Trip Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Country(ies): Tanzania (Zanzibar)
Partners Trek? No
Cost: $2700
Airfare Estimate: $1500
Structure:   •   Lodging:   •   Nightlife: 5   •   Activity: 8

Waka waka – it’s time for Africa! This trip has it all: animal butts, dik-diks, and amazing tinder photo opps of you getting chased by a hippo. You want adventure, check. You want nature, check. You’re open to eating a freshly killed goat roasted over an open fire in the middle of the Serengeti, check.  Do you prefer the mountains or beaches? Doesn’t matter we’ll give you both. I bet we even learn what tik-tok is by then and go viral.

You smell that? That’s cinnamon from Zanzibar’s spice farms. After this trip, you’ll be able to tell your classmates what a cinnamon tree looks like. You can brag about the bad and boujee white-sand beaches you visited, show photos from inside the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera (what?), and regale how you hiked (next to) Mt. Kilimanjaro. Together we’ll learn to pronounce Ngorongoro while choosing the best dik-dik pics. We’ll watch sunsets while indulging in some of the finest wines and delectable beers that Tanzania has to offer. If you are looking for an adventure where you can get the adrenaline pumping, turn-up, but still have time to relax, we got you covered.

At the end, you’ll have a whole new group of besties and a whole lot of photos. Let’s be real–this group is going to be your first group of friends at Ross, and we’d be LIONing if we didn’t say anyone who’s adventurous enough to come on this MTrek is going to be pretty awesome. Everything else is irrELEPHANT. If you are still on the fence, ask yourself – RHIN-ot?

Day 1 — Saturday, Aug 15

After a summer of preparing for the best two (maybe more, you don’t know yet) years of your lives and your fearless trek leaders wrapping up internships after burning the midnight oil all summer, your Ross journey officially begins as we fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The flight is...well, long. So, be sure to pack snacks to keep yourself entertained and plenty of snacks so you don’t get hangry.

Day 2 — Sunday, Aug 16

Jambo! Welcome to Arusha, Tanzania. Today we all will settle into the boutique hotel and spa and engage in some serious group bonding (read: eat, drink and play ridiculous question games from your trek leaders). While waiting for everyone to arrive, tree planting or village walking tours may also occur (coffee will 100% occur as we all get over jet-lag and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime).

Day 3 — Monday, Aug 17

Rise and shiiiiiiine (cue Kylie Jenner). In the morning, we will embark on a short drive to the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro! This will prepare you for your imminent Management & Organization class simulation--except that we won’t be hiking to any base camps and won’t have to worry about carrying extra oxygen. Instead, we will enjoy a half-day hike through the rain forest to visit Maundi Crater and the Mandara escarpment. Prepare yourself for some awesome views and the chance to spot colobus monkeys in their natural habitat.

Day 4 — Tuesday, Aug 18

Dreaming of that African safari gram? Today is the day those dreams become reality as we embark on a game drive towards Serengeti National park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There will be plenty to see on the way and plenty of icebreakers to get to know your new besties. Cat-naps on the ride over are optional before we settle into our “glamping” at the Serengeti Camp (facilities available, no trowels required).

Day 5 — Wednesday, Aug 19

Get up before the sun and head out while the animals are the most active. Put on your full safari get-up (cargo pants and animal print highly encouraged) for the photo op of a lifetime. James will be prepared with his mini tripod and scope out the best lighting and angles for everyone. We’ll return back to camp for brunch and will spend the warmer part of the day relaxing. We will do another game drive at dusk, and spend the night bonding over a fire and games.

Day 6 — Thursday, Aug 20

Rise with the sun, or perhaps with some sunrise yoga taught by your two fabulous trek leaders Sonja and Jane. Today, we will leave the Serengeti and head to Mto wa Mbu via THE CRATER. The world-renowned Ngoro Ngoro Crater is widely regarded as a microcosm of natural habitats in Africa and often touted as a veritable Garden of Eden. Within this crater lies so many types of ecosystem, including riverine forests, open plains, freshwater and alkaline lakes. The scenery is spectacular as you descend almost 600 meters down to the crater floor. Animals within the Ngoro Ngoro Crater are less shy of people and safari vehicles, so it's easier to see them up close. We’ll end the day at Mto wa Mbu, a delightfully small village that will give us a snapshot of small-town African life, situated well off the tourist trail.

Day 7 — Friday, Aug 21

Today we will immerse ourselves with the local community--a highlight for many of your trek leaders in Egypt last year. We will visit another village for a guided stroll around the farming areas, milling machine, and local homes and farmlands. We will also have the opportunity to prepare a Swahili lunch with the locals and to taste the culture! After lunch, we will drive to Arusha for the night before heading to Zanzibar!

Day 8 — Saturday, Aug 22

Today we will fly to the ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar where things are certain to get spicy! Imagine idyllic beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways, traditional dhows sailing the coast, fragrant bazaars, and delicious cocktails. Our bungalows on the North coast are right on the beautiful white-sand beaches. We might take a tour of the spice plantations, or we might drink and eat CAKE BY THE OCEAN, or we might have a [full or not] MOON PARTY.

Day 9 — Sunday, Aug 23

Our last full day will be a leisure day to relax with your new best friends. Choose from activities like snorkeling, feasting on local seafood, chilling on the beach, or exploring more of the island.

Day 10 — Monday, Aug 24

After breakfast, we will proceed to Stone Town for the end of our adventure and travel back to the US.