Rafiki's For Life!
July 24, 2025
Jambo Jambo! Day 12 had us saying our final goodbyes to the Serengeti as we made our way into the Ngorongoro conservation area. We drove out of the park as the sun rose above the endless plains and enjoyed the scenic drive to the Ngorongoro crater, a round valley formed by a collapsed volcano that is now home to lush vegetation and diverse wildlife. As we drove up to the top of the crater we found ourselves in a thick cloud. The brisk and misty morning rendered low visibility but as we started our decent down the forested walk of the crater the fog cleared and the beautiful and vast crater floor could be seen. It was like entering an oasis. We could spot zebras on grassy hills, flamingos in a rippling lake, and the sun was shiny down through the clouds. We came across a classic match up, the lion vs. the warthogs. We watched and waited for the potential hunt. Although we were team lion, the warthogs got away…this time. In one of the jeeps both Hannahs, Kate, Kaitlyn, and Camille had some words about the wildebeests less than glamorous appearance, but not on Lydia’s watch! She will not be a bystander to wildebeests bullying. On the way out of the crater, our birders, Ava and Lara, were one bird away from the 50th bird checked off in their bird book! Up and up they went, eyes wide looking up in the trees hopefully to spot just one more new bird and then….with a point up into a tree from Zeb, our guide, the magnificent crested eagle was spotted! Congratulations on 50 birds! We drive out of the crater wrapping up our final safari of the trip. Arriving at our hotel for the night, we were warmly welcomed with hibiscus juice and a fresh towel. Princess treatment for these girls always. We settled in and sat for a lovely meal all together. These girls have spent the last five days immersing themselves in the wonders of the African safari, so we set up a game of trivia to test their knowledge. It was a neck and neck game between the Baboon Beauties, Lara and Kaitlyn, and the Serengeti Smarties, Ginger, Caroline, and Kate, but by question 10 there was a clear winner. Congratulations Baboon Beauties, the Tanzania Trivia Cup is all yours! Brains and bodies tired, we said goodnight and headed off to catch some zzzs.
Rise and shine girls! It’s a beautiful day for Day 13! We woke up slow and had a leisurely morning before packing back into the jeeps and heading to our next location for the cultural engagement portion of our trip. We have made ourselves quite comfortable in the jeeps and now they have started to have a homey feeling. You can find the girls making friendship brackets, reading, listening to music, having a Taylor Swift sing along, or simply taking in all the views Tanzania had to offer. For lunch we stopped at a quaint picnic sight, grabbed a few sweet treats and hit the road. There are many things that transcend cultural differences, like the act of sharing meals, respect for elders, and Adel. Zeb and the girls belted into one last song of When We Were Young. We arrived at our next spot and were immediately immersed into Maasai culture with a traditional welcome that was used in the past to asses a friend or a foe. We said goodbye and a million thanks to our guides Zeb and Benson and settled into our home for the next three days. Our birders are going to be happy here as we saw the beautiful Fischers Love bird almost immediately upon arrival. Kaitlyn took a particular fancy to the bright green and yellow bird. Dare I say we have another birder on our hands….? Our sleeping arrangements were not so typical…not tents nor a room… but a cave (a luxurious cave with double beds and hot running water might I add). We headed off for a tour of the property and to learn about the sacred Maasai sights. We were taken down into the healing and forgiveness cave and were taught about the meanings and rituals of the Maasai people. Before dinner we gathered around the fire for a traditional Maasai Dance and a brief history of the tribe. The Maasai have such a rich culture and these girls are extremely curious. With their questions, there is never a dull moment. Up in the mountains it gets a bit chilly, so the girls wrapped in blankets for dinner. Cozy in the cave, we had a really meaningful Moonup and headed off to bed to get some rest before our big hike!
