Thankful for TNZ 1A!
June 18, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
It’s hard to believe this is our third and final trip update for this group.
The past few days have been full of soaking up all that Zanzibar has to offer. Most, if not all, of our time has been spent in or along side the vibrant blue ocean. It feels as though we transported to a far away land, although our flight was a quick 1 hour jump from mainland Arusha.We arrived to sunny skies and calm waters. The beach time was well received by the group, as ending the trip on this paradise is so fitting. Our hotel is right on the beach, so ideal to hang out and relax. The first morning we awoke to the most incredible sunrise over the Indian Ocean, setting the tone for the day ahead. Eating breakfast mere steps from the ocean needs to be added to the top ways to Have the Best Day Ever, because we tested it, and boy it works. We ate, packed up, and loaded into our tuk tuk style ride to the dive shop. Today was the first in water day for the group, learning to complete skills in the pool! The group was split into dive groups to work towards their certification. Ethan, Sutton, & Will’s dive instructor goes by the name Rick Ross and brings high energy to the training. Ben, Olivia, Catherine dive group was called Team Full Power- bringing the excitement for this new experience. Kate, Quinn, and Mary’s group practiced being buddha to work on buoyancy control while Grey and EC learned some Swahili with their new friend. After the pool session, we got to spend time on the beach in front of our hotel! Spike ball has become a hit with the group, with the boys in fierce competition. The girls went for some beach walks down to each end before finding a swing. Dinner was another hit, with Quinn sticking to his Steak Frites order and everyone swooning over the dessert options.
The next day the group ventured out into the ocean to put what they learned to the test. We took our open air bus, to hop on a mini boat that took us to our wooden dive boat that was anchored off shore. After gearing up and boating off shore, we were in the water before we knew it! Any nerves melted away as the warm water and excitement filled the ambiance. Everyone got the hang of it as soon as they jumped in. The water was BRIGHT blue and the sun was shining!! A perfect day for diving. Quinn jumped right in and expressed how exhilarating it really is. Mary’s group saw an octopus, while Will’s group was dancing underwater. EC helped her guide, Prince Amani, remove an invasive Crown of Thorns, that was killing coral on a restoration project. The groups completed more underwater skills, such as flooding their mask or taking off their regulator, and excelled quickly. Sutton was so pumped after their first 2 dives. Once back to the hotel, the group participated in a beach clean up, as a thank you to the beautiful island that hosted us for the final week of our trip. Everyone proclaimed that their group picked up the most trash, with 4 bags filled to the brim. The next day was Certification day!!!! Huge day!!! Though the forecast was far from sunny, the group brought the energy to complete their third and fourth dives for their Open Water Certification. They all passed with flying colors- a huge accomplishment for them all!!! Such an amazing experience. Mary said that coming up from their 4th dive was one of the highs of her whole trip. Grey did her deep dive to 80+ feet down as well as an underwater photography dive to complete her Advanced Diver Certification! She snapped a picture of Catherines group.We left the sandy shores to head more inland for our farm tour! Our guide explained different types of fruits and plants. The group tried all of them, a few we had never had before, such as jackfruit and the star fruit. They were both super sour, like a warhead! The fruit had been a hit with the group, especially the mango and passionfruit. Ben and Ethan were brave enough to try the Pilipili hoho pepper, the hottest pepper on Zanzibar. May and Catherine tried some that weren’t ripe yet, and they were still spicy. The guides showed us how to climb up the coconut trees, they have their own song to sing while doing so to alert those below that theyre about to cut one down! Our guides made us crowns made of lemongrass and flowers that we worse for the rest of the tour! The tour was followed by a homemade lunch (coconut curry) and fruit tasting! Many familiar and a few new!After our Spice tour, we made our way to downtown! We checked into our hostel for the night before heading out to go shopping! Around the hostel there narrow streets only fit for pedestrians and mopeds lined with shops and restaurants. For our last night together, we celebrated with a Sunset cruise on a traditional Zanzibar Dow Boat!! We walked to the waterfront and hopped on our wooden sailboat. Our captain took us for a cruise while we enjoyed some sodas and snacks. The group agreed that it was a perfect way to spend our last evening together. We then walked around town before retiring back to our hostel for the evening.
