Study Abroad in Tanzania
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity. Earn college credit while traveling Tanzania. All participants earn certificates of Experiential and Service Learning. We offer additional courses that may earn course credits at your home institution.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide transformative, experiential learning opportunities that enable college students to recognize and critically evaluate systemic and endemic global challenges. Through service learning, immersive experiences, and interdisciplinary engagement, students learn to design sustainable solutions, gain awareness of diverse cultures, and develop the skills and empathy necessary to address complex world problems. By prioritizing accessibility for students of all backgrounds and emphasizing inclusivity and innovation, our program ignites curiosity, empowers leadership, and helps young people realize their full potential to make the world a better place for everyone.
Why Choose Us?
Unmatched Experiences
Our study abroad program offers students an affordable opportunity to experience Africa at a cost significantly lower than that of a typical commercial safari. The program includes travel throughout northern Tanzania, with hands-on field experiences in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti, followed by a visit to the island of Zanzibar. Students may also choose to extend their experience by adding an optional guided climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Sustainable Service Learning
Experiential Learning
Rather than learning solely within a traditional classroom, students gain firsthand experience by engaging directly with local communities and exploring the surrounding environment via site visits and guided tours. The program’s courses are intentionally connected, allowing students to draw meaningful connections across disciplines and develop a more comprehensive understanding of their experience. Through a service-learning project at the OKAT Center, students will work with orphaned children while developing sustainable solutions to common challenges. This experience will deepen their understanding of diverse cultures while helping them build the skills, empathy, and global awareness needed to address complex issues facing communities around the world.Meet the Faculty
Dr. Lioba Moshi
Dr. Moshi holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from UCLA. In addition to teaching linguistics and Kiswahili at different universities in the United States, Dr. Moshi was department head of Comparative Literature for four years, Director of the University of Georgia African Studies Institute for twelve years, Director of Study Abroad in Tanzania since 1998, President of the African Languages Teacher’s Association for six years, and the pioneer/president of Chama cha Ukuzaji Kiswahili Duniani (Association for the Promotion of Kiswahili in the World) for four years. She was instrumental in the development of the African languages program at the University of Georgia, including one certificate and two minors in African Studies.
Dr. Tori Vratanina-Smoot
Dr. Tori Vratanina-Smoot holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Georgia. As a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia, her academic focus is in neuroscience and behavior, with a strong interest in how these areas intersect with child development, animal models for child development, and more generally, nonhuman primate cognition and behavior. Dr. Vratanina-Smoot has a decade of study abroad experience, including studying abroad as a student and serving as a faculty member and co-director of a study abroad program at the University of Georgia.
What We Offer
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Every student participating in the program will receive certificates of Experiential Learning and Service-Learning. Enrollment in specific courses is not required to participate in the program.
The following courses can also be requested:
Independent Study and/or Directed Readings
Swahili
Learn the basics of the Swahili language from native Swahili speakers.
Introduction to African Studies
Learn about the African continent, including its history, culture, societies, and global influences.
Cultural Psychology
Learn about the reciprocal relationship between cultural traditions and the way that humans behave and think.
Social and Personality Development
Learn how children develop socially and emotionally from biological, socioemotional, and cross-cultural perspectives.
Animal Cognition and Behavior
Learn (1) how animals think and behave while having the unique opportunity to conduct behavioral observations of wild animals and (2) about animal conservation and eco-tourism.
We are a non-profit organization, not a university, so we cannot offer credit for these courses on our own. Rather, course credit is granted at the discretion of your home institution. Students can usually obtain course credit from their university as an independent study, internship, or elective course. Dr. Moshi and Dr. Vratanina-Smoot are available to assist students in facilitating this process.
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Pre-Departure Orientations
February 2027 (specific dates TBA): visa applications, immunizations, and packing recommendations
March 2027 (specific dates TBA): information session for those doing the Mt. Kilimanjaro extension
April 2027 (specific dates TBA): pre-departure class information sessions
Main Program
3 weeks (5/12/2027 - 6/3/2027)
Complete service learning project and course requirements
Tanzania mainland:
Tours & excursions in the Moshi and Arusha areas
Game drives Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park
Visit Olduvai Gorge
Zanzibar:
Guided walking tour of Stone Town
Guided spice plantation and Prison Island tours
Snorkel in the Indian Ocean
Mt. Kilimanjaro Extension (6/3/2027 - 6/10/2027)
6 days
Guided climb taking the Marangu route (a.k.a. the “Coca-Cola” route)
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Applications will be processed on a rolling basis. Once formally accepted, all commitment decisions and a $400 non-refundable deposit* will be required by January 5, 2027.