GOOD MORNING GIRLS!! Day 14!! Before the sun could even start peaking out from behind the clouds, the girls were starting the climb up Mount Mukuru. As the sun began to light up the landscape, we got our first views of the Mukuru region, a hilly and vast area. Our Maasai guides, Peter, Lucas, and Baracka, lead us up and up the mountain encouraging us all the way up. Before our final climb to the top, we stopped to take a break and take in the beautiful view. Looking out at the horizon Lydia, Dalaynie, Lara, Kate, and Camille let the sun warm their faces and rested their legs for the final push. Queue the music Rachael! Eye of the tiger on and the girls started the final climb. Wind blowing, legs weak, but hearts full the girls cheered eachother on as each of them made it to the summit. At the top feeling victorious, we wrapped our arms around eachother and Danced to Play that Funky Music. Letting the warm tea and coffee warm us up, Rachael and I could not have been more proud of these girls for pushing themselves and each other! That hike was no easy task, especially after sitting in a safari jeep for 5 days!! Slow and steady down the mountain, we ended the hike had a bush breakfast. Feeling a little wobbly?! No worried Lucas will hold your hand alllll the way down the mountain. A pancake and a little avocado toast had quite literally never tasted so good. Well deserved naps were in order. After lunch we fore up our competitive spirit (which this group lacks non of) for a game of rungu, a Maasai game where you throw wooden mallets at a woven basket target. Lydia and Camille were naturals hitting the basket almost immediately. There might be a redemption round needed…. After the game, we watched as the Maasai men acted out how a traditional dispute would be handled, whether that is land , cows, or even a love interest. We watched the traditional dance procession that turned into a battle scene! It was Maasai duel! We got ready for dinner, bundled up in our blankets, and ate under the stars. Kaitlyn and Kate lead a great Moonup and the girls headed off to bed after an amazing day.
Morning sunshine!! We slept in and woke up easy ready for day 15. Today we would be visiting a primary and secondary school that our lodge supports with its profits. We walked to the primary school and right as we got there the kids were getting out of class for their snack break. There smiling faces were bright and happy as they welcomed us with open arms. We went and spoke to a few classrooms that were learning english and they were very impressive students. After the tour all of the students gathered around us and sang us a lively song. Our next stop was the secondary school, which was also a boarding school. The campus was less than a year old and the new facilities were amazing. We spoke to a class of chemistry students and they were very kind. After our tour we had lunch and then…rungu redemption was in order. Some natural talent just can’t be beat as Lydia stayed our rungu champion. Over the trip the girls have evening loving playing M.A.S.H., the classic future predicting game. The Maasai were fascinated by the silly game and the girls could not resist was to let them in on the game. Lucas, Baracka, and Lucas were laughing uncontrollably out our girls creative humor and hilarious jokes. With only two Moonup left, our girls are really soaking up the very special and meaningful part of our day. Caroline and Hanna B. lead Moonup and we headed to our caves for one last cave sleep.
Good Maasai morning to all! Day 16!! We woke up easy and said good by to our caves and our new friends. It’s been a really incredible experience spending time with the Maasai, learning about the culture, and sharing this experience with them. As were leaving all of the embers of the Maasai tribe we were with came out to give us a farewell dance. Everyone’s smile was contagious as we waved goodbye. As we were driving to our next spot all the girls were sleepy eyed and dozing off in their seats. A casual bus snooze is not match to the 2016 anthem Stitches by Shawn Mendes. All the girls were up and singing. Our next stop was Chemka Hot Springs!! The beautiful watering hole was crystal clear and the lush trees hovered above the pool. We floated and relaxed and Lydia, Dalaynie, Abby, and Camille proved to be very graceful off the rope swing. The time had finally come and we were on our way to Arusha for our final night together. Before heading to our hotel we stopped for some treats- ice cream, smoothies, and Pizza Hut. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed the last supper and got together for our final Moonup. Just one more night on our African adventure and the time has just flown by. For the last time…sweet dream girls, we are so excited to hang out tomorrow!
