildly cool climates up in the higher altitudes in the savanna (some nights it can get as low as the high 40’s/4.4°C). Located at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,600 feet (1,524-2316 meters), Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya’s dry, sunny climate is nothing like the steamy African jungle of Tarzan movies. The weather is spring-like year round, with daytime temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s (21°-26°C), evenings in the 60’s (15.5°). The coastal and lowland areas near Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar tend to be more tropical in temperature and actually will get into the 90’s (32°C).
ARCC has linked up with a company that has been running programs in Tanzania and Kenya for over a decade. Through them, we have made some incredible contacts that have led to valuable and meaningful service projects. We have designed the service projects to help their communities in the most sustainable way possible. Each year, groups build and install solar panels in Maasai homes, bringing electricity to homes that either had none, used kerosene (both a dangerous and unhealthy option), and/or could not afford to pay into the national electric company on a reliable basis. Our groups also have the opportunity to help young students with their English skills, through games, activities and collaborative teaching.
Throughout the program, the majority of the time we will be camping in private campsites. ARCC will provide the tents and camping gear, and we ask that students bring a sleeping bag. We will spend some nights in a small hotel on Zanzibar at the end of the program, and some nights in a guesthouse in Southern Kenya during the Solar Power Project.
Throughout the program, we will be traveling in a custom-built safari truck made for ‘Overlanding’. Each truck comes fully equipped with tents, mattresses, kitchen equipment, stereo, cooler box/fridge, coach seats, storage for valuables, luggage space, and a comprehensive medical kit. Overland travel is the best way to see and experience Africa and our experienced outfitters have intimate knowledge of geography, people, politics, and locales We travel in custom-built safari vehicles that are used to ensure maximum comfort while experiencing the best Africa has to offer. We are self-sufficient and fully equipped with all our gear for the expedition. We fly to Zanzibar from Arusha’s local airport. From Zanzibar, we take a ferry back to the Tanzania mainland for our flight home. The ferry is equipped with proper safety equipment and we only use vetted boat and ferry services we’ve worked with for years without any issues. You may want to bring motion sickness medicine in case you are sensitive to movement while traveling.
The food we will eat will be a mix of Western-style food (sandwiches, pizza, burgers, pasta etc.) and traditional local food such as stews, soups, fruits, rice, lentils, and vegetables. Breakfast often consists of cereal and fresh fruit. We will have a chance to sample incredible traditional dishes over a home-style BBQ spit. Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered for. Students should inform ARCC of any dietary needs before the start of the program.
Kenya and Tanzania are clean and safe places to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your trip to East Africa. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Additionally, our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
Required Medication: ARCC strongly suggests that all students on the Tanzania and Kenya program take a prescription antimalarial drug. Although chances of contracting malaria are relatively slim, we still recommend that students protect themselves against the possibility of contracting malaria. As there can be side effects to the malaria medication, we suggest you consult your physician regarding treatment.
Suggested Medications: The recommended prophylaxes in risk areas are Doxycycline or Atovaquone/Proguanil otherwise known as Malarone.
Please consult your physician to determine which antimalarial drug may be most appropriate for you.
In-Country Prevention: Malaria is mosquito-borne and therefore anti-mosquito measures such as covering as much skin as possible with loose-fitting clothing and using insect repellent with DEET are highly recommended and strongly encouraged during the program.
For the Tanzania and Kenya programs, ARCC recommends that you bring an additional $225 of spending money. This will cover cash for souvenirs, communication, possible clinic visits, and the $10 departure tax from Zanzibar to the mainland. The money should be in smaller denominations ($20 and below) and all bills must be produced in 2006 or later (Dollars with the big head) because of circulated counterfeit dollars. We recommend you bring all of your money in cash. ATM’s are found in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha, but are limited outside the city. If you do bring an ATM/debit card, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations. Kenya uses the Kenyan Shilling KSh) as currency, and there are approximately KSh 126.28 for every US $1 (as of Feb. 2023). Tanzania uses the Tanzanian Shilling (TSh) as currency, and there are approximately TSh 2338.55 for every US $1 (as of Feb. 2023).
Yes, all students traveling to Tanzania and Kenya need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after you travel. Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this adventure. It normally takes six to eight weeks to process a passport application.
Yes, you will need a visa to enter Tanzania and a visa to enter Kenya, but you don’t need it before departure. We will purchase them upon arrival in each country. A visa for Tanzania costs $100 and a visa for Kenya costs $60. You will be applying for both your Kenya and Tanzania visas prior to the program. Step-by-step directions will be provided.
Tanzania and Kenya are on the East Africa Time Zone (EAT), 10 hours ahead of San Francisco and 7 hours ahead of New York City.
Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, it is important that you bring a backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the program, the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.
Tanzania was once a German colony and Kenya was formerly part of the British Empire. While we are not promoting colonization, one effect colonization had was that many modern conveniences you would find in the western world, such as air conditioning, large grocery stores, ATMs, and modern hospitals, are present in mid-size to major cities in each country. However, during our time in the villages and other rural areas, you can expect a much simpler lifestyle. Villages often can support themselves by growing their own vegetables and selling them at local markets for income. Agriculture is a big part of Tanzanian life. Few people can afford cars, so most travel by foot, bicycle, and public bus. Western food, bottled water, and Coca-Cola (for better or for worse) can all be found throughout Tanzania.
We have the chance to live amongst some people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms. Pens, pencils, notepads, and books are widely accepted. Soccer balls are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles, ARCC would ask that every person bring no more than a gym bag of goods to donate.
Have questions? Speak to one of our Program Directors, give them a call at (415) 332.5075 , they love talking about their trips!