Star Spangled Safaris!
July 5, 2026
Family & Friends! It’s hard to believe that this is our last trip update. The past 17 days have been such a ride- from the blue waters of Zanzibar, to the plains of the Serengeti, we’ve seen it all! This group has been something special. It’s hard to express how awesome, down for anything they have been, but we will try!
After our last day in the Ngorongoro crater, we headed towards our community engagement section. A travel day brought us to a new region of Tanzania- further north east past Kilimanjaro. We drove through towns and rural areas, stopping at a few places to eat lunch and try local snacks!
The Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) aims to alleviate the stresses and problems that have occurred due to the close proximity of the animals and local inhabitants. The HEC hosted us for this last section, giving us a glimpse into the hands-on conservation efforts that truly make a difference in the lives of those around this region. The elephants are struggling to find enough water and food, so they wander into farms and eat crops, aggravating the locals! This leads to the elephants getting harmed and the crops destroyed- a lose-lose situation. The HEC uses drones to direct elephants away from the farms and villages, leading them back to the Mkomazi National Park next door. These parks aren’t fenced in, so the elephants have the freedom to wander wherever. The aim of this project is to train them to avoid the farms and villages using drones!
The first morning at HEC, we went on a patrol walk to get a front-row seat to what conservation work actually looks like. Our guides led us through a wooded area, looking for clues to see if elephants had walked through there the night before. Charlotte was up front with Carel, learning more about the project and what to look out for on our walk. We saw fresh prints and some tree markings that indicated that some had made their way through the area recently! It was great to stretch our legs and explore the surrounding area.
At camp that day, we hung out and relaxed, reminiscing on the trip! Lots of painting, card games, music, and chatting filled the afternoon. Ellie was a master at fairy hair, while Amara and Charlotte painted. We then helped plant trees to contribute to the surrounding area. The acacia tree is the most common in the area, so that’s what we planted!
Since the HEC is a functioning project, we received a call that a huge bull needed assistance crossing back into the park that evening. We jumped into the back of a land cruiser and took off into the woodland. Hill was a favorite for the acacia trees. We arrived to Rafa flying a drone locating the elephant. Turns out it was 3 elephants, not just 1! It was so high-adrenaline; it felt like a car chase!! It was getting dark, so we could see the drone lights above tracking the elephants. The drone would make noise to disturb the elephants, urging them to keep moving towards a safe area. We patiently watched on the drone camera to see the progress! It was so interesting and live action. We hopped in the land cruiser and headed back to camp from there.
The Fourth of July! A highly anticipated celebration! We started the morning by listening to USA tunes and having a good breakfast before hopping into our bus to head to Mkakomazi National Park. We had another safari game drive on our way to the Rhino reserve. Mkakomazi is known as a black rhino sanctuary, helping protect and breed the endangered black rhinos. The group hopped into an open air safari car and was taken into the enclosure of a young orphaned rhino. Charlotte had a close encounter with Kisema the 6-year-old, as she poked her horn at our car! From there we meandered our way back to camp. Our guides baked us a cake that said, “Happy Birthday USA 250!!!” to end our night. We played fishbowl to end Moonup thanks to our wonderful LODs Marlowe and Jojo and headed to our tents for one last night of sleep under the incredible Tanzanian stars.
Our last day was full of quality time, giggling about everything that took place during our 17 days together, and as always, a car ride! We said goodbye to our wonderful guides mid morning before making our way towards Kilimanjaro Airport. Our banquet dinner consisted of some American favorites- pizza and burgers- in addition to our staple, soda. We talked about highs of the trip and couldn’t stop laughing.
To the parents and family of our students: Thank you so much for sharing them with us this summer! It was a pleasure and joy getting to know and love them. Experiencing Tanzania alongside of them taught us more than we can express! They are all intelligent, thoughtful, and adventurous individuals!
Kwaheri!!
EC & Ethan
TONS of Fun in Tanzania!
July 1, 2026
Jambo from the Serengeti!
What. A. Week.
Since leaving the beaches of Zanzibar behind, we’ve traded turquoise water for endless golden plains, and it’s safe to say the Serengeti has lived up to every expectation. The safari portion of our adventure has officially begun, and we’ve already witnessed some of the most incredible wildlife encounters imaginable.
Picking up where we left off, we said goodbye to Zanzibar before the sun was even awake. After an early morning flight, we were on mainland Tanzania with what had to be the quickest layover in history in Arusha. Before we knew it, we were boarding an even smaller plane bound for the Serengeti.
