

EAST AFRICA
UGANDA, KENYA, TANZANIA
A Semester Long Gap Year Program






East Africa

Program Details
Dates: | September 1 – November 9 |
Tuition: | $15,000* |
Arrive: | Dulles |
Depart: | Dulles |
Grade: | 12+ |
*Airfare for international and in-country flights additional
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Program Highlights
- Work at a Rhino Sanctuary and Witness the Efforts in Place to Protect Africa’s Sacred Animals
- Study Education by Living with Students at East Africa’s First Free All-Female Secondary School
- Whitewater Raft the Exhilarating Nile River
- Construct and Install Solar Power Systems into Rural Kenyan Homes
- Discover the History of Zanzibar’s Stone Town and Swim in the Turquoise Waters
- Shadow Nurses in a Maasai Health Clinic to Compare Traditional and Contemporary Medicine
- Search for the “Big Five” African Animals while on Safari in the Maasai Mara National Park
Program Overview
The East Africa gap year program explores the majesty, cultures, and challenges of three East African nations: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. We take advantage of our unparalleled access and gain a unique education on this fascinating expanse of Africa. Shadowing a peer at Kenya’s first free all-female secondary school, we are inspired by the strength and passion of the next generation. Tromping through the equatorial rainforest with wildlife biologists, surveying habitat for endangered species, we witness the environmental struggle. Shadowing nurses in a rural health clinic in Tanzania, we gain a unique insight into access to health care for these Maasai communities. Building solar panels alongside local community members, we understand how important this renewable resource is for the families we are working with. Witnessing a family of elephants trek through the savanna of the Maasai Mara at sunrise, we experience one of life’s unforgettable moments. Never again will you look at education in quite the same way!
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Program Details
Travel to Uganda and Orientation
We begin our semester traveling as a group to Kampala, Uganda, where we settle into our group, getting to know one another and our instructors. Together we map out our itinerary and set individual and group goals for the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects while coming together as a traveling community.
Led by our local host, Peter, we receive an orientation to Ugandan culture and customs. We explore Kampala, all the while learning about the rich cultural history and the complicated political and economic framework of East Africa, as well as the cultural norms and social etiquette of the region.
Rhino Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation
Traveling north from Kampala, we head to a rhino sanctuary where we will spend the next week. Due to poaching and fierce competition over natural resources for the last three decades, rhino have been extinct in the country of Uganda since 1982. We join biologists and rangers to help in the efforts to reintroduce and build a sustainable rhino population through their breeding program. We learn to track and monitor the animals day and night, help with animal rehabilitation efforts, and take part in community outreach educating local youth about conservation efforts. This opportunity not only provides us with an intimate look at the real environmental issues facing East Africa, but also allows us to be a part of viable solutions.
Rural Community Farming, Microfinance and Homestays
Our journey continues to the rural farming community of Luminyere, a stone’s-throw from picturesque Lake Victoria. Known for its fertile soil, this part of Uganda is an agricultural haven. With a growing number of the rural communities relying on subsistence agricultural, our partner Peter, the founder of a local farming cooperative, encourages traditional farming methods and techniques with regard to planting, harvesting and distribution of important seeds. By supporting local farmers through training and vocational studies, families are able to sustainably provide food for their families through farming initiatives. Through our partner we go behind-the-scenes to help out and experience the strategic learning taking place. Partnering with farmers we may plant fruit orchards, build bee boxes, construct water catchment systems, or participate in any assortment of agricultural practices. Living with host families who graciously welcome us into their homes and lives, we get an in-depth look at life in this region of Uganda.
Nile River Rafting
Our Uganda adventure comes to a close on a high note as we travel to Jinja for an exhilarating whitewater raft on the mighty Nile River. After an exciting day on the river, we cross into Kenya and travel into the picturesque Great Rift Valley, where we stay in the quiet farming community of Kembu for the night.
