Greetings from the Safari!!
June 16, 2025
Today we are leaving the bush and heading back into civilization. Over the past 5 days we have witnessed the wonders of wildlife, been safari chefs, awed at breathtaking sunsets, started a rock band, and loved every moment together on the Serengeti!
Day 6 had us saying kwaheri (goodbye) to Zanzibar and jambo (hello) to the mainland. Two flights later and we are boots on the ground in Seronera. Walking off the plane onto the gravel tarmac, we got our first sights of Serengeti: a horizon the goes for as far the eye can see met with the clearest blue sky. Our guides, Zeb, Benson, and Sally, were waiting for us next to the Moondance official safari jeeps (riding in style as always). We piled in and set off for our first game drive. Mia, our resident photographer, got straight to business switching her camera lens to what the girls call, “the big mama”. Our quest for the Big Five starts now: elephants, leopards, rhinos, lions, and African buffalos. No paved roads? No problem! African massage! We had a big first day seeing giraffes, elephants, hippos, and a leopard! Two out of the Big Five down! We arrived at our camp and settled in for our first sunset. I don’t think the Serengeti has ever seen so many matching pj sets at once!! Chef Alex wowed us with the first dinner and we headed off for Moonup by the fire and under the stars.
Rise and shine! Up before the sunrise, day 7 here we go!! As the sun rose over our breakfast we watched the hot air balloons quietly float over us. A pretty amazing sight. Stomachs full and bright eyed we headed out for the safari. Benson and Zeb, experts in their craft, are able to spot all the animals, even the ones with the savviest hiding places. During our morning game drive we spotted three cheetahs. The cheetahs perched on a mound and took a quick look around before heading on their way. Did Mia get the shot? Of course she did! At high noon, we came across two lioness and three cubs taking refuge in the shade of some tall grass. Mamas had the meat sweats!! Proof was in the three wildebeest we saw they had taken down not long before. The shade of the jeep became particularly interesting to one of the lionesses and she came and rested right alongside. Three out of the Big Five down!! We wrapped up the day at camp with another beautiful sunset and delicious meal by chef Alex.
Good morning Day 8! Today is the day to go and see the Great Migration, a mass movements of animals to the north of the Serengeti park. Up and at ’em we hit the road and headed north. As a mid morning treat, we stopped at the hippo pool picnic spot for coffee, tea, and snacks. It was, in fact, a hippo pool party with more than 50 hippos lounging in one natural pool. As a hippo lover, Lillie was having a bit of a fan girl moment. Continuing north, we saw herds of zebras and wildebeests. Driving through the miles and miles of bush we had lots of time to take in the landscapes. Vivian mentioned she had never thought so much in her life haha. It was an amazing sight to see the thousand of zebras, wildebeests, and antelopes all making the great migration. On our full day journey through the Serengeti, you could find the girls chatting, listening to music, making friendship brackets, or Tatum introducing Sicko Mode by Travis Scott to a herd of wildebeests. Don’t think the bush can be glamorous? Well… ask Lillie about enjoying a cool, crisp, hydrating sheet mask and a ginger ale by the camp fire in a matching pj set. She’s the expert. Our LODs, Lauren and Gigi, did an excellent job helping with dinner and relayed the menus of the night like true professionals.
Day 9!! Last day in the Serengeti National Park! Per usual we are up and moving before the sun and ready for another great day of game drives. Friday the 13th bad luck seemed to have no hold on the safari because our first animal sighting was a beautiful pride of lions by a watering hole. It was breathtaking to see the lionesses and cubs close up. Before stopping for lunch at a beautiful lookout spot next to a lake, we found ourselves in a parade of elephants making their way across the road. Wrapping up our game drive we stopped by Gong Rock, a unique rock that creates a drum like sound when hit with another rock. It is said that the Maasai used Gong Rock for communication to summon tribal members for a gathering or ceremony. A beat from Maggie Kate here and a rhythm from Sam there and Boom. Gong Rock band. Back at camp we had popcorn by the fire, made specially by Lauren and Gigi and we closed another wonderful day in the bush.
