New AWR Africa Video

AWR has just posted a new video with some great shots of Kenya and Tanzania!

Remote Bushmen Tribe of Tanzania

Making arrows for hunting

You can visit the Bushmen (also known as the Wahadzabe) tribe on a safari in Tanzania near Lake Eyasi.  A typical safari would be a minimum of 6 days.

The Bushmen still maintain their traditional hunter-gatherer way of life. There are few members of this tribe left in in the world, so it is a rare glimpse of this fading culture.

A visit to the village will be led by a local guide who will describe their lifestyle. The Bushmen will make fire from sticks and will show you their very few belongings. They will take you on a simulated hunt in the area with their bows and arrows, and visitors can try a little target practice. The visit concludes with a traditional singing and dancing.

Making fire

In the rainy season, they live in caves, and in the dry season, they live in the trees and bushes. Homes are marked by upright sticks in a semi-circle. Beds and floor mats are hides from kudu and impala.

The men hunt for wild animals and birds with bows and arrows. There are different arrows for different types of animals. Poisoned arrows are used for large animals. They also eat honey, tubers out of the ground, and fruits from the Baobab tree. In the dry season, they must dig down in the dry river bed to find water.

Men and women socialize in very separate groups. Small children and babies stay with the women and boys of 7 and older group with the men.

Women and children in the tribe

The Bushmen are monogamous. The dowry to get married to a woman is 2 big baboons and many liters of honey.

Men wear shorts and animal hides. Women wear colorful cloths wrapped around them. Jewelry is made from beads, porcupine quills, fur, and hide.

Arrows and jewelry can be purchased from them with TZ shillings or traded (baseball hats, etc.).

Kilimanjaro Marathon February 2010

The Kilimanjaro Marathon is scheduled for February 28, 2010. There is a full marathon, a half-marathon, and 5k fun run, so there is something for everyone.

The course starts and ends in the town of Moshi and goes uphill towards Mt. Kilimanjaro (from 2600 feet / 800 meters up to about 3700 feet / 1120 meters).  Racers have amazing views as they run through local villages, farms, banana and coffee plantations, and forests with lots of local villagers to cheer you on.  The race is fully supported with water/aid stations and medical support.  The finish is the Moshi Stadium with bands, spectators, and lots of prizes to welcome you back.

To round out your marathon experience, add a Kilimanjaro trek and safari.  February and March is a fantastic time to visit Tanzania.  The migration is typically in the southern Serengeti or northern Ngorongoro area, so it is easy to get to, and the weather is usually warm and sunny.

This is just a sample itinerary to include a 7-day Trek + 5-day Safari + Kilimanjaro Marathon. We can customize it to suit your travel dates and interests.

• FEB26:       Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport, transfer to Moshi, overnight Bristol Cottages
• FEB 27:      Rest Day, overnight Bristol Cottages
• FEB 28:      Kilimanjaro Marathon, overnight Bristol Cottages
• MAR 1:       Rest Day, overnight Bristol Cottages
• MAR 2-8:   7-day Machame Route
• MAR 9-13: 5-day Lodge Safari

Price per person: $3150

Kilimanjaro Marathon February 2010 >>

Favorite Moments in Tanzania from AWR Clients

While on safari, I would have to say seeing 4 lionnesses move stealthily, try and hunt down a wildebeast during sundown was exceptional. Although they didn’t get them this time, just seeing them in action was amazing. Also, catching the lions mating by the side of the road on the way back was a surprise. Now we know why lions roar!
Enrico, New York, USA

On the ascent toward Uhuru we saw a shooting star over the peak. The night was crystal clear and we made it to the summit just before the sun was rising. Beautiful!
Stephen, Virginia, USA

I was able to walk arm in arm with my 67 year old father for the last 100 feet ascent to Uruh Peak. With the help of our guides pacing my dad and watching his fluid intake they were able to make sure he had a safe and successfull summit completion.
Andy, Colorado, USA

Everything was in place, and the guides and porters were so nice. Always on time when it comes to preparing our food, our onward journey from camp to camp, carrying our stuff when we insisted on doing it.
Kwadwo, Edinburgh, Scotland