Female Education Project
Set in the Shadow of Mt. Kenya, our host school, East Africa’s first free all-female secondary school in Kenya, provides a stimulating and challenging educational experience aimed at readying its students for occupational interests. Only 55% of students who finish primary school in Kenya move on to secondary school, and women make up only a fraction of that small percentage. According to International Food Policy Research Institute, women’s education is the single most contributing factor to decreasing levels of hunger and malnutrition, and according to the International Aid Organization UNICEF, every year of schooling raises a woman’s income by 10%. For a week we call this campus home as we get to know and befriend the girls who come from varying areas throughout the country. Throughout the week, we pair up to shadow one of the students in her day to day studies and activities. In our down time we hear the girl’s life stories and what brought them to the school, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.
Safari in Maasai Mara National Park
One cannot visit East Africa without a true safari. After traveling to the starting point, we wake up and are beckoned to the famed plains of the ‘Mara.’ We trade our overland vehicles for smaller, more manageable 4×4 land cruisers and depart for an adventure of a lifetime. For the next two days we venture through Masai Mara National Park, one of the most documented game parks in the world. In search of the coveted “Big Five” – rhino, lion, elephant, water buffalo and leopard – we are sure to see our fair share of animals in this geographic masterpiece.
Solar Energy Project
Leaving the plains of the Maasai Mara behind we make our way to the site of our next project which addresses the Environment and Conservation theme. The project is the brain-child of our local partners. An impactful initiative established to bring solar power to the homes of households in Kajiado County who do not yet have access to electricity, we spend the next ten days learning about solar power systems and other renewable energy sources, building and installing solar power systems into homes, and undertaking an evaluation of the project. During our stay here we will learn about the impact of conventional fuels on the environment, as well calculate our energy usage at home and what it would take to go solar in our personal lives. Working alongside community members, we form close connections with those of Kajiado and get to witness the magic of someone turning the lights on in their home for the first time.
Tanzania and Student Planned Module
Leaving Kaijado behind, we cross over into Tanzania, the last country in our East African journey. Our odyssey continues as we make our way to Arusha, the small city base for our Student Planned Module. This long weekend is totally planned by the students, with basic parameters put in place and a budget with which to work. We can’t wait to hear what the group will do!
Maasai Public Health Project and Adult Education Project
Our cultural exchange with the Maasai continues as we travel to the town of Meserani, a small indigenous Maasai community in the rural lands of Northern Tanzania. In cooperation with community leaders we learn about the struggle for health care in the region due to the lack of government support. In a country where one doctor cares for up to 25,000 people in any given rural area, Meserani is an exception to the rule. Funded by eco-tourism and donations, the Meserani clinic provides up-to-date health care to individuals who would normally not have access to such care. During our stay in Meserani, we are provided with an up-close view of the efforts being made to protect the local people from disease and sickness.
Our next project in Tanzania has us partnering with Tanzanian young adults our age. We spend a week in buddy pairs learning the stories of these resilient people who have had to overcome great challenges before finding respite in this community. The center provides access to education and child-care, as well as opportunities for these locals to give back within their own communities. During our time here we assist in child-care, vocational classes, and general tasks around the center. We also have ample time to get to know our hosts outside of class hours and continue immersing ourselves in the unique culture of the Maasai.
Zanzibar
Traveling to the coast of Tanzania, we catch a dhow boat to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. After an engaging semester of learning, we relish the opportunity for a well-deserved celebration on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar. We have the opportunity to snorkel, while also relaxing in paradise.
With our semester coming to a close, we present our Capstone Passion Projects to our traveling community. Sharing our new perspectives with the group, there is no question our learning and living during these months will prepare us for the rest of our lives. As we savor our last week together, we are excited to head home to share our newly gained knowledge and insights from our firsthand look at the global issues facing Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
*Please note that the order of the countries and of the projects is subject to change depending on your group assignment.
Program Reviews
“Nicolas had a great time; this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he will cherish forever. […] He really enjoyed helping others. As parents we are very, very pleased with the whole experience.”
— Parents of Nicolas R., Medellin, Colombia, Los Andres University ’23“Overall, Rosie found it to be an incredibly thoughtful program. There was real conscious thought and planning behind everything they did and how they went about it. She made authentic connections with both the locals and the group. She came to understand that this was an exchange among cultures. She came home with greater compassion and confidence.”