Let’s go to the Ngorongoro Crater!! Day 10 we say bye to the Serengeti and our amazing camp site and head to Ngorongoro. Down into the crater we went and stumbled upon a troop of baboons. Despite how cute Kate thought the little babies were, we did not invite the feisty lil guys to our picnic breakfast. Moondance is all about taking risk and trying new things! Addison embraced this by whipping up peanut butter and yogurt toast! She has not advised me that it’s on the “must try before you die” list. After breakfast we got another Big Five checked off: the African buffalo!! Now with 4/5 checked off we were determined to find the final Big Five: the rhino. One is hard to find, but not for us! One crater and 5 rhino spottings later the Big Five was complete. We could not have done it without Zeb and Benson! The crater was a success and we headed out wrapping up our time on the safari! At our hotel we settled in and gathered for dinner. What’s better than a birthday celebration? A birthday eve celebration! Cake and candles for our amazing Mia on the eve of her 16th birthday!
Day 11 will take us to our service project and pull us into the homestretch of our trip. Time surely does fly when you are always laughing, watching beautiful sunsets, seeing wildlife like never before, eating Pringles (so many Pringles), and making memories and lifelong friends! Hakuna matata!
– Rachael and Ava
Shout outs from TNZ!
June 15, 2025
We have some more shout outs and thank you’s! We will be back soon for another update!
Rachael + Ava
Vivian Arnold – Hi Mom and Dad!!! Thank y’all so much for making this all possible for me. It’s such a special place. I can’t wait to tell y’all about everything I’ve seen and learned here. I think the boys would also love it someday! Love and miss y’all so so so much and see you soon
Sam Wright – Hi Mom and Dad! I am so thankful that you had the courage to send me here and supported me in every way for this trip. I miss yall so much and I can’t wait to share everything I have learned and experienced. This is unlike anything I have done before and I am so grateful for every bit of it. I love yall and see you soon!❤️
Kate Lyke – Hi Dad and Misty! Thank you guys so much for aligning everything to make this trip possible for me. It has been such a blast so far and there is still so much to look forward to! I have made some of the best friends, and I have you to thank! We need to come back here, it is absolutely incredible. I love and miss you guys so much, see you soon!
Tatum O’Grady – Hi Mom and Dad!! Thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip!! It is so awesome, and I am having such a great time!! Y’all have to come see this place, it is beautiful!! I love and miss you guys (and freeman) so much, see you soon! 😘❤️
Maggie Kate Cowles – Hi Mom and Dad! Thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip! I am having a great time and making great friends, which was only made possible by you guys!! Like you said Mom, I already feel like I am leaving a piece of my heart here, and I can’t wait to tell you both about everything that we have done! I love you guys and I miss you, see you soon!!
Mia Larkins – Hi fam! Miss you all! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. It has been and continues to be one of the most incredible experiences of my life. This place has left such a mark on me and I can’t wait to share memories and pictures with you all! I love all and will see you so soon.
Addison Curtis – Hey Mom and Dad! Thank you soooo much for sending me on this trip. It has been one of the most special experiences of my life and everyday I am making more memories. I also have met some of the best people ever! I’m sad I won’t see you Dad but happy Father’s Day, I love you so much! Excited to see y’all soon!! ❤️
Lauren Schottmiller – Hey yall!! I just wanted to say thank you so much for pushing and encouraging me to go on this trip! I have had the best experiences and made the best friends! I can’t wait to tell you all about them! YOOO DAD!!! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!! You are the best, love you!!!!❤️🐘
Gigi Madans – Dear Mom and Dad, I cannot thank yall enough for sending me on this trip and providing this opportunity. I’m learning about and seeing so many cool and exciting things. I can’t wait to share the stories and show yall all the cool photos I’m taking. This is something everyone should be able to experience (We definitely need a trip here at some point). I love and miss yall so much – Gigi
Lillie Hewatt – dear mom and dad, thank you so so much for sending me to Africa! I’m having literally the best time ever and wouldn’t not want to be on anywhere else. All girls was the best decision ever and Africa is so sick. I’m making so many memories with my new best friends and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here. Also happy Father’s Day dad love u and so grateful for all you do for me! Love y’all and miss y’all 💕🐘🐘🐘😊🩷
Good Vibes from Zanzibar!
June 10, 2025
Jambo! Today we are enjoying our last day in Zanzibar! The last six days have been a paradise dream full of diving, beaching, reading, tanning, telling stories, trying new foods, talking about our favorite foods (hot topic of convo always!), making friendship bracelets, swimming, hair braiding, bonding over country music, and enjoying every moment with 11 new besties.
