From the depths of Ngorongoro Crater to the vast Serengeti plains, through the regions of Tarangire and Zanzibar, your small group – limited to 18 travelers – encounters the breadth of Tanzania’s riches. With its abundant wildlife, exquisite landscapes, and diverse cultures, Tanzania presents many important aspects of the East African life. Begin the 14-day adventure with two nights in Arusha, setting out on a game drive in beautiful Arusha National Park for a first taste of Tanzania’s unparalleled wildlife viewing. Here and throughout the trip, enjoy guaranteed window seating in safari vehicles. Travel next to the Tarangire River, renowned for its numerous elephants and iconic baobab trees, and explore this gem of a park on morning and afternoon game drives during a two-night stay. Journeying on to Ngorongoro, spend two nights in a safari lodge set on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO site, descending to the magnificent crater’s floor for an unforgettable game drive. En route to the fabled Serengeti, visit Olduvai Gorge, famous for the prehistoric remains Mary Leakey discovered here, and visit a local Maasai village. Stay at a Serengeti game lodge for three nights, taking game drives with the chance to see Africa’s “Big Five,” along with other plains animals and some 500 bird species. A beachfront hotel in tropical Zanzibar offers a tranquil base for the next two nights. Tour Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital and a UNESCO site. Visit a spice plantation, and savor time at leisure in this splendid setting.
Day 1: Depart US for Arusha, Tanzania
Day 2: Arrive Arusha
Day 3: Arusha
Day 4: Arusha/Tarangire National Park
Day 5: Tarangire
Day 6: Tarangire / Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 8: Ngorongoro / Olduvai Gorge / Serengeti National Park
Day 9: Serengeti
Day 10: Serengeti
Day 11: Serengeti / Zanzibar
Day 12: Zanzibar
Day 13: Zanzibar / Dar es Salaam / Depart for US
Day 14: Arrive US
Moderate:
- Long drives on some unpaved routes during safari outings
- Limited connectivity to major cities during some portions of the trip
Faculty
Zaneta Thayer is a proud member of the Dartmouth College class of 2008 and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology. As a biological anthropologist, she studies how environmental experiences shape patterns of human biology and health. One important application of this interest is understanding how social inequalities create health inequalities, thus Thayer’s research focuses on evaluating how factors such as poverty, racism, and historical trauma affect health. She aims to increase public understanding of evolution, developmental plasticity, and how the social construction of race/racism can create health inequities.
When not studying all things stress, health, and inequity related Thayer can be found relieving her stress in the Upper Valley outdoors with her family. Her talks on the tour will discuss human evolution and human adaptation to diverse environments using insights from East Africa.
