Tanzania is a land of remarkable contrasts - vast savannahs, sacred mountains, and vibrant cultures. This expedition gives you the rare opportunity to live and learn alongside the Maasai people, gaining insights few travellers ever experience.
The bush trek and safari offer adventure at its most raw and rewarding, while your community project work gives you the opportunity to both learn and contribute, forging meaningful cross-cultural relationships. If you're looking for a journey that blends cultural immersion, hands-on service, and iconic African exploration, Tanzania delivers it all.
This expedition offers an authentic journey into the heart of Tanzania's culture, wildlife, and landscapes. You'll begin by working alongside the Maasai people, supporting educational initiatives, and experiencing a lifestyle deeply rooted in tradition and harmony with nature. As you're welcomed into the community, you'll gain insight into their customs, values, and the challenges they face in preserving their way of life.
You'll take part in a range of community development projects, largely based around the Maasai school which was set up by Projects Abroad to support this rural community. Your project work could range from teaching and creating engaging classroom environments to supporting feeding and farming initiatives that help sustain local livelihoods. These meaningful contributions not only strengthen the Maasai school, but also foster genuine cross-cultural exchange, while developing your leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
The adventurous highlight of your expedition is an unforgettable trek across the African bush, where you'll camp beneath skies filled with stars, and summit the sacred Mount Lolkisale - a place of deep spiritual importance for the Maasai. To complete your journey, you'll experience the thrill of a safari in Tarangire National Park, where you'll have the chance to spot some of Africa's iconic wildlife.
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Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Tailor your trip Help promoting your trip Offset your trip carbon footprint
Example Itineraries for our 2026 & 2027 trips
Days 1 - 2
Land in the shadow of Africa's tallest mountain at Kilimanjaro International Airport, outside the beautiful city of Arusha. Our staff will pick you up from the airport and give you time to settle into your guesthouse.
There, you'll undertake a cultural induction from our local team, discussing the details of your trip and helping you understand what to expect from the Tanzanian people.
Our staff will also take you on a tour of the local area, showing you the key points of interest and any facilities you might need during your stay. They'll even help you exchange money and get lunch with you.
Round off your settling in period with a basic Swahili lesson to make sure you get the best out of your visit, enabling cultural exchange and knowledge sharing with the locals.
Days 3 - 6
Live and breathe the famous culture of the Maasai people. Spend your first day immersed in the community and adopting their ancient traditions, meeting local leaders and visiting the Maasai school where you will work.
For the following three days, you'll work at the Projects Abroad Maasai school, assisting teachers in the classroom or improving learning environments through renovation work.
You will help teach English to children while coming up with fun games and interesting worksheets. You might also have the chance to support extracurricular activities in subjects like maths, music, sports, art, and drama.
You may also help provide safer and more engaging learning environments through renovation and painting work. You might get the chance to work at the organic farm with the children, too.
Days 7 - 9
Head into the home of the Maasai people and experience a world mostly untouched by time. Embark on a three-day trek across the African bush immersed in Maasai life, learning how they coexist peacefully with the wildlife around them.
Kickstart your adventure with a four-hour drive to Simanjiro district, where you'll be welcomed by Maasai elders at a traditional village, known as a Boma. Enjoy a Maasai feast before sitting down for to learn about traditional healing and natural remedies from the Chief and Oloiboni (healer).
Day two starts with a five-hour bush walk guided by Maasai warriors. They will explain how every animal, plant, and landscape you see is tied in with Maasai life. Return to camp to see how they care for livestock and spend the evening sharing tales and laughter.
On the third day, summit the 1,820m Mount Lolkisale over five hours. The peak is sacred to the Maasai, connecting them to their ancestors and the spirit of the land. Take a moment to reflect on your achievements and experiences at this powerful place.
Day 10
No trip to Tanzania would be complete without a safari. On the way back from your trek, drive through the heart of the African savannah in Tarangire National Park, a 2,850 sq. km area of protected wilderness.
Get the chance to see elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, and countless other creatures in their natural habitat. Witness the raw beauty of the African savannah for yourself.
Days 11 - 13
Return to the Maasai school for three more days of service work. Having spent time with elder tribe members, you'll be better equipped to break down cross-cultural barriers and gain a deeper understanding of their way of life.
Support Projects Abroad's feeding programme, stimulate creativity through play, and continue working on our organic farming initiative.
Day 14
Reflect on the once-in-a-lifetime journey you've undertaken as you head back to the airport. Think about your adventure with the Maasai people and compare it to your life back home.
Think about your newfound confidence, skills, and memories during your journey - these will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Which Curriculum Subjects do we cater for?
Expedition
This expedition offers a perfect mix of wildlife observation, cultural immersion, and physical activities.
You will begin your trip in the remote village of Arusha, where you will learn about the local customs, try some traditional Tanzanian cuisine, and work alongside community members to enhance the learning environment for village schoolchildren. Your students will work on our ongoing renovation projects and will be able to organise fun and educational activities with the children.
You will then discover the incredibly diverse fauna and flora of Serengeti & Ngorongoro. Develop your wildlife identification skills and capture beautiful memories.
After the two safaris, your group will prepare to go on a 3-day trek through the Southern Pare Mountains. Students will witness beautiful waterfalls, discover hillside villages, and gain orienteering skills.
Before heading to the airport and back home, you will stay in Mochi, the capital of the Kilimanjaro region, and relax in the geothermal Chemka Hot Springs.
Cultural
Immerse yourself and your students fully in the Tanzanian culture. Exchange with the locals in remote villages to learn from their lives and experiences; engage in activities with the local children; learn about the local customs of the different places you will visit.
Community Projects
Your students will collaborate with community members to work on UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as SGD #4, Quality Education. They will work on improving the learning environment at our Maasai Village Pre-School by joining our ongoing renovation project, doing outreach work and organising fun and engaging activities for the schoolchildren.
What size groups do we cater for?
All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place for every 9 students.
Access for visitors with disabilities?
Disabled facilities can be offered on request.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Visitors with special educational needs can be catered for on request.
Anything else?
Projects Abroad holds the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge and operates in compliance with BS 8848 standards for overseas activities. For school leaders and governors, this means the programme meets recognised national benchmarks.
We provide comprehensive risk assessments, safeguarding policies, and approval-ready documentation for every trip, supporting SLT, governor, and district approval processes. The team that plans your trip is the team on the ground when you arrive.
By travelling with us, you also contribute positively to local economies, environmental protection, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Don't take our word for it; we're B Corporation Certified! We're committed to setting the new sustainability standard in school travel by offsetting 110% of carbon emissions associated with your in-destination programming.
Our Partnerships Team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
Who are Projects Abroad?
Since 1992, Projects Abroad has helped young people step beyond the familiar and discover what they're truly capable of. As a global leader in educational travel, we've partnered with over 500 schools to deliver transformative school trips that help shape students' passions, careers, and futures.
We realise that each school has its own goals and interests, and the students have their own interests. We work with every school to develop a tailored itinerary that reflects their values and allows the students to make a connection with the community in which they serve.
We're proud of our dedicated in-country staff whose diverse skill sets, local knowledge and love of their community allow us to develop relevant, immersive and worthwhile schedules for school trips. These experiences give the students responsibility and teach them to see the world through a different lens.
The result is a trip that students remember long after they've left school, and one that reflects well on the school that made it possible!
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Tailor your trip Help promoting your trip Offset your trip carbon footprint
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