One of our own recently returned from her trip to Tanzania. She was kind enough to share some of her pictures and experiences with us! This is How We Travel.

I just had the incredible opportunity to embark on a nine day Tanzania tour through Tanzania’s Northern Circuit. This was my first time traveling to Africa, and it couldn’t have been a better introduction to this incredible continent. The safari not only highlighted the incredible wildebeest migration and big game, but also allowed us to interact with the local tribes, and gain a deeper understanding into their daily lives and culture.

Day 1: After a long 24 hours of traveling from California, we arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport. Stepping off the plane onto the open airstrip and taking in our first breath of Africa was truly an experience in and of itself. On arrival we were met by the smiling face of our guide Francis. We loaded up the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser and were on our way to Arusha. Checking in at the charming Ahadi lodge around 11:30PM, exhausted and hungry, the kind and attentive staff were more than accommodating, and provided us with a hot and delicious three course meal. With our tummies full we went to sleep with dreams of Africa.

Given the plethora of tours and exotic destinations, planning an adventure can be both exciting and overwhelming. With so many distractions, the well-being of the people who support these incredible destinations are often overlooked. The consumer’s lack of awareness is a major underlying issue in this struggle for human justice. This next blog series will shed light on the ongoing socio-cultural impacts of the tourism industry as well as solutions that can be taken to prevent being a part of the problem.

Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and inhaling the magnificence of the African safari is undeniably an experience of a lifetime. As you revel in the raw natural landscape, take a moment to ponder the contributing factors that went into making this glorious life changing moment a reality.

Plan Your Perfect Trip

Porters are undoubtedly the backbone behind any mountain expedition. These hard working individuals undertake the daunting task of carrying the enormous load of gear for the entire trekking group. Imagine the difficulty of climbing this challenging peak with as much as 66 lbs on your back? Bearing the burden, is only a portion of the hardships that the porters must face. The harsh environmental conditions and lack of proper equipment present various health implications including: exposure, hypothermia, frost-bite, altitude sickness, and in the worst cases, death. Many tourists misconceive the severity of the situation, by making the assumption that porters are accustomed to such extreme conditions. This premise is far from the truth, according to the International Porter Protection Group porters suffer from more accidents, illness and deaths than Western trekkers. Inadequate clothing, footwear, shelter, nourishment, medical care, insurance, and wages also contribute to the problematic life of the porter.