We enjoyed a looong breakfast before heading to our final activity: visiting a Seaweed farm on the Eastern side of the island! A local initiative to spur the local economy, this seaweed farm makes skin care products and soap from the seaweed crops they harvest! We put on a harvesting hat and headed down to the ocean to see crops they manually plant. Then we got a glimpse of the soap making process and learned they make it for near by resorts. Our favorite part was trying a seaweed drink with mango and avocado- it was DELICIOUS. Catherine said she could have a whole gallon of it, and Kate said it made her face glow.Our last lunch consisted of a fan favorite: burgers and fries. The beach front restaurant was a paradise and the perfect last lunch. We then drove back to town and got packed up! One of our last festivities before banquet was a t-shirt swap! We wore them to our Banquet dinner and couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous we all looked. Banquet dinner to end our time together was something we do best at: Pizza. The group spent the dinner chatting and a World Cup match was on, so the whole group got into the South Africa vs Czech game! After a reflective MoonUp, we sadly made our way to the airport.
We would be remiss to not mention a few of the groups´ favorite things about Zanzibar:
⁃ Chocolate Delice cake
⁃ Zanzibar Soccer Jerseys & games on the beach
⁃ Mamma Mia Gelato!
⁃ Scuuuuuba
⁃ Perfume from the Spice Tour
⁃ Beach time to hang and relax
⁃ Spades
It’s hard to express what this group has meant to us. Watching them jump head first into new culture and country far outside all of their comfort zones with grace was incredible. It’s not everyday that you find a group all willing to embark on an experience as wild as this one. It was a joy to watch them grow as people and spend 17 days together! We conquered a lot: Safari in the Serengeti, immersion with the Maasai, scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, to exploring Zanzibar!
We would like to take a moment to thank you for giving this opportunity to your student. Our trip would have undoubtably different without each one. We know you’re eager to hear all about the trip from your students!! As you read this, your students are making their way back to you!
To TNZ 1A: Y’all rock!
We wouldn’t have asked for a better inaugural group to take on Tanzania! We already miss you and hope you enjoyed our trip as much as we did. Don’t be a stranger!! JAMBO MAMBO POA ASANTE SANA!!!!!
Kwaheri!
Your students´ biggest fans,
EC & Ethan
The Heart of Tanzania
June 14, 2026
Ashe to the Maasai!
We said goodbye to the Serengeti region in the morning after another amazing breakfast. This time, we all loaded into a minibus to drive to our community engagement section of the trip!
Our home for the next 3 nights would be in West Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the Maasai- the tribe that would be hosting us. Maasai is a group of people that live in the Northern region of Tanzania and Southern part of Kenya, dating back centuries to Eastern Africa. They have a rich history in culture and tradition, a community we are lucky to experience to get a glimpse into what life as a Maasai is like. Our hosts performed a traditional welcome ceremony, with song and dance blessing our arrival. We also got passion fruit juice, Quinn’s favorite!
We were then taken to our rooms, which were caves overlooking Maasai land! Your students will have to show you pictures to fully explain how amazing our rooms were.
The group then enjoyed a lunch and tour of the land where we would spend the coming days. Olivia and one of our main guides spoke French with each other, as we learned that our hosts are fluent in many languages!
Our first night was a cultural introduction to the Maasai people. Our guides began our experience with a traditional rungu throwing competition. These mallet- like sticks are used to protect their livestock from predators, such as Heinz’s and lions. The Maasai demonstrated how to throw them, with the goal of hitting the target. Quinn bravely stepped up first, and nailed a bullseye first try! Sutton was also one of the first girls to make it first try, so we all agreed that they would be the first round draft picks!
