Cultural Enrichment & Orientation in Tanzania

Pre-Departure Sessions

Arcadia requires undergraduate semester participants to complete assigned pre-readings and participate in online discussions aimed at helping them to learn more about East African culture and society before they go. Please visit this page for information on the Tanzania Pre-Departure Sessions.

Mid-Semester Excursion 

All semester students will take part in a multi-day mid-semester excursion. The cost of the excursion is included in your program fee (students are responsible for the cost of some meals and out-of-pocket expenses). Specific locations and activities vary by semester; past locations include Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Bagamoyo. More detailed information will be provided during orientation.

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Cultural Enrichment

Events and excursions designed to enhance your understanding of Tanzanian culture will take place throughout the semester.

Our Tanzanian  staff will discuss these in detail—including dates and how to reserve your place—during orientation.  All Arcadia excursions attach great importance to the notions of safety, experiential learning and cultural understanding.

For details on some of our past excursions, refer to the information below:

• Amboni Cave Tour
  • This Jurassic-era group of caves is located north of Tanga City. The caves have served both ceremonial and ecological purposes throughout history. There is a guided tour inside one of the caves, where students will get a history and geography lesson.
    
    
• Tarangire National Park
  • A northern Tanzanian game park just two hours from Arusha, Tarangire is known for its migrating and permanent populations of wildlife, including elephant, wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, lion, leopard, birdlife and even python. The Tarangire River flows along in both wet and dry seasons to support the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem.
    
    
• Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo
  • This five-day, mid-semester excursion for all program students promises to bring a greater understanding of Tanzanian history, geography, and culture. Students will visit Bagamoyo, 45 miles north of Dar es Salaam. Bagamoyo served as the capital of Tanzania during German colonial rule, as well as a base for the slave and ivory trades. Dar es Salaam, located on the shores of the Indian Ocean, is a center of Tanzanian government, economy, education, and music. Zanzibar, part of an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, is located 25 miles from the mainland. Surrounded by coral reefs, it is home to Stone Town, designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.