When we landed, we were greeted by our two fantastic safari guides and drivers, Tuma and Zeb, along with two classic safari Land Cruisers waiting just outside the airstrip. With pop-top roofs and plenty of room for everyone to stand and spot wildlife, they quickly became our home away from home for the next few days.
We hadn’t even been driving for long before the wildlife started appearing. Gazelles dotted the landscape, elephants wandered through the grasslands, and one enormous hippo surprised us by standing completely out of the water! Jojo even pointed out giraffes and got the group so excited! After an afternoon full of first sightings, we made our way back to camp just in time for an unforgettable Serengeti sunset. Along the drive home, a family of giraffes posed perfectly with the most beautiful sunset in the back, giving us some of our favorite photos of the trip so far. That evening, we settled into camp for dinner, gathered around the campfire, and reflected on an incredible first day during Moonup. We zipped up our tents and got cozy deep in the Serengeti!
The next morning brought a very special celebration-Happy Birthday, Parker! What better way to spend your birthday than on safari? Parker donned a birthday t-shirt to commemorate his 17th birthday!
The Serengeti certainly delivered. Herd after herd of elephants cooled off together in the water while babies splashed alongside the adults. We spent time watching two male lions resting peacefully beneath a tree before enjoying lunch under the shade of a giant acacia tree. Lasagna in the middle of the Serengeti? Surprisingly delicious.
The surprises kept coming throughout the afternoon. We spotted a snake crossing the road, played the ABC song game as we searched for animals, and crowned Hill our official group photographer after she captured countless incredible shots throughout the day. Charlotte and Amara could almost always be found standing through the sun-roof of the Land Cruisers, scanning the horizon for the next exciting sighting, while Max somehow managed to make friends with just about every other visitor we met along the way. One of the day’s biggest highlights came when Tuma carefully positioned our vehicle incredibly close to a pair of lions relaxing in the grass. Ethan’s car sat quietly just a few yards away, completely amazed by how calm and majestic they were. Meanwhile, Ellie earned serious bragging rights after spotting the tail of a hidden leopard through her binoculars-a sight that many visitors completely missed.
Back at camp, the fun continued with card games, a competitive round of hide-and-seek tag (Jojo and Trace winning), and plenty of birthday celebrations for Parker. After dinner, the whole crew came out singing Happy birthday with a cake baked just for him! Everyone dug in and was so happy to celebrate Parker’s birthday with him.
The next day was one of the moments we had all been hoping for: Great Migration Day. Every year, nearly two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles travel in a massive circle through Tanzania and Kenya in search of fresh grass and water. Seeing it requires a little bit of luck. Luck was definitely on our side.
Hundreds upon hundreds of wildebeest gathered at the riverbank before suddenly charging across together toward the northern side of the Serengeti. Watching the animals move in an organized chaos as one was something none of us expected, or will forget. As if that wasn’t enough excitement, we also visited enormous hippo pools filled with dozens of hippos lounging together while Tuma kept us entertained between wildlife sightings with an ongoing round of fun fact trivia that quickly became a favorite safari tradition. He challenged the boys v girls, with Ellie, our trivia wizard, having a leg up.
For our final morning in the Serengeti, we climbed back into our safari vehicles one last time with hopes of squeezing in a few more memorable sightings before heading onward. During the drive, EC, Marlowe, Hill, Charlotte, and Logan kept everyone engaged with an endless stream of riddles, challenging the rest of the group to solve them during each stop along the way. We spent the afternoon enjoying our camp, with Amara and Charlotte reigning champs of spike ball, while Ellie and Max held court at the card table. After a Serengeti shower, the BEST food of the trip, agreed on by everyone (especially Trace and Max, shout out Chef Immanuel), we ended our night as usual- gathered around a fire. Hearing the sounds of the animals all around us never got old.
After breakfast, we watched the sun rise over the plains as colorful hot air balloons floated peacefully across the sky-an unforgettable farewell to the Serengeti.
Our next destination was the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas and home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Often called a natural oasis, the crater did not disappoint. The highlight of the day came when we spotted not one, but two white rhinos, one of the rarest animals to see on safari and a bucket-list sighting for everyone visiting the region! This completed our Big 5 sighting!! We learned the White Rhinos had been released only a few weeks prior to our visit! Marlowe kept vibes up with good music on the queue.
That afternoon, we arrived at our hotel, where a refreshing swim in the pool was exactly what everyone needed after several long safari days. One sweet moment was when Logan happily spent time holding one of the local babies. Our dinner may have been the highlight of the summer, with the boys bringing an infectious energy that turned into a dance party with the chef and our hosts. The spontaneity and friendly nature of this group have blown us away and allowed them to connect so well with those around them! Trace made a handshake and became best friends with one of our hosts, and they brought us a cake!!
