Absolutely stunning wildlife roaming in the world famous Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the many other parks and reserves of Tanzania.
Tanzania’s Non- Profit Tour Co.!
Photo Gallery! African Wildlife Safari
Tag: olympic runner
Testimonial! Keri-Lyn, Canada, 2018
I stayed with Leesha and Lau and family on a 6 week trip through Tanzania. I’ve known Leesha for many years and it was wonderful to reunite with her in Mto Wa Mbu. They showed me around the village, introduced me to their community and I got to witness the passion and inspiration that lives in their entrepreneurial projects. I had such an incredible time in the village. The people are kind and welcoming, the scenery of the Rift Valley walls and Lake Mayanara stunning. I shared some art classes, visited the market regularly, enjoyed the local food and hit the dance floor for a little nightlife! I highly receommend connecting with Boma Africa. Mto Wa Mbu is the perfect place to set out for safari or take some time to relax and settle in and make some friends after travelling around. I hope to make it back one day!! Thank you for being such amazing hosts! xoxo
Keri-Lyn; Canada; 2018
LK Kindergarten!
Founded in 2015, the Boma Community School is in the village of Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. Through the support of partner organizations Boma Africa founded and maintains this free school as one their two primary charitable projects.
The village of Mto wa Mbu asked Boma Africa to help them to provide a kindergarten for the area of Mlimani Park. During the rainy season the young kids couldn’t access any schools because the creek would get to high and they could not cross the water.
This was a perfect project for Boma Africa, and the next year with funds from the Lindsay Kimmett Memorial Foundation, the first classroom was built, the Lindsay Kimmett Kindergarten!
We were also able put in two roadways to access the area, and access a water source to provide running water to the community (Thank you to the Rotary Club of Cochrane.)
The first class of students began attending in 2015, and the school is expanding every year as the children move forward.
The Boma Community School students attend for free, get porridge everyday, and they also have a playground (funded by Martin & Sue Parnell), the only playground in the village!
Boma Africa and Mto wa Mbu village have big dreams and would one day like to see the school with kindergarten through to grade 12 classes. The vision includes international school syllabus, and specialized sports, arts, and technology programs.
OUR AMAZING SUPPORTERS!
The Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation
This amazing foundation literally provided the foundation for the Boma Community School Project. The first classroom, The Lindsay Kimmett Kindergarten, is Lindsay’s namesake and will continue to set the children of Mto wa Mbu on an amazing learning journey; in keeping with Lindsay’s passion for both children and education.
From Lindsay’s Family:
We, as Lindsay’s parents, are completely consumed with sorrow at her untimely passing but in an attempt to move forward positively, we have a great desire to carry on her legacy. She was an academic and so we want to encourage other youth to reach their potential by the establishment of enduring scholarships both at the High School and University level. She loved children and we are committed to supporting local youth programs in Cochrane. She shared a passion for ‘all things medical’ with her Mom and thus we hope to offer the U of C Medical School technical tools to enhance the education of the physicians of tomorrow. She shared a love of sports with her Dad and so we want to assist with local sporting facilities and enduring sponsorships for hockey players who could not normally afford to play.
The Rotary Club of Cochrane
The Rotary Club of Cochrane has been a solid supporter of Boma Africa & the Boma Community School. The club’s support has allowed Boma to identify a water source and install equipment to pump the water to the school site and the community. The Cochrane Rotary Club also provided a substantial contribution to the Sue & Martin Parnell Playground at the school site.
Sue & Martin Parnell
Sue and Martin Parnell are both from England and have lived in Cochrane, Alberta since 2005. They have been great supporters of the humanitarian organization Right To Play and over a 5 year period from 2010 to 2014 raised over $1m for the organization. Recently, they fund raised $12,000 for a playground and bouncy castle for the students of the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Kindergarten in the village of Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. Sue and Martin have three children, Kyle, Kristina and Calum and three grandchildren, Autumn, Nathan and baby Matthew.
Serengeti Yoga Safari
We are offering an amazing yoga safari in October, 2018!
