Trip Finder
Serengeti
Information for Enrolled Students

Packing List

Duffel Bag or Backpack

45-60 liters; MUST be small enough to carry on the plane

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55 L
Buy in our gear store

Day Pack

25 – 32 liter daypack /school backpack to carry your rain jacket, water bottle and snacks

Qty: 1
Patagonia Refugio Pack 26 L

For holding your gear

Trail / Tennis Shoes

A pair of comfortable, closed-toe sturdy shoes

Qty: 1

River Shoes

These can be open-toed, but do need to have a back strap

Qty: 1
Chaco, Teva, Keen

Socks

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks (At least 2 pair heavier weight--wool)

Qty: 7 Pair
Smartwool or Darn Tough

Required Shoes
NOTE: You can expect to get your clothes dirty during your community service section, so keep that in mind when choosing specific clothing and footwear items.

Long Underwear / Base Layer Top

At least one synthetic, non-cotton, medium-weight long sleeve top, other can be cotton

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Crew, TASC Performance Beaver Falls

T-shirts

Minimum of 2 synthetic, non-cotton t-shirts, other shirts may be cotton; do not pack many tank tops

Qty: 4
Patagonia Capilene T-Shirt, Marmot Windridge, TASC Performance Carrollton Performance Crew

Sun Hoodie

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene® Cool Daily Hoody

Lightweight Top

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 fleece

Insulating Jacket

Synthetic or down insulation, non-cotton. This can be a synthetic or down “puffy” jacket, or an additional heavyweight fleece

Qty: 1
Patagonia Nano Puff or Down Sweater

Rain Jacket w/ Hood

100% waterproof rain jacket with a hood - no ponchos!

Qty: 1
Patagonia Torrentshell or Marmot Precip

Long Sleeve Rash Guard

For sun protection and comfort in the water

Qty: 1
Patagonia Long Sleeved Rashguard

Sports Bra

For Girls

Qty: 4

Required Clothing Items
NOTE: You can expect to get your clothes dirty during your community service section, so keep that in mind when choosing specific clothing and footwear items.

Water Bottles

Minimum 32oz water bottles

Qty: 1
Nalgene 1L Wide Mouth
Buy in our gear store

Mesh Stuff Sack

1 extra mesh stuff sack for dirty clothes storage, sleeping bag size

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Mesh Stuff Sack

Headlamp

With fresh batteries + 2 sets of spare batteries

Qty: 1
Black Diamond Spot or Black Diamond Storm

Sunglasses

With 100% UV protection

Qty: 1
Goodr

Sunglass Holders

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Additional Required Items

Sleeping Bag Liner

Highly recommended. Silk, cotton, or synthetic. Used as a “lightweight sheet” in warm climates in lieu of a sleeping bag. Used when staying in hotels/ hostels as a personal sheet.

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Expander Travel Liner
Buy in our gear store

You will be staying in hostels, so this is for extra comfort

Dopp Kit*

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, prescription medication, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L – M

First Aid Kit*

Contains: Insect repellent, reef safe waterproof sunscreen (Kokua, Thinksport, Stream2Sea), zinc oxide, Band-aids, Moleskin, Chapstick w/ sun prevention, Wet Ones wipes, Dramamine (if prone to motion sickness), personal hand sanitizer

Qty: 1

Prescription glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts.

Qty: 2 Pair

Required Hygiene Items
*Please keep all toiletries in your checked luggage, with the exception of your toothbrush and any personal/prescription medication

Hat

A baseball hat or wide-brimmed hat for sun protection

Qty: 1
Buy in our gear store

Work Gloves

Qty: 1

Buff or Bandana (Important!)

For additional sun and wind protection. Buffs are tube-like and can be worn up to 12 different ways providing versatile sun protection. Can even be worn as a headband!