As we look back on our safari adventure, it’s hard to believe just how much we’ve seen in only a few days. Lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, rhinos, and countless other animals! Lots of quality time together was spent during this section, drawing our group closer than ever. Tomorrow brings another new adventure as we head into our final section of the trip: community engagement.
Until next time,
EC & Ethan
The gratitude from this group has been flowing. Here’s a quick note for you!
Logan- Thank you so much yall im having an awesome time. We saw the coolest animals and im so excited to talk to talk to yall about the safari! Hakuna matata – logan
Hill- Hiii Family!! I miss y’all so much but i am also having the best time! I just got done with safaris which was the coolest experience ever!! I have gotten the best photos and also realized my favorite animal is definitely a zebra!! Thank y’all again for giving me the amazing opportunities and always caring so much about me! -Hill
Amara- Hiiiii everyone!! I love and miss yall soooo much, im having soooo much fun!! I cant wait to see everyone when im home so soon! I dont want to leave but im excited to see all of yall. Tell all my friends i love and miss them so much and need to see them as soon as possible. We just finished safari and i had the best time ever. I am obsessed with giraffes and baby elephants now. Thank yall soooo much for everything and letting me come on this trip. Love yall soooo much much see you soon!! -Amara
Charlotte- Hi mom and dad! And sophie and all my friends! I miss yall soooo much but i am still having the best time here with my group. We do service tomorrow and the next day and hopefully something fun for the fourth! I cant wait to see yall! Tell all my friends i miss them and i cant wait to see them too. I love yall and thank you again for this opportunity! – charlotte
Max – Hi mom and dad thanks so much for sendjng me on this amazing trip. I don’t even know if you know how to read these things, but love yall and see yall soon.
Love max
Parker- Thank you for letting me go on this trip! Tanzania has been awesome and I am having a great time. Excited to see the family when im home.
Trace- Hey I love yall, after today we officially saw the big 5, we are checking into. A hotel tonight, love yall bye
Marlowe- Hi mommy and daddy,
I miss you both so much. I cant wait to see you guys! This is the coolest trip ever. Tanzania is awesome. Thank you for this trip! We have been on safaris for the past few days and saw so many animals. Before that we were in stone town for a day which was sick. I thin the rest of the trip we do service which im excited for too. I hope I remember how to drive when I get home. Thanks again 😘 😘 😘I love you both so so so much. So excited to see you!
Xoxoxo,
Mar
Jojo- Hey mom and jack (and Lana if ur checking)!!! Tanzania is So much fun!! We just finished safari and we got to see so many cool animals, and now we are going to service! See you guys soon and thank you so much for sending me here!!! Love yall!! 🦁🦒🐘
Ellie- Tanzania is fun, love and miss yall. Thanks. Shoutout to friends 🍓💿❌🚜
Hello from Zanzibar!
June 26, 2026
TNZ 2B First Trip Update
Families! Friends! The long awaited first trip update from TANZANIA!!! Since you last hugged your kids goodbye, they have become world travelers making the 24+ hour journey to join us in East Africa. From navigating airports alone, to trying new foods, to meeting their new Moondance family- the first week has been jam packed to say the least.
Even after the long travel day, we were greeted with high energy and eager anticipation at the airport which set the tone for our adventure ahead. It was well worth the wait to arrive to warm Zanzibar- the island we would call home for the next week. Located 30 miles off the coast of Mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar is its own unique blend of culture and nature. Once we had everyone, we hopped into our van and shared snacks and music during our ride to our accommodation for the first part of the trip.
Since we arrived late at night, the next morning was our first glimpse of our surroundings. Our hostel is on the East side of the island, very immersed in nature and the local surrounding town. Our hosts provided us breakfast of fresh fruit and a cinnamon bread dough, as well as peanut butter and jam toast.
Our first day of activities began with much anticipation: diving! We walked over to the dive shop just around the block from our hostel. The beach front dive shop is one of our home bases, as we were greeted by our high energy scuba instructors! Today was all about getting fitted with the wetsuits, fins, and getting acquainted with the scuba gear. The students were split into their dive groups from there- 7 in the Open Water Certification Course! Amara, Ellie, & Hill hit the ground running by doing a refresher pool session, getting used to scuba after a year’s hiatus.