DAY 17!! Where did all the time go! We woke up for a big day of bargaining! Let’s go to the Maasai market! We arrived to the market and the girls were in their a game. Deals on deals on deals. What’s in the shopping bag, you may ask? Coaster, masks, bracelets, magnets, key chains, and Ginger bought a boat. A small wooden boat, but still a boat! All shopped out we loaded into the Dola Dola and made our way to the final banquet. We ate, we laughed, we reminisced, and we soaked up our last moment together. Rachael and I were so proud of these girls throughout the whole trip so we decided to give out some awards…. Paper plate awards!!! We enjoyed our brownie and ice cream desert and Rachael and I had one more surprise up our sleeve, the Tanzania tie. We gave each girl a bracelet and each girl would say a sweet momento about the girl to their left and then tie the bracket on her, connecting us all together. Tears were flowing and there were more to come as we packed into the Dola Dola for one last time. At the airport, the girls checked in and we group hugged for the last time. It’s not goodbye, it’s just see you later. These girls are all rockstars. Rachael and I couldn’t have asked for a better group to close out the summer. These girls are hilarious, kind, compassionate, adventurous, thoughtful, helpful, and so much more! Everyday was truly a great day and watching the girls grow individually and together was a beautiful sight to see. Rafikis (friends) for life!
Lions, Leopards, + Elephants - Oh My!
July 20, 2025
Day 8! Safari here we come! We woke up bright and early and said goodbye to the island paradise. As the plane took off from Zanzibar, we got our last look at the lush palm trees against the crystal blue waters and got ready to trade the soft sand beaches for wide open safari plains. If the world felt big, it was about to feel a lot smaller when we discovered that we shared the plane to Seronera with a family from Athens, Georgia, on a family tip. Hannah M. and Camille happened to know two of the girls! Landing straight into Serengeti National Park, we walked off our two propeller planes onto the gravel tarmac and saw our first sights of the bush on the horizon. An endless plain meeting a bright blue, cloudless sky. Our guides, Zeb, Benson, and Selous, were waiting to pick us up in the Moondance official jeeps. We piled into the cars and headed out for the first game drive.
The sights were immediately thrilling. Giraffes, gazelles, zebras, and an elephant crossing right in front of our jeeps! We stopped for lunch and enjoyed our first bush picnic. At the newly opened snack hut, Ava and the girls bought the very first can of Pringles! The taste of a sour cream and onion Pringle can’t compare to the taste of being the first customer. After lunch, we had an amazing sight of three lions lounging in a tree. They were draped over branches and dismissively sleepy-eyed like a house cat in a cat tree. Not far from the lionesses lounging in the tree, a male lion found some shade beneath a tree and was licking his paws. Our first impressions of the fierce kings and queens of the jungle have been quite adorable, to say the least. We wrapped up our game drive and headed to camp. We settled into glamping mode and enjoyed our first Serengeti sunset. Our LODs, Hannah B. and Lydia, were summoned to the kitchen tent to be sous chefs 1 and 2. Lydia made some delicious popcorn, and Hannah B. impressed the group with the vegetable stir fry. Both dishes were definitely made with love. Bellies full, we had a great Moonup and got to bed for some well-needed rest. Who needs a sound machine when you have hyenas howling in the distance?! Sweet dreams, girls!
It’s a mighty fine morning, girls! Day 9! Whoop! Up with the sunrise, the girls got ready for the day with the blood orange sun rising over the horizon. During our first sitting of the day, we came across a huge elephant and peacefully sat in the car as the giant crossed the road. The quietness of an animal sighting is unmatched tranquility. Remember the cute lions we saw yesterday? Lions aren’t as cute anymore when they outnumber you… haha! Driving up on what we thought were three male lions turned into sixteen in total, all around us. Cubs, lionesses, males with magnificent manes, and rambunctious young-ins were around us in all directions. Observing the lions, our jeep happened to make a little shade that did not go unnoticed by the pride. Not one, not two, but three lions came and sat directly next to the jeep to cool off in the shade. Being able to hear the lions up close is a whole new ball game than seeing them from a distance. It sounded like Jurassic Park sampled lions for their dinosaur sounds….With all 16 lions far away, we stopped for a delicious lunch. Nothing beats a bowl of fresh fruit and an ice-cold Coke in the middle of the Serengeti. Our evening led us to our rarest sight yet. Our guides spotted a Thompson’s gazelle(deceased) in a tree and had a sneaky suspicion the hunter would be back for their dinner. We watched and waited until finally a beautiful leopard climbed up the tree and stood looking out at all the onlookers. In need of a higher viewing point, the leopard jumped from one branch to another until it was perched in the canopy of the large akasha tree. 10 out of 10 for gracefulness. Back at camp, we cleaned up and had another amazing meal by Chef Steve and his sous chefs of the day + LODs, Dalaynie and Abby. Zonked from the first full day on Safari, we headed off to bed. The lion sleeps tonight, girls! Sweet dreams!