— Parent of Rosie M., San Francisco, CA, Providence College ‘23“Some can agree that it can be hard to pack up your life and take it on the road, but it is so worthwhile. All of us have stepped into a door that will expand our own paths and possibilities. This East Africa Gap semester has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and has struck me as beautiful, captivating, sometimes incomprehensible but all of it has been astonishing.”
— Bryanna F., Manassas, VA, Virginia Commonwealth ’24“The semester was fantastic. The preparation and the experience were amazing and impactful. She will remember it forever. Her peer group was perfectly matched to her; she couldn’t have been happier with her co-travelers. These are relationships she’ll value for a lifetime. It was the ideal blend of community engagement and exploration. She loved each and every interaction and stretched herself in ways not typically available to her back home. She learned there are many different ways to interpret ‘best’ and left with a deep love of a continent, people, culture, and traditions she is eager to revisit.”
— Parent of Victoria H., Dunstable, MA, Connecticut College ’23“Caroline matured in a beautiful way. She has very much benefited from the group dynamic and learning how to advocate for herself. She was exposed to many kinds of living situations and cultures that helped her better appreciate her home situation.”
— Parents of Caroline E., Mission Hills, KS, Savannah College of Art & Design ‘23“The instructors balanced friend and authority well, made Jack feel an important part of the group, kept things moving, made the students responsible without overwhelming them, provided a feeling of security and adventure, and were fun and adventurous themselves. The pace was great. The experiences were life-changing. I think every child should do something like this before heading out into the world. I think it helps build confidence and independence in a safe, structured environment. The diverse experiences and people met open eyes to the world beyond high school.”
— Parent of Jack S., San Diego, CA, Western Washington ‘24“Paul had such an amazing experience in East Africa. He came home with so many amazing stories and reflections about his experiences, also with a new maturity that can only result from experiences like the ones he had with ARCC.”
— Parent of Paul S., Randolph Center, VT, University of Vermont ‘24Group Journal Excerpts
Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC:
A Day They Will Remember For Life
Wow! What a day our ARCC Africa Gap students had! The group is currently volunteering at the Rhino Fund Uganda. Yesterday, they participated in a medical mission to help Nandi, a wounded and pregnant Rhino. Nandi has several wounds that were severely infected and needed to be irrigated and cleaned. The wounds had come from…Read more
A Week at the Academy
A perspective from Lydia! During our stay at the Academy, each member of ARCC was placed with a buddy to spend time with. My (Lydia’s) buddy was Maggie, a 14-year-old from a small village outside of Nanyuki, Kenya. At first shy and withdrawn, Maggie soon began to open up to me about her past, her…Read more
An Incredible Safari!
This blog is brought to you by our current Leaders of the Week, Amaya and Grace. We are currently packing up our safari trucks, and heading to the Napenda solar project! This blog describes our time in Masai Mara, which has served as the perfect “half-way point” through our semester. Part 1 The melting sun…Read more
Maasai Homestay
To start our homestay with a bang, we were greeted by our host, Jonathan, on a main road, and then proceeded to walk 50 minutes with our huge backpacks and daypacks to arrive at our home for the next week. We arrived at his home, where his family greeted us with smiles and open arms.…Read more
Making and Installing Solar Panels
Rough winds and rain gusted through the truck as we bumped through the hills of Maasai land. After blessing the rains down in Africa with the help of Toto, we were greeted by Debs and her and Thiemo’s German Shepherds Turbo, Sally, and Stella. Throughout the day, zebras and livestock would freely stroll and graze…Read more
Reflections from Tanzania
It is fascinating to explore the nature of relativity while traveling internationally; more specifically, the differences between two cultures’ interpretations of the same word. Our experiences in Africa have offered several opportunities to see this contrast firsthand–our time at Meserani Snake Park these past 2 weeks especially. We built relationships with the nurses Jane and…Read more
Thanksgiving: Masaai Style
Bumping up and down, knocking foreheads and cheering Mark on while he violently shifted gears, our small group found our way to a small Maasai village in a 1960s, totally gutted “Bushman” Land Cruiser. Our Thanksgiving Day was not spent in pajamas, and was miles away from any televised sports; but explode out of the…Read more
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19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, OR 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC
Contact Us
19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, Oregon 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC