Tanzania
The unseen south
Why this trip?
Our journey begins in Iringa, a city in the southern highlands of Tanzania, at about 1,600 metres, with a cool and temperate climate very different from both the coastal heat and the lower savannas of the north.
With the forests of the Udzungwa mountain range and the savanna of Mikumi National Park on its doorstep, this area is characterised by rich biodiversity and a high number of endemic species. Despite the "preciousness" of this area, with primates, plants and birds that do not exist anywhere else in the world, it remains a territory less trodden by mass tourism compared to the major circuits of the north.
The Hehe territory, named after the majority ethnic group, carries with it a history of anti-colonial resistance that has left a strong and still vibrant local identity, making it a natural setting for small-scale community tourism.
The project
In Nyabula, a village near Iringa, we support the activities of "Camminando con Mattia", an association committed to ensuring access to quality education by supporting the construction of classrooms and laboratories and funding the purchase of materials for St. Thomas Secondary School.
Volunteers spend their days dedicating time to the students, helping them with their homework or playing with them. When needed, they also assist the teachers, collaborating with them to design opportunities for exchange and learning for the young boys and girls.
Walks through the village and small maintenance and care tasks in the communal areas are another way to meet the local people and return their hospitality.
Activities are tailored to the time of year and the volunteer group. Contact us for more information.
The itinerary
From the village of Nyabula, you set off towards Mikumi, the country's most accessible national park. Two days punctuated by game drives, at dawn and in the late afternoon: the times when lions, elephants, giraffes and herds of buffalo gather around the Mkata River plain, among open grasslands and lone baobabs marking the horizon.
From the roads of Mikumi National Park, the journey continues towards the paths of the Udzungwa Mountains. You spend three days in an isolated, ancient rainforest, which is why it shelters many species of primates, plants and birds that do not exist anywhere else.
After three days immersed in the greenery, there is still time for one last change of pace. The colours, sounds and bustle of the streets of Dar es Salaam accompany the exploration of this crossroads of African, Arabic and Indian influences.