GOOD MORNING TANZANIA! Rise and shine, girls, it’s day 10!! As we ate breakfast, we heard some faint noises…. “Jambo”…..” morning!”. We scurried out to see hot air balloons majestically drifting above us and the teeny people in the basket waving. We said our morning greetings to our new friends in the sky and hopped into the car for another full day of Safari! Ava has shared her love of bird watching with her new apprentice, Lara. On the drive, Lara correctly identified the Superb Starling with no book reference for the first time! Lara, your future in birding is very bright. Stopping for a little coffee and cookie break at the Hippo Pool, Camille spotted a small troop of vervet monkeys, including a little baby. A little baby monkey can brighten anyone’s day. The coffee break also included an exciting sight for our birding girls, the rare purple starling. We kept the drive going, and Kaitlyn spotted a giraffe party and said we were all invited! We watched as more than 8 giraffes grazed on the akasha trees and were awed by their long-necked beauty. As the sun came out, the girls started to shed their sweatpants and sweatshirts, and Hannah B. revealed the cutest safari fit the Serengeti had ever seen. Khaki and a wide-brimmed hat never looked so chic. Seeing the leopards has revealed itself to be a waiting game. The stealthy cats aren’t camera shy, but love to take their sweet time. All cleaned up, the girls got straight to the safari sunset photo shoot. Dinner has become one of the most special times of the day, as it is always full of laughter and stories from the day. LODs, Ginger and Kaitlyn, lead Moonup summer camp style, huddled around a lantern, cozy in a tent. We said our goodnights and headed off to bed. Queue the safari sound machine! Hopefully, the girls will be able to sleep without the soothing sounds of hyenas after we leave!
Wakey wakey sleeping beauties! Day 11, here we come! Our first animal sighting was a pack of hyenas sleeping in the sun. They must have been exhausted after howling all night. Weaving through the grasslands of the Serengeti, a new birder has been recruited. Welcome to the birding family, Kate (her favorite bird is the northern white crowned shrike, the “penguin bird” as she likes to call it). Ava, Lara, and Kate we particularly excited by the rare sighting of the green and fluffy Little Bee-eaters AND two-spotted eagle owls nestled in a tree. An epic double sighting for our bird lovers. If the birds were not already rocketing enough, we turned the corner around a rock formation to see a cheetah sitting very proper on a rock. Unbothered and unfazed by our awe, it climbed down from its rock and walked right past our jeep. Our next sight was a lesson on the circle of life that required a nose plug. Before we could see it, we could smell it as we came across a pride of lions making a snack out of a deceased elephant. A brief glance was enough to get the memo. Across the way at a watering hole, we intercepted the path of a huge family of elephants making their way to water to cool off. We watched as the baby elephants splashed in the water and then began to move towards us. The elephant stood there as if we were in a standoff, watching as we fell perfectly silent. Confrontation averted, the elephants continued on their way. We were able to see the fine details of the enormous tusks, hear each heavy footstep, and be impressed by the magnificent creatures. This beautiful sight had all the girls putting the cameras down and living in the moment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. A midday shower left a cool breeze and a beautiful rainbow. A beautiful closing to our last day on the Serengeti. We watched our last sunrise from the bush, and Caroline and Hannah B. led one of our best Moonups yet. We headed off to bed, said goodnight to the lions and hyenas, and got some sleep. Day 13 will take us out of Serengeti National Park and into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Our time at the Great Migration camp was nothing short of amazing, and with this group of girls, any great experience is multiplied by a thousand. Until next time!!
