Come join Wellesley alumnae and friends for a cultural and wildlife safari that presents an extraordinary opportunity to experience life through the eyes of Tanzanian women. Accompanied by Lynn Sherr, we will take you into the homes, businesses, and villages of the rural, urban, and traditional women of Tanzania. As we take part in their daily lives, learn about their challenges and accomplishments, and join in discussions with the help of an interpreter, we will gain a uniquely intimate perspective on women’s issues in a developing nation. This rewarding experience will take place against a backdrop of stunning scenery, from the bustling villages on the slopes of Mount Meru to the pristine wilderness of the great Serengeti. To complement the experience, we will observe the spectacular wildlife that plays such an integral role in Tanzanian life.

Our tour begins by meeting women from a local Women’s Cooperative, an organization that supports various grassroots programs that empower Tanzanian women. Next, we venture into the seldom-visited rural area of the Mbulu people. Here, women work on farms alongside their extended family members. Over 80% of the people in Tanzania live as subsistence farmers, a life of difficult labor linked inextricably to the land. Women produce the bulk of Tanzania’s staple food, maize. Next, we will spend a few days in Maasailand with the semi-nomadic Maasai women. Just like their ancestors a thousand years ago, the Maasai women live in mud dung huts and drink fermented milk. The scenery in this region is spectacular, as we walk through the foothills of the Olmoti Crater with a view of the Bulbul depression.

Our program also includes an exploration of the Ngorongoro Crater, a magnificent wildlife haven where we find large populations of elephant, rhinoceros, lion, hyena, zebra, wildebeest, and a myriad of other animals living in this self-contained environment; the Great Rift Valley, where we wind our way up the escarpment into the lush green highlands; and the famed Olduvai Gorge, where some of the earliest remains of our species were discovered. Our safari will conclude in the vast Serengeti Plains, where you will discover some of the highest concentrations of animals in the world.

Jayne Lew, Assistant Director of Travel
Phone: 781-283-2389
Email: travelprograms@alum.wellesley.edu
 

Duration: 12 days

Activity Level: Moderate