African Music Safari

Johannesburg and East Africa itinerary.

Departure date 20/10/2010
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Day 1: 20/10/2010:  Depart Melbourne at 0835 arriving Perth 0950. Depart Perth at 1120 arrive Johannesburg (Same day) 1605. Meet and transfer to hotel. This evening we will eat locally as a group at a venue with music. Some may turn in early others might linger. Meals as per airline plus local dinner. (D)

Day 2: In the morning after breakfast we’ll head to Soweto. It is often remarked that the history of South Africa lies in Soweto! A tour of Soweto is therefore a must when visiting South Africa. However, it is not easy to get around on your own. The tour of Soweto includes some major historical landmarks such as:

  • The original house in which Nelson Mandela and his family lived before he was sent to prison in Robben Island near Cape Town.

  • The Hector Pieterson Museum, built in memory of the victims of the Soweto uprising

  • The Regina Mundi church, the largest catholic church in Soweto

  • The Oppenheimer Tower which provides a unique view of Soweto.

Having lunch in one of the local restaurants in Soweto is a special treat. Most specialize in African cuisine. Soweto is also the birthplace of most of South Africa’s township music and is home the multi Grammy award winner the Soweto Gospel Choir whom we hope to visit during our visit to Soweto. Don't forget to look for local food… ostrich, springbok and malva pudding? Or bobotie, waterblommetjie bredie and chakalaka?

In the evening, we will check out a live music venue in Johannesburg.  Johannesburg boast several clubs where you can hear live township jazz. There is also a choice of venues where one can dance to the sound of Mbaqanga, or Kwaito, the music of choice of South African youth, which is best described as hip hop with South African flavour. With a bit of luck we may even see a live performance based on Iscathimiya, also known Mbube, a style made popular by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. (BL)

Day 3: In the morning after breakfast we will visit some of the city’s great museums including the Apartheid Museum, Maropen Cradle of Humankind and the Africa museum.

In the afternoon, we will visit an Art and Craft market and record store in downtown Johannesburg, hoping to meet with a local music celebrity (to be confirmed). In the evening we will head to a different live music venue. (B)

Day 4: Depart Johannesburg at 1035 arriving Nairobi at 1540. Arrive and transfer to hotel. In the evening we will see some more music and have a meal together. (B D) + meals as per flight.

Day 5: Nairobi. Today begins with a short driving introduction to Nairobi. A visit will be made to the famous David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust property which includes an amazing Elephant and Rhino Orphanage. This institution is at the forefront of the fight against the ivory and Rhino horn trades. We then move on to the Nairobi Museum, which houses some of the most important exhibitions pertaining to the archaeological discoveries related to our early ancestors. In particular there is much about the ground breaking discoveries by Dr Leaky in the 1960’s and onwards. You can see casts of Australopithecus. We will visit the sight of this most famous discovery on our safari programme in Tanzania.

The rest of the day is free… perhaps consider a visit to the Nairobi market. There will be an evening at a music venue. (B)

Day 6: Depart Nairobi by Shuttle Bus service to Arusha in Tanzania. Approx times at this stage are departing Nairobi at 0800 arriving Arusha 1400. We will be collected from the bus terminus and transferred to Moivara Lodge  in the heart of beautiful, natural scenery and only 7 km from the centre of Arusha itself. The rest of the day you are free to enjoy this establishment! (B)

Local Activities:

Day 7: Start our Safari - Safari, in Kiswahili, simply means "journey". But in English it has become a synonym for a wildlife viewing adventure in the African bush. Here our real camping experience starts.

More about safari

Drive to Manyara with a picnic lunch. Game drive and overnight at Migunga camp. (BLD

Lake Manyara National Park

Day 8: Transfer to Serengeti National Park with a picnic lunch. The evening is free! (BLD)

Serengeti National Park

Day 9: Morning and afternoon game drives Serengeti. (BLD)

Day 10: Morning game drive: Serengeti. We then depart for Karatu (Ngorongoro). On route we stop to visit one of the most famous archaeological sites dealing with early man. This is the Ol Duvai Gorge, scene of the ground breaking fossil discoveries by Dr Leaky. Here you can see footprints from one of our early ancestors which have been frozen in rock. Tonight we sample the stunning views and surrounds of Crater Forest Lodge. (BLD)

Day 11: Full day tour of the Ngorongoro Crater. Return to lodge for the night. (BLD)

Ngorongoro Crater

Day 12: Today we conclude our safari, hopefully with the same number of participants as we started out with. Transfer back to Arusha – deliver to community aid programme. (B,D)

The scedule of events and activities at the school will become more evident as we get closer. As an 'idea' this is how the first 2 days could run;

Arrive at School of St. Jude (time ?). Room allocation. ntroduction to St. Jude’s (general health&hygiene, safety& security, diet, activities planned for the following day, etc.).
Further activities depend on arrival time and which day of the week the group arrives.