Next we visited a sacred area where the Maasai visit and perform ceremonies to forgive each other, or oneself. From there the Maasai showed us their traditional dance. It consisted of an acapella song with lots of jumping and shoulder shaking. Kate was first dawned a beaded necklace and brought up to join the dance. Everyone else quickly followed suit, with the boys learning how to hop really high. The Maasai guided us by holding our hands, showing their tradition of dance.
Next was a fighting presentation, where the Maasai men showed us the technique and style they use with their shields and sticks. Catherine and Sutton thought a warrior was actually injured, as they completed a healing ceremony to revive him. Our group was then welcomed with a blessing ceremony, where they showed us how to build fire and how they bring guests into their society.
Finally, we had a fire story time where we learned about the history of the Maasai and the opportunity to ask questions. All of the students had wonderful questions, ranging from inquiries about the significance of their clothing, marriage practices, to what daily life is like. Will caught the first glimpse of Mt Kilimanjaro and pointed it out to the rest of the group. The sunset view was incredible and had us all in awe of the sheer size of the mountain.
Waking up in West Kilimanjaro was a dream! Today we had a big day, with our guides taking us to a few different projects that the Africa Amini Life Foundation is providing in the area.
The first stop was at a hospital! There were two wings of the hospital- the first was traditional, homeopathic medicine, while the other was made up of modern medicine. The doctors explained that here in Tanzania, they use a mix of antibiotics and natural herbs to treat sickness and disease. There was a dentist, an eye doctor, and maternal health. Our tour concluded with a look into the garden, where they grow the flowers and plants used in the homeopathic remedies.
The next place we visited was an orphanage. We were greeted by a few of the residents, who showed us around their home. The children range in age, from preschool to high school. Kate spoke with one of the girls showing us around for a long while as they got to know each other! Ethan and a boy were particularly intrigued with the world map in the dining hall, pointing out different countries and capitals.
The next place we went was a Secondary School not far from the children’s home. Most secondary students are boarders at the school, living on campus. 5 students in high school greeted us and toured us around their campus. The school has vocational courses, such as cooking, baking, and tourism, for the students as well as internships at various locations across the region. There is also the traditional Secondary school with academic courses for students interested in pursuing higher education. The students invited us into the oldest grade’s class to see what they were up to. World War II history was the topic of the class, so we looked over their assignment with them! We exchanged names and talked about commonalities, like what our hobbies are and favorite subjects in school.
The girls joined a dance circle with some students, jamming out to their music of choice. Mary got everyone hype by doing the worm as the students showed us their breakdancing skills. Everyone was giggling and smiling, a really cool moment showing how communication doesn’t always have to be with words!
Our lunch was incredible- a picnic table under a large tree with a view of Kilimanjaro among the clouds. While eating, a graduating class from the school performed a dance and song for us! The three courses concluded with another delicious dessert. We are always astonished with how incredible the food is.
Before we left, our LODs, Catherine and Ben, gifted the school a soccer ball as a token of our gratitude for being welcomed. The group headed back to our home base, where we soaked up the sun, hung out together, and had another great night!
The group started our second day bright and early with a sunrise hike! The early wake up call was worth it. Our Maasai guides led us up a mountain next to camp, only to realize we would be climbing the even taller one in front of us- Mt Mukuru! The straight up hill led us to be inside the clouds, such a funny feeling. Once at the top, Drops of Jupiter was played to take in the moment while we enjoyed coffee and the insane views. We could see Kilimanjaro right in front of us! Catherine captured the astounding view from the top, the sun rising over the clouds that engulfed the mountain below. As we made our way down the mountain, a breakfast picnic was set up for us to enjoy on the mountain side. It was such a rewarding way to start the day, and see the sacred site from another point of view.
After regrouping from the hike, local Maasai women hosted a beading workshop. The Maasai people are ordained in intricate bracelets, necklaces, and earrings all made from hand. The women use tiny colorful beads with a stiff wire to create bowls, jewelry, and ornaments to hang around the house. We were shown how to make bracelets and rings! It gave us appreciation for their art and how impressive and time consuming they are to create. Olivia absolutely loved the beading workshop, spending extra time with the women.
