During the final week of the academic year, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley celebrates Term Project Week, an enriching experience for students across all grade levels. This week provides a unique platform for collaborative, multidisciplinary projects, and engaging activities or trips. Students are grouped with dedicated teachers who guide and facilitate their learning throughout the week. 

Each year, we offer a diverse range of project options, continually seeking to expand our offerings based on the interests and input of both our faculty and students. These projects challenge our students to be cooperative learners and to function as a team. On this specific trip, students were also able to earn community service hours towards their various clubs and volunteer programs.  This Term Project Trip was to Tanzania, where students traveled through the Serengeti to Zanzibar!

Day 1: Students and their chaperone departed from SFO to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Upon arrival at the airport in Kilimanjaro, students met with their designated program leaders and drove to the Danish Center in Arusha, Tanzania. Over the first five days of the trip, students engaged in service work within the local villages and used this center as their main hub. 

Day 3 – Day 5: Each morning, students partnered with Sura Village members to build the medical testing lab facility for the village clinic. They roughly dedicated 2-3 hours of service work in the morning, followed by lunches with the local community. In the afternoon, they resumed their efforts for a few more hours. Their tasks included mixing cement, shoveling sand, and gathering rocks to build the foundation of the building. Beyond their service hours, students engaged in cultural and fun activities such as milking cows and cooking traditional food alongside village members. 

The village commissioner expressed that the clinic’s construction will leave a lasting impact for generations. Upon its completion, he plans to display our school’s name on the building, showcasing our student’s dedicated efforts.  

Day 6: Having completed their service work at the Sura Village Clinic, students departed from the Danish Center and made their way to Tarangire National Park for a safari adventure. Led by tour guides, they learned about the ecosystems and conservation efforts of the species that populate the area. Tarangire is known for its dense elephant population, providing a unique opportunity to witness them up close. The day concluded at a camping resort overlooking the Rift Valley in Migombani, Tarangire, where students settled in for the night. 

Day 7 & 8: Students went on an expedition to Serengeti National Park, one of Tanzania’s most renowned and protected areas. Guided by their tour leaders, they ventured into vast savannahs by safari car in search of wildlife that inhabits the world-famous national park. Students observed a variety of animals including elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, and zebras during their exploration. They set up tents and slept in sleeping bags at the national park campsites. 

Day 9 & 10: The group headed to Ngorongoro Crater where they settled into a new campsite. Ngorongoro Crater is a smaller area than the Serengeti and is known as Tanzania’s richest game park. Throughout their time there, our students learned about animal behavior, conservation, tribal customs, and wildlife-human interaction from their safari guides. 

Day 11: Students took a flight to Zanzibar, famously known as the “Island of Spice.” They explored the local spice farms, learned the historical significance of the spice trade, and gained insight into Zanzibar’s evolution into the renowned Isle of Spice. 

Day 12: Students visited Stone Town, a historic area that was once a trading hub. They took a walking tour through its winding alleys and streets. Later they enjoyed snorkeling along Stone Town’s beaches and explored Prison Island. On Prison Island, the group visited a giant tortoise sanctuary and learned about the endangered species. 

Day 13: The students participated in a dhow sailing activity, setting off from the beachside of Zanzibar in classic wooden sailboats. Their destination was the Menai Bay Conservation Area, known for its dolphins, coral reefs, and diverse marine life. When they arrived, they snorkeled in the clear blue water of the Indian Ocean and had a seafood buffet on Kwale Island Beach. Following their adventure, they sailed back to Zanzibar for their final night of the trip. 

Day 14: The group made their way to the airport in Zanzibar and headed home on a long flight back to SFO.