This post features student writing.

Jambo, everyone! Today we drove far and spent the night at an ecolodge near Mount Kilimanjaro. The people were very welcoming and greeted us from the minute we walked through the doors, offering snacks and even a tour of the town! Walking around in the town of Marangu, we saw many local shops and felt the cool breeze from Kilimanjaro. We were able to have a relaxing night after several days of work; some of us got manicures and massages!

During the evening, everyone played cards and had the chance to contact home. We ended our night with a nice bonfire and then the next morning we hiked to a nearby waterfall, named Kalyesia. Some locals assisted us on the hike there. As we made our journey there, we had to watch out for the speeding cars and motorcycles since in Tanzania the vehicles do not stop or watch out for pedestrians! It was amazing to see another part of the Tanzanian culture away from the compound in Maji Moto.

To get down to the waterfall we cautiously hiked down several steps. The views were breathtaking and it was a nice change of scenery. It felt as if you were entering into a deep jungle. After the strenuous walk down we crossed rapids in order to get closer to the waterfall. Our guides were able to get us across the rapids carefully to the main part of the waterfall. The rocks were slippery and we took major caution as we were crossing the rapids and climbing over rocks. We did not not swim due to the fast rapids, but took many photos! On our way back to the compound we stopped in Moshi to buy souvenirs. The town was similar to Arusha with small markets selling clothing, paintings, and other souvenirs. We also used our bartering skills to get better prices. As we head back to Maji Moto I can’t wait to see where our journey takes us with only a week left on the program!

Xoxo, Addie