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Travel/Study
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Travel with Stanford students on a Sophomore College program

Tanzania Field Seminar

Take in the sights and sounds of the Serengeti, search for Africa’s iconic wildlife on daily drives, and witness life in a Maasai boma.

Overview

An epic safari adventure

There is something truly inspiring about traveling with a multigenerational group. Ideas are shared, bonds are forged, and lifelong memories are made. Thirty years ago, we started these field seminars, and today they continue to provide an immersive academic experience for a group of undergraduate and alumni travelers. Attend a three-day workshop on the Stanford campus with Professor Bill Durham, ’71, and Dr. Susan Charnley, MA ’89, PhD ’94, before heading to Africa with them. 

Follow the migratory tracks of massive herds of elephants, watch the antics of playful monkeys, and view gangly giraffes nibbling from acacia trees—all from the comfort of our spacious four-wheel-drive Land Rovers that guarantee a window seat.

Dates

September 5–20, 2024

Duration

16 days

Price

From $10,295 per person

Trip size

45 participants

Minimum age

18 years
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Faculty leader

A different kind of classroom

With renowned Stanford faculty and scholars leading the way, every Travel/Study trip is a one-of-a-kind educational experience.

Bill Durham

Anthropology and Human Biology

An enthusiastic and innovative educator, Bill's lectures cover ecology, evolution and the interactions of genetic and cultural change in human populations.

Learn more about Bill

Susan Charnley

Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service

An environmental anthropologist, Susan studies natural resource use and management among rural producers and landowners. 

Learn more about Susan

“Unforgettable! It was a unique and very special way to travel and learn. The students bring a very vital and compelling presence to the travel experience, and Bill and Susan taught us so much!"

—Maureen Hawkins

A shared journey

SAC students standing and posing for picture

For this Field Seminar, Travel/Study teamed up with Stanford University’s Sophomore College, a program that provides second-year students with immersive learning experiences, including field trips and activities outside the classroom. After two days on Stanford campus with the Stanford students and our faculty leaders, we travel together to Tanzania to embark on a true journey of discovery. Field Seminars bring travel, education, intergenerational learning, and adventure together for a one-of-a-kind program.

The joy of lifelong learning

Find out what happens when travelers engage with students in an open-minded, supportive environment. Listen to students, travelers, faculty, and staff share their perspectives on this unique travel experience.

Itinerary

An epic safari adventure

Travel alongside Stanford sophomores, listening to their presentations and searching for Africa’s most iconic mammals—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape Buffalo—on daily wildlife drives. Visit a Maasai boma to witness daily life and hear about age-old traditions. At Olduvai Gorge, learn about the paleoanthropological discoveries that helped further the understanding of human evolution.

  • Home / Stanford University

    Meet seminar staff, the Stanford students, and fellow travelers on campus this evening during a special welcome reception, orientation, and dinner.

    Included meal: Dinner
  • to

    Stanford University

    Join Professor Durham and Dr. Charnley on campus for morning and afternoon lectures and discussions on key aspects of land use and conservation in Tanzania.

    Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
  • to

    San Francisco, California / Arusha, Tanzania

    Depart from San Francisco on overnight flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel in Arusha, northern Tanzania’s safari capital. 

    Accommodations:

    Arusha Hotel

    Included meal: Dinner

  • Arusha / Arusha National Park

    After breakfast, attend a safari briefing before traveling to Arusha National Park to partake in wildlife drives and a picnic lunch in the park. Gather this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at our hotel.

    Accommodations:

    Arusha Hotel

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • to

    Tarangire National Park

    Following breakfast at our hotel on Wednesday, drive to Tarangire Safari Lodge, which will be our home for the next two nights. Our days here afford us opportunities for wildlife drives in the mornings and afternoons, stopping most days for a picnic lunch, and, in the evenings, listening as the students present their research. Enjoy time after dinner to relax at our lodge, which overlooks the Tarangire River.

    Accommodations:

    Tarangire Sopa Lodge (or similar)

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Tarangire / Lake Manyara National Park

    After breakfast and a final game drive in Tarangire National Park, continue to Maramboi Tented Lodge, situated in the ecosystem of Lake Manyara. After lunch, settle into our lodge, taking in the endless vistas of rolling golden grasslands and palm-lined desert.

    Accommodations:

    Maramboi Tented Lodge (or similar)

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Lake Manyara National Park

    This morning, drive to Lake Manyara National Park for wildlife viewing from our 4x4 vehicles. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before driving up the Great Rift Valley escarpment late in the afternoon. Back at camp, join Peter Lindstrom, director of Hoopoe Safaris, for a talk on conservation. Born and raised in Kenya, Peter is passionate about nature preservation.

    Accommodations:

    Kirurumu Manyara Lodge

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • to

    Ngorongoro Conservation Area

    This morning, join our Maasai guides for a walking tour along the Great Rift Valley escarpment to a settlement of bomas. After lunch, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Take a guided walk in the Ngorongoro Highlands after settling into our lodge and enjoy a full day of wildlife viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater the following day.  

    Accommodations:

    Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (or similar)

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • to

    Olduvai Gorge / Serengeti National Park

    After breakfast, drive to the Olduvai Gorge in the Serengeti Plains to visit the museum that showcases numerous fossils and stone tools and the skeletons of extinct animals that were excavated in the Gorge. Continue through Serengeti National Park, stopping along the way to enjoy a picnic lunch. This afternoon, arrive at our lodge, our home for the next three nights. Enjoy safari rides each day with student presentations before dinner each evening. On our final night, toast our adventure at a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.

    Accommodations:

    Serengeti Sopa Lodge (or similar)

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Serengeti / Arusha / Home

    Take one last safari ride this morning before heading to the Seronera airstrip for our flight to Arusha. There, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and check in to day rooms before catching late, overnight flights home from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

    Accommodations:

    Arusha Hotel—day rooms

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Trip details

Start preparing for the trip of a lifetime

From top to bottom, we’ve taken care of all the details, so you can enjoy a no-stress, worry-free travel experience.

Travel in Tanzania

Our safari takes place between 3,000 and 8,000 feet of elevation, giving us warm days and cool nights. Temperatures during our program can be variable, historically ranging at this time of year from the mid 60s in the early mornings and evenings to the mid 80s (F) during the day. The Ngorongoro Highlands can be a bit cooler in the evenings and in the early mornings. Rain may occur at any time of the year, with dramatic, passing showers.

Activity level

This journey through Tanzania explores some extremely remote places. Travelers can expect an expedition experience in the truest sense of the word, where new discoveries are accompanied by changing conditions, which may necessitate variations to the itinerary. For this reason, participants will need to travel with a spirit of adventure and flexibility in the face of unexpected changes. The open-air safari vehicles that are used for game drives can be dusty and somewhat bumpy. Most days require early morning starts. We often have a full schedule of excursions, lectures and special events.

Pricing

Secure your spot today

The price of your trip covers a comprehensive educational program in addition to meals, accommodations, tours and excursions. Continue reading for a full list of what’s included.

Price

Double occupancy:
$10,295 per person

Single occupancy:
$10,995 per person

Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person.

What’s included?

  • Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including an education resource list and travel information

  • Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program

  • All meals, tours and excursions as described in the itinerary

  • Gratuities to guides and drivers for all group activities

  • 11 nights of deluxe hotel and lodge accommodations plus day rooms on September 20

  • Internal flight: Seronera/Arusha

  • Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days

  • Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance (for U.S. residents only)

You are responsible for your personal travel expenses, including flights to and from the program. Additionally, please note that accommodations in Palo Alto at the start of the program are not included.

Deposits, payments and cancellations

A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to reserve space on this program. Final payment is due 120 days prior to program start. Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to program start. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and we resell your place(s), in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply.

Join us in Tanzania

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