THANK YOUS
Hannah Mariencheck:Jambo mom and dad! This trip has been amazing so far, already dreading the day we all have to leave each other. Today we did our first hike which started at 5 am, and the views were incredible. Wish you were here to see it!! Can’t wait to see yall again soon and show you all the souvenirs and presents I picked out for yall. Love you! Hakuna Matata
Kaitlyn Kilborn:Hello mom and dad!! thank you so much for sending me on this trip!! it has been the most incredible two weeks!! We just went on the safari and camped in the bush and it was sooo cool. I never thought i would be able to experience the things I’ve been doing and it’s been so awesome! Can’t wait to see yall soon and show you the gifts I picked out for yall!! love you soo much!! 💕🐘
Hannah Brady:Hi mom and dad!! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I am having a great time going on safaris and spending time with the girls I have met on this trip. Tanzania is great!! Love and miss you!!
Kate Upton:Hey mom and dad! I am so incredibly thankful for yall sending me on this trip, I am having the best time ever!! Being here is so incredible and the girls are amazing! I miss and love yall so much!
Lara Djurasovic:Hi Mom and Dad!! Thank you all so much for giving me the opportunity to be here. This has been the most incredible 2 weeks of my life and I’m having the most amazing time. I’ve met the best people here and have had the best experiences. Love and miss you all so much and I can’t wait to give you all the biggest hugs!!
Dalaynie Wombles:Hi fam!!!!!! I miss all yall so so so much. This has been the most amazing experience of my life. I’m so grateful to be on this trip, thank you mom and dad for sending me on this. I have met the best people! Tell the kids I miss them and can’t wait to go to Orange leaf with them when I get back. Nana I brought your cross everywhere!! Grandma and kin I can’t wait to show yall pics when I get back! Tell everyone that I miss them so much!!! LOVE YALL AND CANT WAIT TO SEE YALL SOON!
Lydia Bryan:Hi Dad!!! Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to go on this amazing trip! I’ve met so many amazing people and new friends, I miss you so much and can’t wait to show you the gift I got you! You’d be so proud, I’ve tried so many new foods, some good some not so much. I can’t wait to show you all the pictures! Love you!!!
Abby Taylor:Hi Mom and Dad! Thanks so much for sending me on this trip, I am grateful to experience so many new adventures with my new friends. I love and miss yall and can’t wait to get back and tell u all about it!
Ginger Barker:Hi fam!! Thank you so much for this trip. I have learned so much and I’m so grateful for the experience! I can’t wait to see you guys so soon and tell you all about it!! I love and miss you guys so much! Thank you!!!❤️❤️
Camille Attaway:Hey Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. Best grad gift ever! I’ve learned so much about Africa and myself. This is the most beautiful place ever, and I’m so grateful to be soaking it all up! I’ve made so many connections with both the group and locals. I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Love and miss y’all!
Caroline Wright:Hi Mom and Dad!! I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing this trip has been. I have met so many people and everyone is so so sweet. Tanzania is so pretty and I have been able to see and do so much. It has been such a life changing experience and I am so extremely grateful. I can’t wait to see you, and tell you about everything. I love you so much and thank you so much!!
Update from Tanzania!
