Departing for Tanzania!

Hey everyone! Departing for Tanzania tomorrow!!! I'm super excited. I just received the itinerary for the trip so you can all get a feel for my experience with the tourism crew in Tanzania. There have been so many variables when planning this mission but I could not have done any of this without so much help form my friends and family. I can't thank you guys enough! I am so thankful for everything in my life. This opportunity has been made a reality because of you guys! You all know who you are:).

I am departing tomorrow morning, the 6th of may, at 10:45. Here is the itinerary/basic layout of the trip:

International Tourism Study Expedition (10 people)

7th May 10: Arrival at the Dar es Salaam airport pick up and transfer to Econo Lodge, for dinner and overnight,

8th May 10: After breakfast pick up from hotel for Makumbusho for a lecture history of Tanzania its people and culture, later have a traditional lunch, leisure, and later transfer in the afternoon drive through beach for sightseeing, after drive to Econo lodge for dinner and overnight

9th May 10: Early in the morning drive to Bagamoyo one of East Africa’s old towns, do activities and later dinner and overnight at Bagamoyo hotel through Msata, with parked lunch, do activities there and dinner and overnight at Bagamoyo.

10th May 10: Early in the morning after breakfast do the old town tour and later drive to Mikumi through Msata, with parked lunch, through the Uluguru Mountains in Morogoro, with lunch enroute, to VETA for dinner and overnight.

11th – 14th May 10: Full day activities in Mikumi and around, and dinner and overnight at VETA

15th May 10: Early in the morning after breakfast do activities around Mikumi and later in the day drive to the Mikumi Genesis Hotel, check in and later drive to Mikumi National park for lunch at the Wildlife Camp, after lunch do evening sunset game drives, later drive back to Genesis Hotel for dinner and overnight.

16th May 10: Early in the morning drive to Mikumi National park, to do Sunrise game drives and later drive back to Dar es Salaam, dinner and overnight at Econo Lodge
17th May 10: Early in the morning after breakfast drive to the ferry to catch early boat to Zanzibar. On arrival pick up and transfer to hotel for check in at Zanzibar Safari Lodge and then use the afternoon to go for interesting tour of the historic stone town (slave market/ historic sites). Later head back to hotel for dinner and overnight.

18th May 10: After breakfast; depart for spice tour and later drive to Jozani National Park for tour, expect to see rare red colobus monkeys found only in Zanzibar and many more and thereafter transfer to hotel for leisure at the beach and overnight at Page Ndame Hotel, bed and breakfast.

19th May 10: After breakfast leisure at the beach and later transfer to the Air port for departure back to Dar es Salaam, pick up at airport and transfer to Econo lodge for dinner and overnight.

20th May 10: Full day with day to day activities in Dar es Salaam and later back to Econo lodge for dinner and overnight.

21st May 10: Pick up from hotel and later transfer to the airport to catch flight back home.

I am so excited! I have all my gear ready and lots of stuff for the kids over in Dar es Salaam. Wish me luck and once again thank you all for your on going support. Check back for more updates for the duration of my stay in Tanzania.

Cheers!

Harrison B.

*Harrison B. Photography*

Mukumi National Wildlife Park and VETA

Hey guys, I've been slacking a bit on the blog posting but I've also been super busy with school and planning the documentation trip to Tanzania! Where to start...well my departure date is may 6th and I will be home by the 22nd. I had issues with my pass-port application the first time around so I spent all day today getting my references to sign my application and it will be prepped and ready to go by thursday. NSCC International needs my pass-port by the end of the month so I'm def cutting it close:P!
As far as layout goes for the trip, our flight path is Halifax-Toronto-Zurich-Dar es Salaam(destination). This is a very, very, very long flight so it will definitely be interesting.

The arts group that has been assembled to document the 2010 Documentation mission in Tanzania consists of a screen arts student( Melani Wood), Two RTA students( James Robinson and Greg Rozon) and myself Harrison burton. We have been divided for two different missions while in Tanzania. Group one, (Melani and James) will work in Dar Es Salaam with the Health and Human Services students to document the education and growing partnership with Kimara Peer Educators. Group two, (Greg and I) are to accompany the tourism management students to Mikumi, (5 hours drive from Dar es Salaam) to document the tourism students working with VETA, (Vocational Education Training Authority). The tourism students from NSCC will collaborate with VETA to improve tourism programs at the training Institute in Mikumi. Mikumi is a small town but it is neighboured by Mikumi National Wildlife park and it's beauty is breath taking!

My job as the sole photographer between these two missions is to photograph the key moments that paint NSCC in a positive light. This is the first time they have introduced a tourism mission so there is a bit of pressure on me for some solid material. I am hungry to do the best job possible for this mission! I am not positive on what I will see during this mission but I have been told we are for sure going on a safari! I honestly think this will be the highlight of the trip for me and I can't wait to do it! All the Gear is slowly getting pooled together now for me to effectively document this mission. I have not been given exact details on everything yet, but they are slowly but surely developing. Tonight I priced out all the vaccinations and pills I need to take for this trip and it is scary lol! I don't think I'll ever get stabbed by this many needles again for the rest of my life!

Anyways..everything is going well in regards to the trip and I cannot wait to tell you more! Thank you guys for checking me out and supporting my work!