At the foot of Kilimanjaro, in the heart of the savannah and local communities, the Lycée Louis Massignon's Year 10 students experienced an extraordinary adventure. This trip to Tanzania was a profoundly human, cultural and educational experience, which will leave a lasting impression on both the students and their teachers.
Unforgettable encounters, intercultural exchanges, discoveries of lifestyles, schools, traditions and breathtaking landscapes: each day was rich in emotions and learning.
We invite you to discover, through their words, the a lively and sincere account of this unforgettable journey, told day by day by the students themselves...
Day 1
By Amael, Inès R., Nael, Lina and Louis-Gabriel :
At the foot of Kilimanjaro... We've arrived!
After a long journey, we were greeted by the Masai who manage our accommodation, with a traditional dance and song.
We then explored the surrounding area, in the savannah with a view of Kilimanjaro.
We spent the early part of the evening preparing activities for our visit to a primary school tomorrow.
More in the next episode!
Day 2
By Inès A., Chloé P., Capucine, Iban and Adrian :
The Masai community gives us a warm welcome and shares its knowledge with us... Javelin throwing, ritual dancing, meals around the fire... We are struck by their warmth and pride in defending their culture.
This morning, we walked through the bush to the boma, where the cattle are protected. They passed on to us their respect for nature and their medicinal know-how using local plants.
In the afternoon, we went by jeep to a primary school and proposed a geography activity. The pupils were enthusiastic!
We ended the day in an orphanage. We played, exchanged and shared, and they explained their daily lives to us. It was touching! It was an unforgettable experience!
Day 3
By Ysée, Mael, Loan, Pablo and Adèle :
Today we went to meet the children at Oltepe primary school. We had prepared an artistic activity using the materials we had brought with us. We assembled the shapes with our hands to form a tree. The children were enthusiastic and very meticulous. Their good humour was radiant.
We then played with them... football, Frisbee, rugby, sharing games and culture... Games bring us together and break down the language barrier!
It was hard to leave, but a new visit awaited us: the Oltepe Secondary School for Agricultural Trades. The students gave us a tour of the premises. They are boarders and produce their own food in the gardens. Everything here is organic and pesticide-free.
They were very curious about our lives and we talked a lot about our daily lives. They explained how to plant one tree per person per month. We did the same: we planted papaya trees, guava trees, lemon trees and trees with medicinal properties.
It was interesting to observe their techniques. We were impressed by their know-how... A day rich in experience, exchanges and knowledge.
Day 4
By Aicha, Imane, Anaïs, Axel, Matéo and Bilal :
An unusual early morning! At 5am, we set off for Arusha National Park. We saw plenty of Masai giraffes, baboons, warthogs and zebras.
We then stopped off at the lake, where we admired a multitude of pink flamingos.
We then had the opportunity to go on a hike to learn more about the bones of giraffes, elephants and hippos, as well as their habitats. We went under a waterfall... magnificent!
We also visited the Sustainable and Tourism Secondary School. The pupils organised football, ultimate and volleyball tournaments, as well as rugby... which they discovered!
Students from all backgrounds had a great time at 100 %! It was hard to say goodbye after such a great day!
Day 5
By Georges, Youssef, Nahil, Nayla and Rama :
The evening before ended in style with dinner under the stars.
This morning, we enjoyed a local craft market run by Maasai women.
To thank them, we shared a musical moment in a festive atmosphere.
The pupils visited the kitchens and the lodge, then danced and sang together.
The moment of departure was emotional for everyone. The nostalgia is already there... See you next year?
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