2025 Tanzania

This Classic Tanzania Safari includes all of Tanzania’s can’t-miss destinations, sights and experiences, plus special visits with Lutheran and other non-governmental organizations in the city of Arusha.

Once in the bush, we’ll explore Thomson’s 10,000 acre Eastern Serengeti Private Nature Refuge which is one of the few places we can participate in bush walks and night game drives by spot light. In the days that follow, we’ll delve into the famous Serengeti National Park and the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, two of the world’s most impressive natural treasures.

We’ll walk and drive through the golden landscapes, meet residents and learn about their lives and livelihoods, seek out the Big Five, and relax under a blanket of stars in the heart of the wilderness. Join us to learn a great deal about a small bit of Africa.

See more details below and use the REGISTER NOW buttons above to join us.

This tour starts and ends in Arusha. You can view – and print or download if you wish – the most up-to-date itinerary here.

Dr. Peder Jothen teaches in the Religion Department and Great Conversation program at St. Olaf. A graduate of both St. Olaf and the University of Chicago, he teaches classes that run the gamut from the Bible to the ethics of Jesus to Kierkegaard and art. In 2006-07, he was a co-leader of Term in the Middle East, which traveled to Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and Greece.  Together, Peder and Kaethe have led four interim trips to Holden Village, and led Global Semester in 2023.

Kaethe Schwehn is Associate Professor of Practice in English at St. Olaf and has taught creative writing and composition to students since 2007. She is the author of a poetry chapbook and a post-apocalyptic novel. Her memoir, Tailings, won the Minnesota Book Award for creative nonfiction in 2015. Her current project is a work of biblical historical fiction that has involved extensive research about medicine, gender, and daily life in Nazareth, Alexandria, and Rome.

When they aren’t chasing their two kiddos, Thisbe and Matteus, Peder and Kaethe love to travel together, exploring everything from cenotes in Mexico to Incan ruins in Peru to chipped frescoes in Rome.

Expect to be awed. You’ll be out and about on the Serengeti plain, mingling with animals. For information on accommodations in the Serengeti, please see the itinerary.

This tour will have less walking than most of our tours. To fully participate, you should be steady on your feet, capable of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of keeping a typical adult walking pace (neither a shuffle nor a brisk walk), of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day. Facilities, resources, accommodations and protections for disabled and special needs individuals can be sharply limited outside the U.S. Note that wheelchairs, personal care attendants and assistance from fellow travelers are not provided.

You are responsible for reviewing the specific requirements for your program and judging the appropriateness of these travel activities to your physical, mental and behavioral capabilities. Any participant who is unable to fulfill the program requirements may have their registration cancelled. Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the program leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities or excused from the program.

You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about routine vaccinations. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.int.

The tour price is $9,490 per person, based on double occupancy. For single occupancy, add $900. Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully.

Inclusions: discussions led by Peder Jothen and Kaethe Schwehn, meetings with Lutheran and other agencies in Arusha, full-time guides, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, ground transportation during the tour, and some limited medical coverage while overseas.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Tanzania, Value Added Tax (VAT), and guide gratuities are NOT included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, the required Tanzania Value Added Tax ($500 per traveler), gratuities to safari guides (at your discretion; the recommended amount is $500 per traveler), airport transfers if you are not on the recommended flights, any passport and visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, lost baggage insurance, trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 per traveler, alcoholic beverages, including at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, meals not specifically listed on the itinerary.

Registrations and payments will be taken directly by the tour operator, Thomson Safaris.

Payment Schedule
A non-refundable deposit of $1,900 is required upon registration. Deposits can be made by credit card or check. Final payment is due no later than March 12, 2025 (3 months before departure) and  must be in the form of a check or wire transfer. Appropriately timed invoices will be provided to travelers by Thomson Safaris. 

Cancellation Policy and Per-Person Cancellation Fee
Up to 91 days before departure: Deposit ($1,900 per person)
90-61 days before departure: 50% of the package price
60-46 days before departure: 65% of the package price
45 days or less before departure: 100% of the package price

Read and e-sign St. Olaf’s Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the program return date and at least one blank visa page. We’ll advise you on the procedure for obtaining your visa at the appropriate time.

Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, a safety overview, and more.

Hold the dates of June 9–21, 2025 but do not book non-refundable flights until we can confirm the tour is a go. See our Booking Your Flights page for tips and suggestions.