Eligibility Requirements:
At time of application:
Minimum 2.0 overall GPA
Be in good academic and disciplinary standing at your home institution
Have completed one full semester of college courses by May 2027
Required Application Materials:
Completed application form
Unofficial transcript
Short written statement describing your travel experience and your interest in this program
2 letters of recommendation; at least one of which is from an academic advisor or faculty member
*Program deposits will be refunded in the event that a full program cancellation is required.
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Note: The program requires a minimum enrollment of 10 students. Current main program costs are estimates, based on 10 students, and may decrease.
Program fees include:
Full room and board, including 3 meals/day
All in-country transport, including private airport transfers, private jeeps and buses, and domestic flights
24/7 private security
All park and excursion entry/activity fees, including private guides
Travel insurance required by the Tanzanian government for all foreign travelers
Program fees do not include:
Visa application fee
International flights
Required and recommended immunizations
Tuition or other fees charged by your home institution for the purpose of receiving academic credit
Program fees:
Main program: $5000
Mt. Kilimanjaro extension: $1500 (in addition to the list above, this fee includes personal porters)
Student Testimonials
“I have participated in two study abroads, and my experience in Tanzania is hard to compare to the other one. Both were incredible, but my time experiencing the culture in Tanzania was life changing. It is challenging to go to a place that you do not know much about, but that is where you will learn and grow the most. One of my favorite activities was practicing bargaining for produce in the market in Moshi. This challenged me to communicate through gestures, since I did not speak Swahili, and improve my negotiation skills. Additionally, my favorite excursion was a week long safari where the group was fully immersed in the beautiful landscape of Tanzania. This experience was like no other. I have a greater appreciation for and understanding of the animals I saw such as lions, cheetahs, jaguars, and elephants. Lastly, an incredibly meaningful part of this trip was that the leaders valued every student’s unique experiences, safety, and education throughout the entire trip. I could not give a higher recommendation for an experience abroad. When else will you have the opportunity to participate in a trip curated for you, learning about animals in the Serengeti, visiting the beaches in Zanzibar, and living alongside locals near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.”
— Lauren Henderson“Hey! My name is Emma Heys, and I participated in the Tanzania Study Away program as a Landscape Architecture student at the University of Georgia in May 2024. I truly wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. This trip completely changed the way I approach and view design projects. Working directly with the caretakers and children at OKAT taught me the importance of giving the users of a site a voice in the design process. While at OKAT, we conducted a children’s design charrette, giving the children an opportunity to dream, imagine, and share what they believed their home could become. Seeing their ideas and creativity shape the design was an experience that is difficult to put into words. Through the site sketching course, we also had the opportunity to experience Tanzania through safaris, hikes, and various excursions. We were encouraged to break down the incredible places we encountered through drawing and observation. This taught me to slow down, be present, and truly appreciate the environments I was experiencing rather than simply passing through them. The lessons and experiences from Tanzania continue to come up in conversations with friends even years later. I graduated from the University of Georgia in May and have since begun a new chapter as a Master of Architecture student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. With every design project I take on, I continue to carry the lessons I learned at OKAT with me, especially the importance of listening to the people who use a space, observing the environment around us, and designing with intention.”
— Emma Heys“My time in Tanzania completely changed my life! It was my first time abroad, and it turned out to be the most eye-opening, fun, and transformative experience I've ever had. I fulfilled my childhood dream of exploring the Serengeti, hiked Kilimanjaro, snorkeled off the coast of Zanzibar, and felt more connected to nature than ever before. Along the way, I met the friendliest people, made lifelong friends, and fell in love with Tanzanian culture.
Most importantly, I got to work on a service learning project for the children at the OKAT center, doing my part to make their lives a little bit easier. I never imagined I'd have an opportunity like this, and I think back on it every single day. A piece of Tanzania came home with me, and I'm so excited for others to experience it for themselves.”
— Christopher Perkins“My experience in Tanzania had a lasting impact on the direction of my academic and professional career. At the time, I was studying civil engineering but had begun to realize that I wanted to pursue a field that was more design-oriented and placed people’s needs, particularly those of underserved communities, at the center. Participating in the Landscape Architecture studio in Tanzania introduced me to sustainability, design, and community engagement in a way I had not experienced through my engineering coursework. Working alongside students from a different discipline and applying what we learned to a real community-based project showed me how the built environment could bring together technical knowledge, design, and service to communities.
After returning from Tanzania, I decided to pursue a minor in Landscape Studies, which introduced me to urban planning and ultimately changed the trajectory of my career. I went on to pursue a Master of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech, where I am now in my second year specializing in Environment, Climate, and Design. Looking back, the Tanzania program was one of the first experiences that helped me recognize the type of work I wanted to pursue and gave me the confidence to take my career in a direction I had not previously considered.”
— Irene JacobsLet’s Keep In Touch
Interested in participating but still on the fence? Have questions? Reach out and discover how our program can work for you.