One night at camp, we joined the “Congo line” of porters and guides dancing and singing in Swahili, with all the hikers gathered around laughing and watching. Getting to the top, after struggling every step of the way on summit night. Watching the sun rise on a crystal clear morning. Wow!
Courtney, Washington, USA

The trip was amazing! I had such a wonderful time, it was well organized from the start. Before I even left, Adventures Within Reach staff were a dream, working with our itineraries, helping organize our trip, and overall an excellent resource.  The guides were so professional, as well as the porters, and kitchen staff.
Keri, South Korea

Tons of dust; bumpiest roads ever; friendly people who work so hard to make your trip a success. It feels like walking to the moon on the summit night. An amazing emotional experience!
Erica, Wisconsin, USA

I really liked our dinners with our guide and our waiter. We would ask how to say different things in Swahili and they were always quick to grab our pen and paper and write them down for us. It was awesome!
Brian, Texas, USA

I bartered with a Maasai boy through the car window for a necklace.
He: Two for $10.
Me: No.
He: Come on.
Me: Only one then.
He: One for $5.
Me: No, but how about my Obama ‘08 button?
He: Obama? Real? Merikani?
Me: Yes.
He: Button and $3.
Me: No.
He: Button and $2?
Me: No.
He: “Two things. Two things.”
Me: (digging in my pack, I hold up a carabiner and click it.)
He: Yes! We exchange goods. He holds button to chest on red/blue cloak, like this? I nod. As we pull away he is clicking the carabiner open/closed, deciding what to use it for.
Elizabeth, Massachusetts, USA

The care and patience that the guides showed with my young nephew and niece and my 75 year old dad on Mt. Meru was beyond the call of duty. I went up Kilimanjaro last year and I didn’t expect the summit night on Meru to be as hard and spectacular as it was. All eight of us arriving at saddle camp after a long “pole pole” day was amazing.
Rob, Ontario, Canada

100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life

Adventures Within Reach is listed in The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life by Pam Grout.  The trip that is highlighted is our Tanzania volunteer trip, which includes

• Cleaning up trash while climbing Kilimanjaro
• Going on safari in Tanzania
• Volunteering at an orphanage or medical clinic

Get a group together, and you can do this tour any day of the year!

Buy The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life >>

Pencils for Africa

The children of Tanzania made such an impression on Lara and Joshua Wachs that they have started a Facebook page, called Pencils for Africa, to donate ONE MILLION PENCILS to schoolchildren in Tanzania.

Word on Facebook spread quickly.  Donations of pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners have started to arrive from all over the United States.  One school had a “hat day” where kids could wear a hat at school if they brought in three pencils to donate.  In just a few months, Pencils for Africa has already received donations of over 6000 pencils!

Children with Pencils

“Believe it or not, the children in Tanzania are desperately in need of pencils, more than toys, pens, candy, or anything else,” says Lara Wachs.  “Their faces lit up when they received pencils from us.  And, I’ve heard this from so many travelers who go to Africa and third world countries, if I had only known that it was pencils they cared about most, I would have brought an entire extra bag with me full of them.”

Pencils for Africa need help in two ways:

1. Donations of pencils (and erasers and non-electric sharpeners) are needed to reach the one million mark
2. Help in getting the pencils to the kids in Tanzania

The costs of mailing the pencils to Tanzania are very high.  One simple way to get the pencils to the children is by having travelers deliver them personally while on holiday in the country.  Pencils for Africa can bundle the pencils for travelers and deliver them to New York City or mail them within the U.S. if shipping costs are paid.

Adventures Within Reach (AWR) arranged the trip for the Wachs in 2008 including a Kilimanjaro climb, Tanzania safari, and Zanzibar holiday.  AWR will be working with Pencils for Africa to encourage travelers to make donations, take over pencils, and spread the word.

“It is very easy for any traveler to stick a bag of pencils in their suitcase, and their efforts will be greatly rewarded as they hand out the pencils to the children.  The look on the children’s faces when they get things they need is an amazing experience,” says Robin Paschall of Adventures Within Reach.

For more information about Pencils for Africa and to help out, visit their Facebook page:

• http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=84546480402

New Kilimanjaro Charity Climbs for 2009

Thanks to Cheryl Cole and eight other British celebrities, who raised million of dollars through their Comic Relief charity climb, climbing Kilimanjaro for charity is the new hot travel activity!