Our afternoon consisted of visiting a village not far from the sacred site. We walked down and learned from our guide about how the society runs. The group was lucky enough to get a peak into a few different houses and see how they were arranged and built. The women of the Maasai community are in charge of building the houses, whereas the men take lead on the livestock. To say we learned a lot would be an understatement. It’s been an extremely eye opening experience being so welcomed into another community across the world from our homes. This group has really taken to this opportunity to learn about another way of life, and expressed how similar we all truly are. As we were leaving, 5 young children came over and greeted us. They giggled when EC said a Maasai phrase, and especially took to Grey and Sutton.
After our visit to the village, the group relaxed by the pool. The girls jammed to Taylor swift and read books while the boys were enthralled in their card games. Ethan taught the boys the game Cactus, and they’ve been playing ever since. Ben has brought new music to the group, sharing his taste with everyone. The girls joined in and taught one of our hosts how to play a game with them. Sutton exclaimed that this was the best day yet, with such a mix of activities and time to hang out all together!
Dinner was once again fabulous, and we headed to the boy’s cave for MoonUp. LODs Quinn and Mary led a really great MoonUp, with a hilarious game to end it, leaving the group in tears. Looking out into the stars, we all realized we would miss this place. Many students said they would want to bring their parents here!
The next morning, we departed after another amazing sunrise over Kilimanjaro to head to our next stop: Zanzibar! We hopped a quick flight, with all the girls sitting in the self proclaimed first class and the boys playing cards across the aisle, arriving at our island destination.
Our beach front resort in Zanzibar has blown us away so far! We arrived at a beautiful lunch on the water, then headed out for scuba orientation. EC and Grey did a pool refresher course, while the rest of the group learned to set up their gear! The water was crystal blue and full of boats, getting the group so excited for the days to come! Once back at our hotel, the crew immediately hit the beach. The boys were in a heated spike ball game, with Will and Quinn coming out victorious. Sutton and Kate challenged some local kids to a soccer game on the beach, while Grey, Mary, and Catherine were busy swinging others around.
To see this group grow closer as the trip goes on has been a delight. Their positivity and gratitude for this experience is outstanding, as they are constantly expressing how amazing this is and always thanking those around us. We could not have asked for a more open minded and adventurous group! We are so pumped for our scuba section of the trip and can’t wait to update you soon!!
Yours truly,
EC & Ethan
Some love from your kids!
Grey: Hi Mom and Dad! I’m having an awesome time in Zanzibar! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip it has been amazing, miss and love y’all!!
Sutton- hello mom and dad! I am having such a good time in Zanzibar and I’m so excited to scuba dive tomorrow! Thank you so much for this trip I’m so thankful for you all. I love and miss y’all!
Kate- Hi mom and dad! Zanzibar is so nice. I’m so excited to scuba dive tomorrow!! Thank you guys so much for this trip!! I am so thankful for you all. I love and miss guys but I’ll see you soon!!!!
Olivia- Hi mom and Dad!! Thank you so much for allowing me to go on this trip! I’ve had SO much fun and we completed our first day of scuba training tomorrow. Cant wait to tell you all about it! See you soon, love you!!!
Catherine- Hi guys, I’m having a great time and I just wanted to say thank you so much for this amazing trip. I’ve really enjoyed Tanzania and Zanzibar. We just got to Zanzibar and so far the weather has been perfect. I hope the weather is okay back home but I know the weather here is much better. Anyways, see you guys soon and tell Henry I say hi again!!
Will- hello we are having a great time. Thank you so much. Love you
Ben- Hey mom and dad! Thank y’all so much for sending me on this trip. It has been so fun. I didn’t know I’d be able to watch a cheetah hunt a gazelle, scuba dive, and get my hair braided by two Zanzibarian ladies on the beach. I’ll tell y’all all about it when I get back. Love ya
Quinn- Gracias we are in ZZZAAANNNZZZIIIBBBAAARRR
Mary- Hi!! I’m having the best time! We are now on island time in Zanzibar, and it is the best. Scuba diving is insane, and I can’t wait to tell you all of my stories. I love and miss y’all so much! Thank you for sending me, I will never forget this trip!