Our afternoon was such a warm welcome to Zanzibar. We headed to the beach to play some spike ball and hackey sack. We saw some children on our way to the beach and a few of them came over to us to play. Soon enough, at least 30 kids came running down the beach, eager to spend time with us. A little boy was attached to Hill’s hip, while Logan had an entourage of 10 boys running behind him screaming ¨Logan! Logan! Logan!¨ He was deemed the child whisperer. Trace had a few on his back, before then swinging them around by the feet. A ring-a-round the Rosie type game was a hit with the girls, all holding hands and running around singing. Marlowe and EC had a few kids braiding their hair, while Max and Ethan threw the frisbee and balls with the group. It was a very serendipitous moment on our first full day in Zanzibar.
Day 2 of scuba was exciting! Our Open Water Cert group headed to a different resort to complete their pool practice day! It was the first time with the gear full on, so lots of anticipation heading into the morning. The crew hopped in and went through their skills with ease according to their instructors. We made a stop at a local grocery store to check out the local snacks and taste them for ourselves. Our already certified girls explored our beach with Ethan on a long walk. They then played cards until the rest of the group came back.
Our next stop was a beach restaurant not too far from our hostel. It’s hard to believe the color of the water hasn’t been mentioned yet, because it’s a sight to see. Neon light and dark blue water against the white sand is so unbelievably beautiful. After some comfort food of pizza, chicken sandwiches, and pasta, we spent the remainder of the afternoon pool side. Ping pong and pool games entertained us all. Tips, a passing game in the pool, was a huge hit, with the boys really into it and Charlotte holding her own. Categories and Star followed, with Hill explaining them all to the group. We headed back, had dinner, and concluded our night with Moonup.
The next day was a huge one–our first day on the ocean!!!! The group took their newly learned scuba skills to the big leagues–the wide open ocean. With much anticipation, we hopped on our boat from the beach front and headed out to sea. Today our guides took us to a reef system off a nearby island.
Abdulla’s dive group, Parker, Max, & Logan, brought the energy and were the first to hop in. The certified girls ran into their group underwater and saw them completing skills! Amara, Ellie, & EC got some great underwater pictures on the Go pro with the help of their guide Hassan. We enjoyed a great boat ride back to shore to conclude diving for the day.
For our afternoon/evening activity, our guides took us into the local village for a cooking class! It was one of the most hands-on, immersive experience most of us had ever been a part of. The local women, “mamas”, invited us in and put us to work! Marlowe and Jojo were on dessert duty, frying up some sweet dough bites! The mamas gave the two girls wraps to wear as skirts, really fitting the part! Hill and Amara were busy making the local bread, rolling the dough & baking it to a pita bread consistency. The rest of the crew was busy chopping all the veggies needed for our main dish- Chicken byrian. Charlotte was the MVP, bravely handling the chicken. Max made a friend, a local kid who spoke lots of English. They were attached!
When dinner was ready, we all ate our cheffed up meal on mats in a circle on the ground under the stars. Parker said it was his favorite meal of the trip so far.
The long awaited certification day! The sun was shining, the water blue as ever, vibes were HIGH with music blasting on our boat ride out to the reef. In order for students to receive their Open Water Cert, they must complete 4 dives and perform skills to show their competence. Today’s included fully flooding their mask underwater and navigating with a compass. Ethan joined Trace, Charlotte, & Marlowe’s group for the second day of dives with RickRoss, one of our favorite dive guides! EC and Jojo spotted a sting ray!! Ellie’s group saw a huge grouper. Hard to believe it, but it was time for the last dive. All did so well and completed all their skills!!! A huuuuge congratulations is in order for this group- now they are certified for life! We have really come to know and love our dive instructors so some celebratory pictures were in order. When we got back to the dive shop, everyone logged their dives with information about the conditions, who they were with, and where!
After diving, we ate lunch, showered, and then hung out. The girls played banana grams and the card game Cactus. Ethan taught them and it was a hit! The boys went on a saunter and checked out the surrounding area.
Our hostel is big into conservation efforts, so we helped them with a beach clean up that afternoon. We got out on the beach right before sunset, it was so beautiful and windy!! We collected 13 kilos of trash and then sorted it once back at the hostel, adding to their annual total of over 5,000 pounds so far!! It was the least we could do to say thank you to the beautiful island we have called home this past week.
The next morning we had a warmly welcomed sleep in before heading to our next stop! Stone town! We said goodbye to our coastal hostel and loaded up the bus. Before making it to the city, we headed to a local Spice Farm. It was such a blast getting to walk around the land and try a ton of the crops! The boys all ate the spicy pepper and the star fruit was a major hit. Logan took a jab at climbing a coconut tree, while Trace became acquainted with the resident chickens and cats.