Imagine… sunrise yoga in the Serengeti, steaming chai masala, elephants wallowing at the watering hole, and the vibrancy of Africa beating in your heart…
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When: Oct 8-17, 2018
Where: Tanzania, East Africa
Accommodation: Serene African wilderness camping (privately catered)
Who: Boma Africa Non Profit Tour co., Oriane of YogaVinyasa (www.yogavinyasa.co.uk ), and you!
Why: 10 days of yoga practice on a dreamy African safari: supporting Boma Africa’s projects; pre- school and birth centre
Cost: $3675 USD (minimum 6 guests required)
Itinerary:
Day 1-
Arrival
Day2-
Morning yoga @ 8
Breakfast @ 9:30
Opening grounding circle @ 10
Swimming at Chemka Spring Oasis
Evening yoga @ 6
Dinner @ 7:30
Day3-
Morning yoga @ 6
Breakfast @ 7:00
Game drive at Tarangire National Park
Lunch at Tarangire Safari lodge
Evening yoga @ 6:00
Dinner @7:30
Day4-
Morning yoga @ 7:00
Breakfast @ 8:30
Visit to Kindergarten (do a kids yoga class with the children)
Mto wa Mbu village tour on bikes
Lunch in village of local cuisine
Tanzip Zipline Adventure
Short hike around Lake Miwaleni
Evening yoga @ 6:00
Dinner @ 7:30
Bon fire
Day5-
Sunrise yoga @ 6
Breakfast @ 7:30
Game drive in Ngorongoro Conservation area
Evening yoga @ 6:30
Dinner @ 8
Day6-
Morning yoga @ 7
Breakfast @ 8
Transfer to Serengeti for game drive
Yoga @ 6:30
Dinner @ 8:00
Day7-
Sunrise game drive at 6 with light breakfast
Morning yoga @ 8:30
Full breakfast @ 9:30
Option for spa treatment or game drive
Sunset game drive
Dinner @ 7:00
Evening yoga @ 8:30
Day8-
Morning yoga @ 7
Breakfast @ 8:30
Transfer out of Seregenti with game drive en route.
Mid day Yoga @ 3
Evening visit to Maasai Boma village.
Dinner @ 7
Day 9-
Morning yoga @ 8
Breakfast @ 9:30
Tinga tinga painting class
Hike up rift valley wall- lunch at Kirurumu Lodge
Free afternoon
Closing circle and final yoga @ 6
Dinner @ 7:30
Day 10-
Departure
Tanzania Featured in National Geographic’s “Best Trips of 2018”
Of course Tanzania is featured, it’s so amazing! They highlight the serene Ruaha National Park- it’s Tanzania’s largest park and is found on the Southern Safari circuit so is relatively quiet when it comes to tourist volume.
Ruaha National Park
This is Tanzania’s second largest park, and deemed also the second wildest park in Tanzania. Game routes follow the Ruaha River, where wildlife of all kinds migrates to catch a drink of life nourishing water. Leopards and lions wait in the grasses while antelope shyly make their way to the water’s edge, quickly sipping before escaping to safety! Ruaha has the distinction of housing a great diversity of antelope, affecting this park’s ecosystem to be unique, abundant, and magnificent.
Read more about Tanzania’s Southern Safari Circuit
Read the National Geographic article here
The LK Kindergarten playground
Every time I go running up the wall of the rift valley here in Mto wa Mbu I pass the school and the community centre. In addition to the AMAZING view and the great workout , what makes me really happy is that there are children playing on the Sue and Martin Parnell playground! The playground is locally built and is the only public playground around. In addition there are new homes popping up around the area.
It has been 4 years since it was built and it is in need of some TLC. Such a gift for the students at the school, and the children living in the area that have a place to play! Repairs and upgrades that we would love to get done include;
- creating a shade area for the hot days/ afternoons
- putting sand/ soft ground down
- repairing the merry go round that had an arm fall off
- replace the wooden slide with a rolling PCV pipe slide
- replace the wooden seats in the teeter- totter
- install new additions
- we already acquired about 20 old tires that we can use to build some cool climbing/ agility structures
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WANT TO HELP?
- We are accepting donations for playground upgrades!
- email Boma Africa: bomaafrica@gmail.com
5 REASONS TO VISIT TANZANIA
You are planning your next holiday… Africa has always been on your bucket list- but why choose Tanzania?
