Tanzania! Tanzania! Tanzania!

I knew nothing about Tanzania when I looked at CCS. But the more I found out about the country, the more I loved it. Basically, your iconic African savannah is Tanzania. This is my best try at being a travel agent and selling the country.

On the Indian Ocean, Tanzania shares borders with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (this border is through Lake Tanganyika), Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique.

In the northeast, volcanic Mt. Kilimanjaro stands at 19,330 feet and has claimed the title of Africa's highest peak. Climbing Kili is relatively easy, and can be done in a week. Near the base of Kili is the city of Moshi, where I will be volunteering.


Lake Victoria is in northern Tanzania, and is Africa's largest lake, world's largest tropical lake, the world's second widest freshwater lake, and the source of the longest branch of the Nile.

Home to the wildebeest migration in western Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park is 5700 square miles and part of the Serengeti Plain. Zebras, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros(es?)(rhinoceri?) , cheetahs, gazelles, and giraffes are also popular in this area.


The earliest hominids and evidence of human evolution has been found in the Olduvai Gorge in the eastern Serengeti Plains.

Also in western Tanzanaia, Jane Goodall researched chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream National Park.


The island of Zanzibar is located in the Indian Ocean. This island is known for its many spices, and is proclaimed in a wonderful song by Tenacious D.


Swahili is spoken in Tanzania. I was thrilled when I found out that I knew some Swahili. The baboon from the Lion King is named Rafiki, which is Swahili for "friend." Chai means "tea." Hakuna matata really does mean "no worries" and a safari isn't just a trip to see awesome animals. It means "journey."

The Maasai are a semi-nomadic tribe in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Look how sweet!


So that's Tanzania in a nutshell. How'd I do? I'm sold. Are you?

How?

It has been a year (and counting) in the making.

Back when Facebook had a proper newsfeed, there was a posting that said one of my friends joined a group because her friend was going to Ghana to volunteer. I was intrigued. This friend of a friend was going with the Global Volunteer Network. They are a New Zealand-based company and place volunteers with host families. That's pretty cool, but I wanted to go to East Africa. The only place GVN goes in East Africa is Kenya, and at the time, there was instability in Kenya.

I don't even know how I found Cross-Cultural Solutions. CCS is described at a mini-PeaceCorps, and is recognized by many organizations for their credibility and opportunities. Volunteers stay at a homebase where the in-country staff works, 3 authentic meals are prepared per day, and volunteers are provided with cultural activities in the afternoons. CCS has sites all over the world and three in Tanzania (borders Kenya to the south, on the Indian Ocean). I was sold when I learned more about the country of Tanzania.

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So, when I go broke, get malaria, and get devoured by a lion, blame facebook.