Arriving to Stone Town was so exciting! A city! The town is right on the water with narrow streets that reminded us of Italy. After checking into our hostel, we hit the streets for some good old shopping. Max and Ethan are pros at bargaining and helped everyone else out. Everyone got Zanzibar soccer jerseys! Pumped to rep those this trip.
Amara guessed our evening activity- a sunset cruise! We hopped onto our traditional Dow sail boat and left the shore for a relaxing cruise. We got to sit on the top deck and enjoyed snacks and sodas with an impromptu Moonup led by our LODs Hill and Max. After dinner we grabbed some ice cream to end our night in the city.
We sure are sad to leave Zanzibar early tomorrow morning but the anticipation for Safari is through the roof!! It has been an incredible first week with this group and we cant wait for whats in store on the mainland!
Until next time,
EC & Ethan
I’m sure you’re missing your kiddos, so here’s a word from them!
Jojo- Hey mom, dad, and jack (and lana)!!!! I’m having SO much fun in Tanzania. Zanzibar is so sick. We got to hangout with so many locals!! I hope yall are having/had a great time in Italy! Miss you!!!
-Jojo
Charlotte- Hi mom and dad I miss y’all so much! Thank you so much for allowing me to come on this trip!! Mom all of the forms and time you put in was definitely worth it and I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! I’m scuba certified!!!! I hope yall had so much fun in Paris! We leave for the Serengeti tomorrow and im soo excited. Also please please please tell Mayme i say happy birthday because her birthday is tomorrow june 27!! Pleaseee tell all my friends i miss and love them soo much and that my group is awesome! Love yall! -charlotte
Amara- Hi mom, zyah, katie, troy, lovie, and harper I miss yall soooo much and im having so much fun. We just finished scuba diving and it was so scary again. Happy late birthday mom, i love you soooo much. I miss oreo so much i brought my pillow of him with me. Im so excited to home home to you guys i hope your having the best time in morocco. Lovie i hope you had the best time in cham and harper happy happy happy birthday. I love yall soooo much and i miss everyone. My group is so fun and im having the best time. Im so thankful for this trip and all of yall. Tell cor and louise and all my friends i love and miss them. Love you and miss yall lots!!! – amara
Hill- Hiiii Mama and Daddy!! I want to say thank you both so much for allowing me to go on this trip and giving me such amazing opportunities like this. I miss yall and all of the family so much and i am so excited to hear all about what is going on at home. We’ve done sooo many fun things!! and i have to tell y’all all the details of scuba diving… Tell P i love her so much and that i talked about her during moonup already!! Also tell Cat and SJ i love them and miss them!! Love and miss everyone so much!! -Hilly
Marlowe- Hii Mommy and Daddy,
I miss you both so much!! This trip is insane. Africa is sick. Everyone is nice; the girls are great. Scuba was crazy cool! Please tell kol (if hes still home) that I love him. Say hi to Sarah, Jon, and Dylan. And please text Abey and Mischa that I love and miss them. Ive somehow found a lot of shopping here haha. Cant wait to see you both. We go to Safari tomorrow!!!! See ya soon
Xoxoxoxo,
Marlowe Gracie Ross
Ellie- Zanzibar is fun, love and miss y’all! ❤️❤️ Missing Mom, Dad, Walker, Lew, Evie, Molly, McCallum, Carolyn, Allison, Ellie, Jane, Aubrey, and Elizabeth. I hope Parker, Blythe, and Liza have fun on their moondances.
Logan: Having a great time here. I’m very appreciative. Leaving Zanzibar tomorrow morning and headed to mainland Tanzania. We land in the Serengeti. Officially SCUBA certified too. Making sure I keep an open mind out here. I’ll tell y’all more when I’m back don’t worry.
Parker: We got scuba certified yesterday and have been having a great time. We leave to the Serengeti tommorow to safari. Thank you for letting me go on this trip ive been having a lot of fun.
Max: Whatsup having a blast. Cant wait to see yall soon. Love max
Trace: hey mom hey dad, had a great time, we got scuba certified yesterday. It was really fun and the water here is like gatorade. The people here are really nice and the kids love us for some reason, we met them on the beach and made dinner with them, youre gonna see a lot of pictures with them in it. Ive learned a couple new words in swahili, the local language. Were flying to serengeti tmr on a little plane. Anyways i love yall and will see yall in like a week i think bye
Safe Arrival!
June 21, 2026
Hello TNZ Families!
We heard from our leaders 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