Qty: 1
Moondance Buff
Buy in our gear store

Required Items

Wallet

Personal wallet with $200 spending money and valid identification

Qty: 1

Passport + copies

Passport (valid for 6 months after the last day of your trip) + 2 additional photocopies of your passport

Qty: 1 + 2 copies

COVID-19 Vaccination Card + Copies

Valid COVID-19 vaccination card + 2 additional photocopies of your vaccination card

Qty: 2

Kenyan Visa

(Inside passport) Directions to obtain visa to follow

Qty: 1

Tanzanian Visa

(Inside passport) Directions to obtain visa to follow

Qty: 1

Pack Towel

Absorbent & quick to dry, large or extra-large is ideal

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
Buy in our gear store

Additional Required Items

Long Underwear / Base Layer Bottom

Synthetic, non-cotton medium weight long underwear bottoms

Qty: 1-2
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight/Midweight Bottoms

Quick-dry Shorts

Synthetic, non-cotton shorts

Qty: 3
Patagonia Baggies

Bathing Suits

Boys: your quick-dry shorts can double as your bathing suit

Qty: 2

Long Pants

1 pair of synthetic, non-cotton hiking pants. 1 pair may be cotton or a yoga pant. REQUIRED 1 pair of loose/flowy pants to be culturally appropriate during community service. Leggings are NOT appropriate during community service.

Qty: 2-3

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple cotton pairs are okay)

Qty: 6

Required Clothing Items
NOTE: You can expect to get your clothes dirty during your community service section, so keep that in mind when choosing specific clothing and footwear items.

Camera*

With charger + international adapter, and a 32- 64GB memory card

Qty: 1

Go Pro

With charger and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1
Buy in our gear store

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky…highly recommended for long flights

Qty: 1

Notebook with pen

For journaling

Qty: 1

Small Binoculars

Recommended for wildlife safari

Qty: 1

Personal Protective Equipment: Mask

Two (2) reusable, breathable masks that completely cover nose and mouth and fit snuggly; Moondance will not provide masks. To be used where it is required by trip location or outfitter.

Qty: 2

Not required but highly recommended.
*Since we don’t allow cell phones during the course of our trips, you may not use your phone as a camera. Leaders will take photos that will be shared at the end of the summer.

Packing Tips

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

  • A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
  • Your rain jacket
  • Prescription medications & toothbrush
  • Passport, ID, money
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Card
  • Completed International Travel Authorization form

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Immunizations

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see Your COVID-19 Vaccination for more information.

Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

Chickenpox (Varicella)
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
Flu (influenza)
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
Polio
Shingles

Cholera TAN

Areas of active cholera transmission are localized to the regions of Arusha (last case reported in the past 3 months), Dar Es Salaam (last case reported 9-12 months ago), Dodoma (last case reported in the past 3 months), Kagera (last case reported in the past 3 months), Katavi (last case reported 6-9 months ago), Kigoma (last case reported 6-9 months ago), Kilimanjaro (last case reported 3-6 months ago), Mara (last case reported in the past 3 months), Rukwa (last case reported 6-9 months ago), Ruvuma (last case reported 6-9 months ago), Simiyu (last case reported in the past 3 months), and Singida (last case reported in the past 3 months) in Tanzania. Cholera is rare in travelers. Certain factors may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease (more information). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.

Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Tanzania. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Tanzania.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Tanzania take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find country-specific information about malaria.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Polio


In Tanzania poliovirus has been identified in the past year.

Travelers to Tanzania are at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus.

Vaccine recommendations: Adults traveling to Tanzania who received a complete polio vaccination series as children may receive a single lifetime booster dose of inactivated polio vaccine; travelers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should receive a complete polio vaccination series before travel. Children who are not fully vaccinated will be considered for an accelerated vaccination schedule.

Rabies

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Tanzania. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Tanzania, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available.

Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.

Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include

Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
Visitors to rural areas
Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Tanzania.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission.1

Generally not recommended for travel to Tanzania.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to the country this trip visits.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Flights

Serengeti 1A All Girls, June 5 - June 21, 2024 **if you are unsure of your group, please reach out to Moondance HQ at 800-832-5229 to confirm**

Arrive
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Wednesday, June 5, 2024
  • Arrive before 7:50 AM EST
Depart
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Friday, June 21, 2024
  • Depart after 11:55 AM

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Wednesday, June 5, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 519 YAtlanta (ATL)10:50 AMAddis, Ababa (ADD)8:05 am (6/06)
Thursday, June 6, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 865 YAddis, Ababa (ADD)9:45 AMDar Es Salaam (DAR)12:35 pm (2/06)

Departure Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Thursday, June 20, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 804 YDar Es Salaam (DAR)4:45 PMAddis, Ababa (ADD)7:25 pm (6/20)
Thursday, June 20, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 518 YAddis, Ababa (ADD)10:00 PMAtlanta (ATL)8:55 am (6/21)

Serengeti 1B All Girls, June 5 - June 21, 2024 **if you are unsure of your group, please reach out to Moondance HQ at 800-832-5229 to confirm**

Arrive
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Wednesday, June 5, 2024
  • Arrive before 7:50AM EST
Depart
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Friday, June 21, 2024
  • Depart after 11:55AM EST

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Wednesday, June 5, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 519 YAtlanta (ATL)10:50 AMAddis, Ababa (ADD)8:05 am (6/06)
Thursday, June 6, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 815 YAddis, Ababa (ADD)10:35 AMKilimanjaro, Tanzania (JRO)1:10 pm (6/06)

Outbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Thursday, June 20, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 814 YKilimanjaro, Tanzania (JRO)5:20 PMAddis, Ababa (ADD)7:50 pm (6/20)
Thursday, June 20, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 518 YAddis, Ababa (ADD)10:00 PMAtlanta (ATL)8:55 am (6/21)

Serengeti 2 All Girls, June 23 - July 9, 2024 **if you are unsure of your group, please reach out to Moondance HQ at 800-832-5229 to confirm**

Arrive
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Sunday, June 23, 2024
  • Arrive before 7:50AM EST
Depart
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Tuesday, July 9, 2024
  • Depart after 5:45 PM

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Sunday, June 23, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 519 YAtlanta (ATL)10:50 AMAddis, Ababa (ADD)8:05 am (6/24)
Monday, June 24, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 815 YAddis, Ababa (ADD)10:35 AMKilimanjaro, Tanzania (JRO)1:10 pm (6/24)

Outbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Monday, July 8, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 814 YKilimanjaro, Tanzania (JRO)5:20 PMAddis, Ababa (ADD)7:50 pm (7/08)
Monday, July 8, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 500 YAddis, Ababa (ADD)10:50 PMDulles, VA (IAD)8:55 am (7/09)
Tuesday, July 9, 2024Ethiopian Airlines 1370Dulles, VA (IAD)12:45 PMAtlanta (ATL)2:44 pm (7/09)

Serengeti 3, July 11 - July 27, 2024 **if you are unsure of your group, please reach out to Moondance HQ at 800-832-5229 to confirm**

Arrive
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Thursday, July 11, 2024
  • Before 8:20 am EST
Depart
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Saturday, July 27, 2024
  • After 11:50 am EST

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Thursday, July 11, 2024Emirates 204 KNew York (JFK)11:20 AMDubai (DXB)7:50 am (7/12)
Friday, July 12, 2024Emirates 725 KDubai (DXB)9:30 AMDar Es Salaam (DAR)1:55 pm (7/12)

Outbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Friday, July 26, 2024Emirates 726 QDar Es Salaam (DAR)3:25 PMDubai (DXB)9:50 pm (7/26)
Saturday, July 27, 2024Emirates 203 QDubai (DXB)2:50 AMNew York (JFK)8:50 am (7/27)

Important Travel Notes:

  • We highly recommend that all students fly on the designated flights above. If you have any questions OR if you are considering another flight path please contact the Moondance Adventures HQ BEFORE purchasing your airfare.
  • We also highly recommend making your flight reservation through our partnered travel agency, Student Universe. They are familiar with all Moondance flights. Please follow this link to start the booking process.
  • Remember when booking your child’s flight to allow at least a 3-hour layover in any connecting airport to avoid missed connections or baggage delays.
  • It is imperative that every student arrives to their gateway city in a timely fashion. If one individual does not arrive in on time to make the group flights, it can delay the entire trip. Leaders are not guaranteed to be on the flight.
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