Jambo from Tanzania!
June 12, 2026
Jambo from Tanzania! Since you last hugged your kids goodbye, they’ve become world travelers, meeting up with us across the world in East Africa! The long flight did not deter the groups´ energy as they were all smiles and elated to finally arrive. Ethan and I were both stoked to finally meet everybody!!
The group landed, breezed through customs, and met up with us at the Kilimanjaro Airport near Arusha. The group loaded up, picked up pizza, and made our way to our accommodation for the night. The sleep was much needed after the long day of travel.
The next morning, we awoke to the strong African sun for our first full day together. First order of business was breakfast at our eco-hotel before hopping into our Safari car to drive to our first section of the trip: Safari. When asked what they were looking forward to, most students said Safari. What better way to start our adventure together!!
We drive across Northern Tanzania to the Serengeti National Park- where our Safari camp is located. On our drive, we stopped along the way to explore a local grocery store and picnic shopping area where we ate lunch. The car ride consisted of gazing out the window, taking in all the new sights and scenery, and getting to know one another. The group kept the energy high with great music while Mary won the ABC song game.
We caught a glimpse of the Ngorongoro crater, a place we would return to later on. The bumpy, dirt roads led us to the gates of the national park, our long awaited destination. Though not an official game drive, we got our first views of the incredible wildlife that inhabit the Serengeti. Zebras, gazelles, and even giraffes were our first sights! The excitement in the cars was palpable, as we were all in shock that we were actually deep into the Tanzanian wild. As we pulled into our Safari camp, an unbelievable sunset welcomed us as we hung our heads out the windows to take it all in. Sutton was especially excited about the sunset and captured some great pictures of our first bush evening.
Our Safari camp felt as though we were the only people out there. Our guides welcomed us with a delicious spread for dinner and campfire . Our group gathered under the Serengeti stars and had our first official MoonUp, a nightly meeting that is sacred to the Moondance experience. Our guides had briefed us on how to interact with the wildlife and let the animals know we were there, so we shined flashlights around looking for eyes. Falling asleep to distant animal sounds in our tents for the first time is a memory we will never forget.
The next morning, we awoke as the sun rose. As we ate breakfast, the group spotted hot air balloons not far from our camp. Soon enough, balloons dotted the skies around us as we pulled out of camp for our first game drive. Split into two cars, our guides began to drive around the area in search of animals. Our first drive was electric, seeing all types of animals. Lions dozing off in the shade under a tree took the cake. Elephants and leopards were also a huge hit!
When we got back to camp after our morning game drive, our group became complete with Quinn’s arrival! A flight delay did not calm the group’s excitement for his arrival- via plane into the Serengeti!! That afternoon there was a heavy rainstorm so we played cards under our tent before it cleared up for our afternoon game drive. Quinn spotted a baby leopard in the bushes right off the road and alerted the group, but no one else was lucky enough to see it.
One of the most special parts about our bush experience has been getting to know our guides. Extremely knowledgeable about the region, they gave us insight to the animals and Tanzanian culture. Will has really enjoyed learning more Swahili phrases. Kate and Olivia especially enjoyed cooking alongside our guides. They helped prepare dinner most nights we were at the camp, with Mary jumping in to help too!
Day 2 of Safari was a big one-Great migration Day. It started out by watching a cheetah stalk and hunt down antelope which tested our patience while we could not look away. We staked out for over an hour to watch!! Then the day took us on a trek towards the Great Migration. Zebras and wildebeest alike travel to the North during this season, with thousands of animals making the trek. Before me knew it, we found our cars engulfed in hundreds of Wildebeest! It was truly unbelievable. We stopped at a hippo pool as well and watched the funny creatures in their pond.
After returning from our long drive, we all got cozy and enjoyed the campfire as the sun went down. Catherine has continued to express how amazing this place is, to which all of us agree in unison.