1.Mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Kilimanjaro is truly an amazing and extraordinary experience. The spectacular views, unique flora, and achievement of trekking this mountain cannot be duplicated. For many, Kilimanjaro is a lifelong dream, for others a last minute adventure. If you decide to climb Kilimanjaro, be ready to reach deep, triumph over fears and challenges, and celebrate your climb for many years to come!
Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world! It highest point, Uhuru Peak, is 5895 metres (19341 feet) above sea level.
Kilimanjaro is an inactive strato-volcano with three different volcanic cones, Shira, Kibo/ Uhuru, and Mawenzi.
Kilimanjaro is 3 degrees (330km) south of the equator and 88 from the Great Rift Valley. It is in Northern Tanzania, near to the border of Kenya.
Many years ago, Kilimanjaro was a popular destination for different tribes of East Africa, as it is the only place one can find snow! Shifting of peoples and intermarriage led to the development of new ethnic groups. The current tribe of Kilimanjaro region, the Chagga, is actually a newer tribe, made up of the many settling people of those past years. These people live in the first region of Kilimanjaro, the cultivated zone, and you will pass their homes and villages on the way to the park gate.
2. Zanzibar
Sultry and mysterious, the island of Zanzibar is the biggest of the “Spice Islands”. Tourists flock to Zanzibar for the beautiful beaches, snorkelling, spice tours, centuries old Arabic architecture and the ambiance that isn’t replicated anywhere in the world. It is a perfect paradise for indulging after climbing Kilimanjaro or a bone-jarring safari on rough roads.
Stonetown was awarded status as a World Heritage Site in 2000 and is accessed by a short flight from Arusha or a two hour ferry ride from Dar es Salaam.
3. Serengeti
World famous and indescribable, the plains of Serengeti offer the classic picture of African wildlife. Here is where you are likely to see lions on the hunt for zebra, or the colossal migration of a million wildebeest. Serengeti is a designated world heritage site, as one the largest wildlife refuges worldwide, covering 14763 square km.
4. Tribes
The Maasai are a semi nomadic pastoralist tribe, living in windowless smoky mud huts. A visit to their Boma reveals their everlasting traditional lifestyle, large polygamous families living and raising cattle for sustenance of life. Scattered throughout Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai are known for their rites of circumcision, warrior status, and resonating chanting. Including a stopover to a Boma on your safari will be an evocative and unforgettable experience.
The Hadzabe are one of the last nomadic hunter-gatherer societies that traditionally subsist on roots and fruits gathered by the women, and the meat hunted by the men. Their most common prey is baboon, and the second, zebra! Visiting the Hadzabe at the shores of Lake Eyasi gives you the opportunity to glance into their lifestyle, by seeing their grass huts and communities or by participating in hunting, gathering, jewellery making and more.
5. Glamping
The tented camps in Tanzania are just stunning. Accommodation ranges from regular tent camping (with a private chef and tent crew) to the definition of “glamping”. These camps offer five star cuisine and gorgeous design, and are set amongst the diverse ecological backgrounds of Tanzania. Imagine sipping a glass of wine or cup of coffee in the middle of the Savannah as you watch herds of elephants or zebras walk right past your tent. 
Testimonial- Volunteers in Mto wa Mbu
Leesha and Lau coordinated an incredible experience for me and my friend to work a local hospital in karatu. We worked in the labor and delivery ward and greatly enhanced our skill set as birth doulas. It was the kind of experience that I would never have been able to coordinate on my own. True local insider access. They also kindly coordinated a safari on our last day with their awesome staff Patrick and Ossman. It felt like we were kickin it with good friends all day. Patrick was our driver and we spent a lot of time with him- he is now one of my dear dear friends. I’m so grateful for him and the love he has for his country. I always felt safe and well taken care of! We stayed across the street from Leesha’s at Mama’s house which was comfortable and hospitible with a beautiful family. I couldn’t have imagined a better experience. And I didn’t feel like I tourist which I greatly appreciated! I highly recommend organizing your travels in Tanzania through Boma.