When we leaders, Ava and Rachael, picked up the girls from the airport, it was like we picked up a group of lifelong friends who were ready to tell us stories about their time at the Doha airport. “We sat in the indoor forest for hours!”. “Let me tell you what we got at the Oreo cafe! YES! It was a cafe that was all Oreo themed!”, “Did anyone go in the sleeping pod?”. Rachael and I had some catching up to do! Nothing bonds a group of girls together like a 24+ hour travel day. It was now time to unplug, start our African adventure, and LITMO (Live In The Moment)!!
Arriving at our hotel on the east coast of the island was like being out of a movie with palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze and welcome juice served in a chilled flute against an unreal backdrop of white sands and water that looks like Gatorade. After lunch, there was an impressively quick change into swimsuits that could only be achieved by 10 girls eager to catch rays. We headed out for a walk on the beach, and on the way back, we came to our first opportunity to show face as a united Moondance front: a fútbol match against local kids. The sticks were stuck in the sand as goals, both sides huddled up, and then it was kick-off. We performed admirably but were outskilled by the locals ( 7-1 defeat). MVPs were clear with fierce performances in the goal by Tatum and Mia. Our one and only goal scorer was the one and only Lillie! Losing never felt so good when the whole game echoed with laughter, “Messi! Messi! Messi”, and victory dances from both teams. After a tough match, we went back to the hotel for dinner, had a great first Moonup led by our first Leaders of the Day, Lauren and Mia, and got some rest for a big day of scuba certifications ahead of us!
Day two commenced at the scuba center, only a short walk down the beach from our hotel, where we sent Rachael, Tatum, and Lauren off to sea to get started on their Advanced certifications. At the same time, Mia, Lillie, Maggie, Cate, Kate, Vivian, Gigi, Addison, and Sam had some work to do in the pool, starting their Open Water certifications. After a morning of skills, learning, more skills, and more learning, the girls all came back together for lunch, then a free day at the pool and beach! The pool was oddly quiet, and after a little investigation, Rachael and I stumbled upon a yoga session on the beach being led by Tatum. She’s such a pro; she had locals joining in her Beach Flow! How could this beautiful and zen moment get better? You guessed it! Double rainbow! Winding down from the day we played Uno before dinner, we laughed over ice cream (the most popular combo is Pistachio and chocolate, what the girls like to call “Dubai Chocolate”) and caught some well-deserved Zs.
Day 3… first scuba day in the ocean!! With sun screen on and high spirits, we packed up our equipment and headed off for our first dive on our boat, The Caroline. Wetsuits on, fins strapped, and tanks full, the Open Water girls set off for their first taste of underwater adventure, and the Advanced girls kept working away at their certification. After two dives of skills and practice, we all came aboard The Caroline for a well-deserved snack of pineapple, watermelon, Zanzibari treats, and hot chai tea. Later that afternoon, we piled into the dola dola (our private bus) and headed south of the island for a Spice Tour. Walking through the agriculture, we played “guess that spice” with local spices such as cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, lemon grass, and eucalyptus. We also smelled and tasted ginger, turmeric, durian, jackfruit, and cocoa. Kate was our top-smelling identifier by a landslide.
Rise and shine, day 4! Another day of scuba and free time on the beach! Our sunniest day yet met us with dance parties on the boats to Lorde and Megan Moroney! The top-spotted marine life was flounder, starfish, clown fish, eels, and rainbow fish. The advanced divers have been working hard on their fish identification skills. Ask Lauren and Tatum to show you around the sea floor, haha! Back on the beach, we lounged on the beach and relaxed. Catch Gigi reading away at Let Them by Mel Robins, or Vivian and Maggie Kate competing for best beach nap. The sunset with pink skies and the day would not have been complete without a sunset photo shoot. Sun-kissed and salty-haired, we closed another amazing day in paradise!
Day 5 and we are up before the sun!! Last beach day, best beach day! At this point, the girls are pros at getting in their wetsuit (a feat no doubt) and setting up their tanks for the final underwater adventures of the trip. Slight overcast weather doesn’t faze us because we know that a darker sky makes for more active wildlife. There were lion fish, stone fish sightings, and a hard-to-spot octopus showing impressive camouflage skills. A huge congratulations to all the girls who are finishing their scuba certifications!! After lunch, we hopped back on the dola dola to head south for a tour of Stone Town. School might be out for summer, but Seif, our guide, gave us a history lesson on the story of Stone Town and Zanzibar. A little shopping here and there, and we wrapped up the tour with a local ice cream treat to celebrate all of the scuba grads!
