Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. Please click here to view the Kenya/Tanzania: Lighting Lives packing list.

The weather can vary from very hot equatorial climates on the coast to more mildly cool climates up in the higher altitudes in the savanna (some nights it can get as low as the high 40’s). Located at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,600 feet, Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya’s dry, sunny climate is nothing like the steamy African jungle of Tarzan movies. The weather is spring-like year round, with daytime temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s, evenings in the 60’s. The coastal and lowland areas near Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar tend to be more tropical in temperature and actually will get into the 90’s.

ARCC has linked up with a company that has been running programs in Tanzania and Kenya for over a decade. Through them, we have made some incredible contacts that have led to valuable and meaningful service projects. We have designed the service projects to help their communities in the most sustainable way possible. Each year, groups build and install solar panels in Maasai homes, bringing electricity to homes that either had none, used kerosene (both a dangerous and unhealthy option), and/or could not afford to pay into the national electric company on a reliable basis. Our groups also have the opportunity to help young students with their English skills, through games, activities and collaborative teaching.

Kenya and Tanzania are clean and safe places to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your trip to East Africa. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Additionally, our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).

Required Medication: ARCC strongly suggests that all students on the Tanzania and Kenya program take a prescription antimalarial drug. Although chances of contracting malaria are relatively slim, we still recommend that students protect themselves against the possibility of contracting malaria. As there can be side effects to the malaria medication, we suggest you consult your physician regarding treatment.

Suggested Medications: The recommended prophylaxes in risk areas are Doxycycline or Atovaquone/Proguanil otherwise known as Malarone.

Please consult your physician to determine which antimalarial drug may be most appropriate for you.

In-Country Prevention: Malaria is mosquito-borne and therefore anti-mosquito measures such as covering as much skin as possible with loose-fitting clothing and using insect repellent with DEET are highly recommended and strongly encouraged during the program.

Throughout the program, the majority of the time we will be camping in private campsites. ARCC will provide the tents and camping gear, and we ask that students bring a sleeping bag. We will spend 3 nights in a small hotel on Zanzibar at the end of the program, and 4 nights in a guesthouse in Southern Kenya during the Solar Power Project.

Throughout the program, we will be traveling in a custom built safari truck made for ‘Overlanding’. Each truck comes fully equipped with tents, mattresses, kitchen equipment, stereo, cooler box/fridge, coach seats, storage for valuables, luggage space, and a comprehensive medical kit.

Overland travel is the best way to see and experience Africa and our experienced outfitters have intimate knowledge of geography, people, politics and locales We travel in custom-built safari vehicles that are used to ensure maximum comfort while experiencing the best Africa has to offer. We are completely self-sufficient, fully equipped with all our gear needed for the expedition.

We travel to Zanzibar by boat and back to the mainland by ferry before flying home. The boat and ferry are both equipped with proper safety equipment and we only use vetted boat and ferry services we’ve worked with for years without any issue. You may want to bring motion sickness medicine just in case you are sensitive to movement while traveling.

The food we will eat will be a mix of Western-style food (sandwiches, pizza, burgers, pasta etc.) and traditional local food such as stews, soups, fruits, rice, lentils, and vegetables. Breakfast often consists of cereal and fresh fruit. We will have a chance to sample incredible traditional dishes over a home-style BBQ spit.

Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered for, which is why it’s important to turn in your medical forms with ample time prior to departure.

For the Tanzania and Kenya program, ARCC recommends that you bring an additional $225 of spending money. This will cover cash for souvenirs, communication, possible clinic visits and the $10 departure tax from Zanzibar to the mainland. The money should be in smaller denominations ($20 and below) and all bills must be produced in 2006 or later (Dollars with the big head) because of circulated counterfeit dollars. We recommend you bring all of your money in cash. ATM’s are found in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha, but are limited outside the city.

If you do bring an ATM/debit card, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.

Yes, all students traveling to Tanzania and Kenya need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after you travel. Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this adventure. It normally takes six to eight weeks to process a passport application.

Yes, you will need a visa to enter Tanzania and a visa to enter Kenya, but you don’t need it before departure. We will purchase them upon arrival in each country. A visa for Tanzania costs $100 and a visa for Kenya costs $60, which is included in the group flight cost. Leaders will bring cash and purchase visas for the group in-country.

Tanzania and Kenya are on the East Africa Time Zone (EAT), 10 hours ahead of San Francisco and 7 hours ahead of New York City.

Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, it is important that you bring a backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the program, the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.

We have the chance to live amongst some people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms. Pens, pencils, notepads, and books are widely accepted. Soccer balls are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles, ARCC would ask that every person bring no more than a gym bag of goods to donate.

Tanzania was once a German colony and Kenya was formerly part of the British Empire. While we are not promoting colonization, one effect colonization had was that many modern conveniences you would find in the western world, such as air conditioning, large grocery stores, ATMs, and modern hospitals, are present in mid-size to major cities in each country. However, during our time in the villages and other rural areas, you can expect a much simpler lifestyle. Villages often can support themselves by growing their own vegetables and selling them at local markets for income. Agriculture is a big part of Tanzanian life. Few people can afford cars, so most travel by foot, bicycle and public bus. Western food, bottled water and Coca-Cola (for better or for worse) can all be found throughout Tanzania.