July 15, 2025
JAMBO FROM TANZANIA!! Day one had the girls saying bon voyage as they left the US to kick off their African Adventures! After a long travel day and a 9 hour layover that was nothing short of bonding, the girls touched down in the island paradise of Zanzibar where their leaders, Ava and Rachael, we eagerly awaiting their arrival. We piled into our private Dola Dola (bus) and made our way to our new home for the next 5 days! When we arrived at the hotel, it was like a tropical dream, not a cloud in the sky, crystal clear ocean peaking from behind swaying palm trees, and a cool crisp welcome juice in hand. The time had finally come to turn in their phones and let the LITMO begin. In order to combate a case of jet lag, the doctor prescribed relaxing by the pool, a beach side nap, and chatting while catching rays. We definatly got the proper dose. We got cleaned up and headed to our first dinner as a Moondance family. After dinner our veteran Moondancers, Hannah M. and Ginger, did an excellent job of letting the girls in on the Moonup tradition and we closed out our day in proper Moondance fashion. The girl headed off to bed to get some well needed rest before our first day of scuba tomorrow!!!
Day 4! Rise and shine!! Up and at em early the girls caught their first glimpse of a Zanzibar sunrise. We had breakfast and had a nice walk down the beach to the scuba center. We said bye to our already certified divers, Ginger and Ava, as they went out on the ocean for fun dives while Lara, Lydia, Hannah M., Camille, Caroline, Hannah B., Kaitlyn, Abby, Kate, and Dalaynie got to work on their Open Water certifications with a pool dive. Out on the boat, Ava and Ginger got straight into the first dive! They saw incredible schools of fish, an octopus, a stingray, and tons of amazing Zanzibari marine life. Back at the pools the girls impressed the instructors with their quick learning and natural scuba abilities. Wrapping up scuba for the day we all met up together for lunch and then headed out to our first excursion, the Spice Farm tour!! Back in the Dola Dola we made our way to Hakuna Matata Spice farm where we geared up for a riveting game of “Guess that spice”, a game where we are given the spices in their raw form and attempt to guess what they are (far more difficult that one would presume). Big stakes were on the table….one free spice packet for the winner! Noses on ladies!! Let the games begin and with our first couple of spices it was clear that Ginger had quite the nose. 10 points and in the lead! Hannah B. gave her a quick run for her money with a cheeky guess for cloves. It was tough competition but Ginger won the cake with 25 points. A little pop up shop appeared in the farm and we all sampled Zanzibar’s special sent. Chanel 0° and Chanel 1°. At the end of the tour we enjoyed fresh coconut water and got to try the local fruits of the farm. We had yellow bananas, red bananas, the freshest pineapple, delicious watermelon, jackfruit, and for those who dared… the stinky durian. Camille and Ava opted in to try the smelly fruit and can both say they will not be having it again. Shout to Lydia for smelling it. Bravery is championed here at Moondance. Back at the hotel we had dinner and were treated to a traditional Maasai dance. It didn’t take long for Camille to jump in, literally, and the girls to follow. Jumped out, Hannah M. and Kaitlyn lead a great Moonup and we headed off to bed to catch some well needed shut eye.
Day 5!! Happy Friyay! We woke up early and headed down the beach to the scuba center, gearing up for our first beach dive. The sun was shining and we were ready for an amazing day. The open water girls got straight into their skill dives while Ava and Ginger went for a dive at Groupers Reef. After the first dive, we all met up on the boat for some post dive treats: pineapple, watermelon, bananas, Zanzibari treats, and spiced tea. Back in the water for the second dive, the girls were practically pros. The ride back to the beach was sunny and smooth, the perfect way to end our scuba morning. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a free afternoon of pool chats, beach walks, naps, and relaxation at its finest. Sun kissed and hearts full of adventure we winded down for the day with a great Moonup lead by Ginger and Camille. Sweet dreams, girls!
Rise and shine!! Day 6!! Another day in paradise!! Off to scuba we go for another boat day! The girls are with the program now, packing up their equipment and getting ready for the day like they work at the dive shop. The ultimate crew. Driving out to our dive sight we saw a looming cloud but a little rain never hurt anybody. The open water girls got to worked on their last two skill dives, Ginger and Ava went for a dive at Aquarium, and Rachael and Camille went for a snorkel. Congratulations to Hanna B., Caroline, Dylanie, Lara, Lydia, Kaitlyn, Hannah M., Kate, and Abby for completing their Open-Water certifications! We are so proud of you girls!! Heading back, the sun came out and we enjoyed a beautiful ride back to the beach. Our afternoon took us to Stone Town, the historic area of Zanzibar. We toured the former Slave Market and got a history lesson of the history of Stone Town. A stroll through the town took us by schools, shops, churches, mosques, gardens, and we got a great feel of the energetic and friendly beach town. We stopped for an ice cream treat and a little shopping before heading back to our hotel. A quiet ride back? Not with this group! We had a Hamilton x The Greatest Showman x Pitch-Perfect x Lion King sing along. Beautiful harmony or disturbance of the peace?! Who knows?! Back at the hotel we had a nice dinner and a wonderful moon up lead by LODs, Caroline and Dalaynie. Tuckered out from a long day the girls headed off to head to get some sleep before our last full day in Zanzibar!!
Top of the morning ladies!! Day seven! Already one week in?! Time has really flown. Out early we headed to scuba. The sun was shining down on our newly certified divers ready for a day of fun dives! Our first dive took us to coral garden and turtle reef! Dropping into the crystal clear water feels extra good when your certified! Below the surface and under the sea, we saw schools of fish that swirled around us, starfish hugging the coral, eels peeking out from behind rocks, and the all the beautiful things the ocean has to offer. Even when we can’t talk we are always making eachother laugh. Whether it’s Ginger doing less than graceful flips underwater, Kaitlyn talking with her eyes, Lydia moonwalking, or Lara pretending to sleep on the ocean floor, these girls are goofing and giggling non stop! Up at the surface waiting for the boat to pick us up, Dalaynie, Hannah M., Ginger, Lara, Kaitlyn, Kate, Lydia, Caroline, Hannah B., Ava, and Rachael passed the time in the only way that seemed reasonable, holding hands in a circle and harmonizing to the song of the summer…”Moonbeam ice cream……”. Back in the boat we enjoyed the typical delicacies, fruit and pastries, and relaxed in the shining sun. Dropped in for the second dive and with the go pro in hand, the girls had suddenly become directors, producers, and actors in a small feature film. Content always. We enjoyed the ride back to the beach, said goodbye and thank you to all of our wonderful and incredible scuba instructors, and headed to the hotel for a free afternoon! Let’s the pool games begin. We played STAR and Categories. Good classic pool fun. Pre dinner there was a very important matter at hand… The Zanzibar National Spelling-Bee (brought to you by Moondance Adventures). In classic bee style each girl was quizzed on their spelling abilities to compete to be Grand Champion. Dinosaur, cappuccino, malaria, Rachael, and more words were brought to the table, none as detrimental to our competitors as… ambitious. A comment from Lara after the bee, “ambitious will haunt my dreams”. Better luck next year, girl. In the end our podium was runner runner up Abby, runner-up Hannah B., and our Grand Champion of the Bee was Camille. Truly a very bright bunch. We ate dinner and had Moonup leaded by LODs, Kate and Laura. The girls went off to pack up for our travel day and get some sleep! Day 8 will take us to the Serengeti to start the safari portion of our trip! Zanzibar was the perfect start to our African adventure, being welcomed by everyone we met, working hard to get scuba certified, and enjoying all the island paradise had to offer! We are leaving sun kissed and hearts full! See you on the Safari!
SHOUTOUTS
Camille Attaway: Hey Mom and Dad! I’m having the best time of my life!! Thank you so much for sending me. We just finished snorkeling and are about to go on a safari. I’ve tried so many new foods, like squid and octopus. Everyone here is the best and I have made so many friends! I hope you and the pups are doing well! Dad, have the best time in Alaska! I can’t wait to hear all about it. Hakuna matata
Hannah Brady: Hi mom and dad!! I’m having a great time!! We just finished scuba diving and our time on the beach and are about to start our safari! I can’t wait!! Some pretty impressive news, I came runner up in the Zanzibar national spelling bee!! It was a pretty intense competition. I miss you guys so much and the dogs I say hi!! I have made so many new friends and can’t wait to tell you all about my trip!! Love you!!
Lydia Bryan: Hey Dad!! I got my scuba License!!!!!! It’s been so fun here and I’ve met so many new friends! We are about to go on the safari and I’m so excited to show you all the pictures and videos i got! I’ll make sure to get a selfie with a lion. Love you slayer!!
Kate Upton: Hey mom and dad!! I am having the most incredible time here! I got my scuba certification, met new besties, and am seeing the coolest things!! Yall know im a beach girl and it was so amazing being on the beach – the water was sooo clear!! Anyway we’re about to head on the safari, and I love and miss yall so much!!!
Kaitlyn Kilborn: Hey mom and dad!! I’m having a great time but I miss you guys so much!! I got scuba certified!! And we’ve been at the beach for the past 5 days, now we are heading to the heading to the safari and I’m soo excited!! I love Tanzania soo much it’s such a cool country and the people are so awesome! I love you guys soo much and can’t wait to see u in 10 days!!
Lara Djurasovic: Jambo from Zanzibar!! We just got finished scuba diving and it was SO COOL. Now we are headed to Serengeti for the safari and I’m so excited!! I’m making the best friends. Mom, dad, Maxim, Sonia, Lainey, and Pumpkin: I miss and love you all SO much but am having so much fun- can’t wait to give you all the biggest hugs. I am so thankful for you all and giving me the opportunity to experience this. SEE YOU SOON!!
Caroline Wright: Hi Mom and Dad!! I am having the best time! Everyone on this trip is so nice and I am making so many great friends. This trip has been truly amazing and scuba diving was so cool. I saw so much and the ocean is so pretty. We are headed to the Serengeti to begin the safari and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to tell y’all about everything and see yall in Germany! Love yall so much, and thanks so much for giving me this opportunity!
Ginger Barker: Jambo friends and Barker fam!! I’m having so much fun here!!! I miss yall a lot but it’s soooo cool here! Everyone is so nice and fun! We just got to Serengeti and I am loving the windows down air in my hair vibe. I’m so excited to see all the animals!! Scuba diving was absolutely amazing and I really want to do it more often! Thank you so much for this opportunity and I’m sooo excited to see yall and tell you all about my amazing new friends and experiences!! I love you all soooo much!!!!🌍🐘🐅🦒💕
Hannah Mariencheck: Jambo guys!! Me and Lydia are having so much fun. We just got to Tanzania in the Serengeti and are starting our safari! Zanzibar was so cool, I bought many souvenirs to take home as well as presents for you mom and dad. A girl from ACAD was on my plane! Me and Camille talked to her, she and her family are also going on a safari! Small world. All girls was the way to go, we are all already so close and have had many nights spent talking, bonding, and laughing in room 105. Scuba was so far my favorite experience. Many pictures were taken on the boat so we never forget this out of body experience. We had a spelling bee and me and Lydia made it to round 4 before both getting out on the word “ambitious”. There are so many Georgia girls on my trip and we are already planning our reunion. Wearing lots of sunscreen and encouraging others to as well, I promise. Missing Gray, Parker, Bowers, and Sony🥲. I hope Anderson is doing alright without our nightly calls!! We’re all scuba licensed up and having fun with the wild life! Love yall! Hakuna Matata
Dalaynie Wombles: HIII FAM!!!! I miss all of u guys so so so much. This trip has been so amazing so far! I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it. Scuba diving was so COOL. HAPPY BDAY NANA!!! I love all the people I have met. Mom and dad thank you so much for this opportunity! I can’t wait to see u all soon!! LOVE YALL!!!
Abby Taylor: Jambo mom and dad! Love and miss y’all, we just arrived to the Serengeti and went on a safari. Found my new favorite animal the dikdik. Had fun scuba diving and got to see dolphins and much more and now officially certified. See u soon!
The Adventure Begins!
July 9, 2025
Hello Tanzania + Zanzibar 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
