Day one:
September 6, 2017
Today I’m flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania, via Amsterdam. There wasn’t a direct flight from Palm Springs International! Over the next week I’ll be sharing on-going conservation and education action The Living Desert supports through the WNI (Wild Nature Institute) in Tanzania. Please bear with me, as this is my first attempt at a blog and I’m super excited to be in Africa.
First, let me tell you a little about Tanzania. Tanzania is in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean and eight countries, between Kenya to the north and Mozambique to the south. It’s about twice the size of California. Tanzania is also one of the poorest countries in the world. Its population is over 50 million and growing, over half the population is under fourteen. The official languages spoken are Kiswahili and English (both official).
The Living Desert is supporting the WNI Environmental Education mobile outreach school programs, in and around Arusha one of the major cities in Tanzania. Education is a very important part of The Living Desert’s mission: Desert Conservation through preservation, Education and Appreciation. Through creative education curriculum, we’re able to inspire and instill empathy in people about wild animals and wild places. Tomorrow morning I’ll be pick up at my hotel by Monica Bond, Wildlife biologist, biodiversity activist & principal scientist for the Wild Nature Institute. I’m looking forward to spending time with my new friends here in Tanzania.