Day 6, we will head out to the mainland to begin our Safaris! Our hearts are full, cheeks rosy, and we have embraced the pole pole way of life (Swahili saying for slow and relaxed).
Hakuna matata and see you on the safari!
Ava + Rachael
Student Shout-Outs:
Lauren Schottmiller – Heyyy Dad, Mumsie, Meredith, Jack, Lawson, Libby, and Ryah!!! I miss y’all so much, but Africa is SUPER DUPER awesome! I have the best leaders and the sweetest girls in my group! Can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! And tell Charlotte is say Hi!!!!❤️🦀
Sam Wright- Hey Mom, Dad, Presley, Nina, Papa, Grandma, and Terri! I miss y’all so much and I love you! I have the best groups and leaders and we all have gotten so close in such a short amount of time. I am also so thankful for this opportunity! I have experienced so many new things and met so many new people and I can’t wait to share all of the memories I have made so far!
Vivian Arnold- Hey Mom and Dad!!!!!!! I’m having the best time and have the best group ever😊. I love and miss y’all so much. We all need to come back here someday. Mia, Hi! If you’re reading this, I love it here so thanks for inspiring me. William and Coleman I miss y’all so much and can’t wait for some dos bros when I’m home. Say hi to everyone at home for me! Love y’all!!!!!
Kate Lyke- Hey Dadda, Misty, and Evan! Africa is incredible, I’ve learned so much already! I miss y’all so much. Our group here is already so close, they are amazing! I have so much to tell you all, and it’s only been four days. I can’t wait to go to the safari next. Say hi to everyone and tell them I’m having a blast! I love you all!!!!
Addison Curtis- Hey Mom and Dad!!! I miss y’all so much and hope everything is good at home in Nola! Africa is super cool and beautiful. I am scuba certified which is super cool and it was kinda scary. Our group is so amazing and getting so close. I’m having such a blast!!!! Give Maple and Rosie a hug for me and see yall in like a week or so. Love yall!!!
Lillie Hewatt – hi guys! I miss yall so so much but I’m having an absolute blast in Africa. I’m so immersed and cultured and feeling very Tanzanian. Our group is super close and I love everyone and I finally passed scuba school. Love u and miss u and tell muzz I say hi and I miss them💕💕💕💕
Tatum O’Grady- Hi Mom and Dad!! I miss y’all so much. I am having the best time and can’t wait to tell you all about it!!! We just finished scuba diving in Zanzibar, and now going on the safari in Tanzania!! Everyone on the trip is awesome! Give free a big hug from me!! And happy early father’s day dad!! I love yall so much, and can’t wait to see you!! 💕💕💕
Gigi Madans- Hi Mom and Dad! I am having the absolute best time here in Zanzibar! Scuba diving was so exciting and fun. My group is so awesome too, everyone is so sweet and cute. I hope y’all are having so much fun in France. I can’t wait to be reunited in London. Happy early fathers day Dad, I am the luckiest little girl to call you dad. Your actions and overwhelming love never goes unnoticed. I love y’all so much!! Next stop Tanzania!!!!
Mia Larkins – Hey guys! Miss you all so much! Charlotte, you will be happy to know that I am officially scuba certified and I that I have loved seeing the ocean. My group is great and I have met incredible people! Will, I hope Woodward is amazing! Mom, you were right. The people I have met and the experiences I have had are incredible! Dad, sorry again to be missing Father’s Day. I love you so much. You do so much for our family and we are all so grateful for you. I miss you all. See you in a week and a half!
Maggie Kate – Hey guys! I miss you guys a lot! I am having a really good time in Zanzibar! I am really glad I came to this and have met the best people, but I still miss you guys don’t worry. Mom, I hope you are surviving and doing well. Don’t stress about me because I am doing great. Dad, I bet you are fine and I am sorry to miss Father’s Day but I hope it is good. I love you guys and I miss you! Tell the dogs I said hello. See you soon!!
Safe Arrival!
June 5, 2025
Hello Tanzania + Zanzibar 1C Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