Possible activities include:

- Q&A with one of the St. Jude’s volunteers.

- Opportunity to go on a village walk around the Moshono neighborhood with the Visitor Coordinator to see how some of our students live.

Day17: African Community Aid stay (BLD)

08:20am
Watch students arriving at the school in our colorful school buses.

 08.45-9.45am
Tour of St. Jude’s, Moshono campus (the original campus).

10.05-10:25am
Break time, a chance to interact with the students and staff.

10:30-11:00am
Meeting with either Gemma, Founder and Director of the School or Kim, Deputy Director of St. Jude’s (pending on availability).

11:10-11:50am
Attend classes with the students (note that only the following classes can be visited: PE, art, music, computer studies or library studies). We will try to organise a special art or music project you can work on with some students.

12:30-1:10pm

Lunch with students in the dining hall.

1:30-3:30pm

Opportunity to visit a local government school to see the reality of a school in Tanzania and the vast difference between St. Jude’s and the majority of schools in the Tanzanian education system

OR

Project work (painting benches, helping out in the library and wherever assistance is needed).

3:30-4:30 or 5:00pm (depending on bus route)
Opportunity to enjoy a bus ride home with the students in the afternoon. This is a round trip from the school and gives you an opportunity to see the local area and meet the students.

OR

Project work

Day 14: African Community Aid stay (BLD)

Day 15: African Community Aid stay (BLD)

Day 16: Depart by shuttle bus which stops at Nairobi airport before going into the city itself. Departure flight from Nairobi at 1635. Arrive J’burg at 1950. Depart J’burg at 2200 (B) Balance of meals as per airline.

Day 17: 05/11/2010. Arrive Perth 1325. Depart Perth 1655 to arrive Melbourne at 2325 Australia

Extensions: You can stay longer. There is no obligation to return on the group flight on this day. If you are interested in climbing Mt Kilimamjaro you are in the right place!! Or, perhaps more time in Kenya at the coastal city of Mombassa.

Inclusions:

Return airfares Australia/Johannesburg/Cape Town/Johannesburg/Nairobi/Johannesburg/Australia.

Meals as stated - B - Breakfast. L = Lunch. Dinner = Dinner.

Sth Africa

Local specialist guide

Soweto Township Tour

Apartheid Museum

Johannesburg City Tour

Accommodation as stated

Porterage at both hotels and internal airports

Kenya and Tanzania

All applicable airport transfers

Itinerary as specified

Safari 4WD vehicle with pop-up roof

English speaking driver / guide

Park entrance fees

Ngorongoro Crater entrance fees (Park and Crater).
Note: All these fees are = to approx US$350

Accommodation as stated – mixture of hotels and safari tented camps.

Meal plans as specified

VHF emergency radio in vehicle

24 hours emergency back-up

Community Aid portion.

Accommodation will be ‘as provided’ and will be a mixture of twins, triple and 4 person bunk rooms. Some have ensuites and others may have common shared facilities with another room. Meals will be as provided by the programme kitchen. There is no air-conditioning, but this will not be an issue

Specialist tour escort throughout – Mr Stani Goma.

Price:
AU$5542 plus air taxes and fuel surcharges currently at AU$504
Price is based on twin share. Single suppliment avialable upon request. If you book as a single person we will endeavour to introduce you to others who wish to share.

Not Included:

Meals if not stated in itinerary

Entry fee to Ol Duvai Gorge = to US$5 paid at entrance.

Drinks, laundry, tips and other items of a personal nature.

Special Note: Travel insurance is compulsory for this tour.

Price is subject to minimum numbers and based on exchange rates (US$ + SAR) as of February 2010.

Go to itinerary starting Cape Town


Information Links

 

Disclaimer:
Musicians are often away on tour and the music scene is constantly changing. It’s almost impossible to guarantee that a preferred style of music will definitely be accessed during the tour. However, if you’re flexible and keep an open mind, you will be pleasantly surprised.