2009 Kilimanjaro Charity Climbs

Shalom Orphanage in Karatu

In honor of their incredible achievement, Adventures Within Reach (AWR) has created five new charity climbs in 2009 to support local Tanzania charities.  AWR will donate $50/climber to the charity.  A visit to the charity is also possible, or volunteer for a day, a week, or longer.  Get your friends and family together to support these great causes!

• June 1-6: 6-day Rongai trek
  Make a Difference Orphanage and School in Marangu
• July 6-12: 7-day Machame trek
  FAME Africa Medical Clinic in Karatu
• August 3-9: 7-day Machame trek
  TunaHAKI Center for Street Children in Moshi
• September 1-7: 7-day Machame trek
  Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project in Moshi
• October 5-11: 7-day Machame trek
  Shalom Orphanage in Karatu

$1590/person for the trek

Add a 5-day safari starting at $1400/person, or add 5 days on Zanzibar starting at $350/person plus flights.

Climb for Your Favorite Charity

If you would rather climb for a charity of your choice, we can arrange your trek on any day of the year, and AWR will donate $50/climber to your charity.  We can help your charity climb with group rates, providing detailed information on raising funds, sponsoring t-shirts, and helping with your travel plans.  A fund-raising trek is an adventurous once-in-a-lifetime experience for participants while serving a humanitarian or environmental cause.

Here are examples of past charity climbs:

• http://www.adventureswithinreach.com/tz/faq/charity.php

Luxury Tanzania Discounted through 2009

Swala and Kusini Camps

Swala Luxury Tented Camp in Tarangire

These intimate luxury camps are in amazing locations within the parks: Swala in Tarangire and Kusini in the Serengeti.  Each tent has ensuite bathroom and terrace.  Enjoy a sundowner cocktail overlooking the park followed by an elegant candlelit dinner.

With new special pricing, a 6-day luxury safari is only $2130/person (based on 4 people).  Prices valid for travel through December 15, 2009

• DAY 1: Drive to Tarangire, afternoon game drive,  overnight Swala Tented Camp
• DAY 2: Tarangire, full day game drive, overnight Swala Tented Camp
• DAY 3: Drive to Serengeti, afternoon game drive, overnight Kusini Tented Camp
• DAY 4: Serengeti, full day game drive, overnight Kusini Tented Camp
• DAY 5: Drive to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge and Maasai village, overnight Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
• DAY 6: Ngorongoro, half day game drive, afternoon drive to Arusha/Moshi/Kilimanjaro Airport

Asilia Lodges and Camps

Sayari Tented Camp

The Asilia Lodges & Camps in Tanzania are discounted for all travel in 2009.

• Stay 5-7 nights, save 5%
• Stay 8 nights or more, save 10%

The Asilia offers luxury accommodations at these incredible locations:

• Sayari Camp is in the far northern Serengeti just across the border from the Masai Mara
• Olikira Camp is a mobile camp that moves between the southern and central Serengeti
• Suyan Camp is in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area east of the Serengeti and offers night game drives and walking safaris
• Olivers Camp is in Tarangire National Park and offers open vehicles and walking safaris
• Matemwe Retreat is located on Zanzibar Island and offers relaxation and amazing diving

Mt. Meru Game Lodge – A great option in Arusha

Mt. Meru Game Lodge

The Mt. Meru Game Lodge and Sanctuary is located just outside of the town of Arusha.  Set in a quiet and beautiful wooded area, you will be visited by monkeys, zebras, ostrich, storks, and other amazing safari animals.  This is a great option for before and/or after your Tanzania safari.

Double rooms are $174-275/room/night B&B.

Honeymoon Special

• Complimentary room upgrade
• Fruits and flowers in room
• Bottle of sparkling wine with dinner
• Special dinner in private location

Kilimanjaro and Tanzania Safari Video

A big thanks to Timothy O’Shea Photography for the great video from a Kilimanjaro trek and safari from July/August 2008!  Great shots of the summit and the amazing African wildlife!

• http://timpix.com/Site/My_Albums/Pages/Multi-Media.html#0

Giraffe in Serengeti, Tanzania