10 things to know before climbing Kilimanjaro
- Choose your route
- There are 6 routes on Kilimanjaro and the length of climbs ranges from 5 days to 9. Some include camping at the crater rim, some have huts for sleeping, and some have a higher successful summit rate than others. Click here to read more about the Kilimanjaro routes.
- Choose your outfitter (Boma Africa, obviously!)
- There are many travel agents that sell the tours to a second hand outfitter “on the ground” in Tanzania or Kenya. It’s worth confirming who will be executing your climb so that you can have all the information on their safety standards and services provided. www.bomaafrica.com
- Training
- Being in good health and fitness is an asset when attempting to summit Kilimanjaro. Cardiovascular training, along with some climbing/ mountainous hiking can help to prepare you. To reduce the risk of altitude sickness you can spend some time at higher altitude before your climb. You can do this by doing some hiking at home, or in and around Arusha. Read more about preparing for your climb here!
- Break in your boots
- A good pair of boots is a must on Kilimanjaro. They should have good ankle support, water proof, and warm, and of course, be comfortable! IF you are buying new boots for this epic adventure, make sure you break them in before you come. Nothing is worse than finishing off day 1 with a giant blister!
- Practice your day pack
- Same as above- if you are getting a new day pack, break it in! Practice putting in all the items you will be carrying for the day to make sure everything fits and you will be comfortable. Typically you would carry rain gear, 3L of water, your lunch box, sunscreen, a hat, lipsyl, your camera, and extra layers of clothing, that either get peeled off or get put on as the day goes by. What to expect on the mountain is explained in more detail here.
- Think about Medication
- You may want to discuss with your physician to see if taking medication to help prevent altitude sickness is a good option for you. Also ask about other medications or vaccinations you might need for travel to Tanzania.
- Bring an SPF lipsyl
- Make sure you bring a lipsyl with SPF!
- Remember “Pole Pole”- walk slowly!
- Walking slowly will increase your chances of submitting successfully! Conserve your energy and give your body time to adjust to changes in altitude. This will be on the of the first Swahili words you will learn from your guides, Pole, pole- Slowly!
- Drink a sip of water every 10 minutes
- Hydration is important in any physical endeavour, and dehydration can increase the risk of altitude sickness. Taking frequent small sips throughout your climb keeps you well hydrated and fit to climb to Uhuru peak! To see your packing list, click here.
- Turn back if reccommended
- Your guides are trained to recognize the signs of altitude sickness and fatigue. If they have concerns regarding your health they will recommend beginning to descend. While this can be very disappointing, it’s important to take their advice seriously. Kilimanjaro is a friendly mountain, climbed by thousands, young and old, from around the world every year, but needs also to be taken seriously as altitude sickness can be a very serious health hazard. More on safety here.
Questions? Email us at info@bomaafrica.com
Join Boma Africa for the Kilimanjaro Marathon- March 4, 2018
The annual Kilimanjaro marathon is coming up in just over 2 months! Not sure I can train up to a half marathon that quickly, but might sign up as a 21 km run/ walk for myself.
The marathon was founded in 2002 and attracts almost 9000 runners including locals and athletes from around the world. The route heads up the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, passing through forest, plantations, villages, and the town of Moshi. Winners claim prizes up to 4 million TSH.
Our most memorable Kilimanjaro Marathon was Kili Quest 95.2 in 2013. Lawrence and Martin Parnell of Canada planned to run the marathon, then attempt to climb Kilimanjaro in just 24h! It was amazing- they summited Kilimanjaro- but not quite in the 24 hours they had hoped! This was a successful fundraiser for the organization Right to Play.
The only marathon I’ve ever done was the Kilimanjaro Marathon- and I only did half! It was hard, but such a fun day! Everyone is in such high spirits and the locals of the sleepy villages come out to cheer you on or join up with you for a few kilometres. Many folks from around the world, and from Tanzania are there for a fun day- mixed with elite athletes training for the Olympics!
If you are looking for a race to add to your itinerary and a chance to go on a world class safari, or to climb Kilimanjaro, get in touch!
MARTIN PARNELL AT UHURU PEAK
Photo by Shadows of Africa
thisisafricasafari.com 