Another day, another animal encounter! Our 3rd day of safari was fabulous. We were lucky enough to see 3 large male lions. Our guides informed us that they were 3 of 7 brothers that ruled the area, and the biggest around! Grey kept energy high by bringing fun car games to play as we rode along the plains. Ben has been especially keen on taking pictures, being deemed the group photographer. The students have loved comparing pictures of the wildlife at the end of each game drive day.
Our snack stop on our third day was so far out. Our guides found a tree in the middle of the plains to set up our snacks, coffee, & tea stop. The boys were inspecting the birds, and the girls soaked up the sun.
We were sad to leave our Safari camp, but had an exciting day ahead! We hopped into our safari cars once again and made our way to the Ngorongoro Crater! The crater is what we imagine the Lion King to be based on- a harmonious oasis for all animals. Hippos, Wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and even lions and elephants were all coexisting in this lowland among the mountains. Grey exclaimed that it looked like Hawaii, with the plush green mountains wrapped in clouds.
Our picnic spot was deemed the most incredible meal spot thus far. They even had a coffee and ice cream truck that we took advantage of. The boys had an awesome conversation with a park ranger who told them stories from his time working in the crater.
As we were nearing the end of our drive around the crater, WE COMPLETED THE BIG 5!!! A group of 6 black rhinos was the last thing we saw!! By the end of our Serengeti section, our group had seen 4/5 of the big 5- only missing the Rhino. We were highly anticipating the crater day for this reason!
As we pulled out of the crater gates, we saw a monkey we hadn’t yet seen, along with the devious baboons we have become acquainted with over the past few days. This next car ride was a short transfer to a hotel where we will be staying for the night. A fabulous reset before we head into our Community Engagement portion of the trip tomorrow!
ASANTE for sharing your kids with us this summer! We are having an absolute blast discovering all that Tanzania has to offer alongside them.
Until our next update,
EC & Ethan
I’m sure you are missing your students, so here is a word from them!
Kate- Hey Mom and Dad! I miss you guys but I am having the best time ever. We went on safaris for 3 days and it was so much fun! The animals are unreal. This is the coolest and best experience I’ve ever had and I have made the best friends!!!!
Grey- Heyyy Mom and Dad! I’ve had the best time so far, Africa is amazing! We have seen so many animals and pretty sunsets! I’ve made the best friends and Africa has been such a cool experience! I miss y’all so much!!
Will- Hello Mom and Dad. I am having the best time and seeing all the different animals. We saw 2 lion brothers fighting and it reminded me of duke and rocky. I miss y’all but Africa is so cool.
Quinn- Yo I am having a great time
Olivia- Hey mom and dad!! I’m having an awesome time so thank you for this amazing experience. The people on my trip are so fun and I’ve learned so much about the culture. I’m writing this from the Crater and we have seen all the big 5! I miss you and love you so much!
Catherine: hi y’all! I’m having so much fun here and meeting lots of new friends and animals. I wish Grayson could see the animals I’m seeing. It’s so unreal!! I hope y’all are doing well and I thank you and Kay Kay so much for this amazing trip. The people here are so nice. Anyways, see you guys soon! Love you, and tell Henry I say hi and I’m having a blast.
Mary- hey!! I am having so much fun! These animals are unreal. This is the coolest place I’ve ever been. I love Africa. Thank you for letting me come. Tell everyone I said hi! I love y’all so much. I don’t want to come home, but I do miss you. I can’t wait to teach you some Swahili! The people are also so nice!
Sutton- Hi! I am having the best time ever and I am so thankful that you guys let me come on this trip. I love my group so much and Africa is my new favorite continent. The safari was so amazing and the crater is insane also. I love you guys and am so exited to see y’all and tell yall all about it. I will show y’all the cool pictures I got! I love y’all thank you!
Ben McDonough- Hey guys! This trip has been really awesome. I got like 5 ft away from a lion and have been getting some awesome photos with my camera. We saw a rhino today so we’ve seen the big 5. The safaris have been super cool. Thank yall so much for letting me do this. See ya
Safe Arrival!
June 4, 2026
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 the group cannot wait for Quinn to join them tomorrow!
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
