The APW headquarters and environmental center, Noloholo, is located on the southeastern boundary of Tarangire National Park, just outside the village center of Loibor Siret. The center is equipped with student tents and visitor accommodations, or you may bring your own tent to camp from.

Loibor Siret is a small village of approximately 5000 residents, mostly Maasai. The village center contains a few small shops where you can find soda, flour, sugar, kerosene and a few other basic items.
 

A trip into town once a month to restock food may be necessary and/or desired. More time in town may be required depending on the nature of your project.

Bathroom facilities at the environmental center are standard. Our visitor’s accommodation is equipped with an en suite bathroom. Due to limited water availability, showers are available once a day if desired.

Communal eating is standard with lots of traditional ugali (a corn flour dish similar to polenta), beans, cabbage with carrots, and rice. Fresh vegetables and fruit are not generally available in Loibor Siret, but are brought regularly from Arusha. Please email ahead of time if you have any special dietary restrictions or allergies (if you are a vegetarian, etc.).

All drinking water is boiled and filtered by environmental center staff. If you prefer, bottled water is available for purchase.
 

A trip to the park is definitely in order during your stay. Daily permit fees and limited transporation make visits infrequent, but exciting. Please enquire about the additional costs in advance.

Internet access at the Noloholo Environmental Center is intermittent and very expensive. Therefore, it is restricted to APW staff only. In Arusha, there are many internet cafes. In addition, the APW house in Arusha has wireless internet access, but it takes a while to upload or download large files.

Loibor Siret recently acquired intermittent cell phone reception in parts of the village. The environmental center receives a weak signal, so visitors should not expect to have consistent access. Also, we prefer phones are turned off during your visit to the center, so you can enjoy the full bush experience. APW has a satellite phone at the environmental center in the event of any emergency.

There have been no problems in the past with wild animals, however they do roam freely through the environmental center grounds. Each tent/accommodation has a lantern outside it during the night to deter any animals. Students and visitors are asked not to move far from their tents/accommodations at night. Additionally, at night, be aware before leaving your tent and shine a flashlight to check for eyes.
 

The Tanzanian People & Wildlife Fund
PO Box 11306
Arusha, Tanzania.

Be aware that mail sent to and from the U.S. is slow in transit. Postcards and letters can not be sent from the environmental center, rather only from Arusha.

Women need not wear skirts in Tanzania, but women are asked to wear long pants or Capri-pants when in the rural villages. You may dress as you want in Arusha or at the environmental center. The role of Maasai women in the community around Noloholo is quite different from the United States, but American women are not expected to abide by these cultural differences.

At Noloholo, you may walk within the center’s nucleus, but because of wild animals, solitary walks beyond the main buildings and at night are not permitted.

Nighttime travel at the center is not permitted without a car, as many animals are     prowling about. In Arusha, travel at night by taxi is recommended.

We have not had any problems at the environmental center. However, it is recommended that you bring locks for your valuable items at the center. If necessary, some items can also be stored in the center’s main office.
 

It is best to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), which is a 1 hour drive from Arusha, where an APW office is located. You may stay in Arusha for a short period of time before embarking on the 3-4 hour journey to the center in an APW vehicle.
 

APW is not responsible for giving medical advice or for any medical conditions/illnesses contracted during your visit. We recommend you speak to your physician. Malarone is currently recommended by many doctors, though it is the most expensive.
 

You are unlikely to get rabies. However, APW is not responsible for giving medical  advice or for any medical conditions/illnesses contracted during your visit. We recommend you speak to your physician.

Yellow fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Polio, MMR are recommended by most doctors. Again, you should speak to your physician for the most up-to-date information on travel to Tanzania.

You can get a 3-month travelers visa with no hassle at the airport when you arrive. However, you may also obtain a visa in advance at the Tanzanian embassy in Washington, D.C. or New York. Be sure to check in advance for the current visa fee (payable in U.S. dollars). Students conducting original research in Tanzania will have to submit research permit applications prior to travel.

Each visitor has different requirements and schedules. Visits/study periods will be arranged on an individual basis.
 

Yes. City buses (daladalas) run throughout Arusha. There are two reliable bus companies (Scandinavian and Royal) for going to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and a few other major towns.

There are usually taxis at the airport. A trip to Arusha is $50. In some cases, with advance notice, an APW staff member can be at the airport to take you to the APW house in Arusha.

You may get a ride in an APW vehicle to the field site.

Swahili and Maasai are the languages spoken in the community around the environmental     center. Students should have a working knowledge of Swahili as a prerequisite to interning with APW.

Bring books to read for entertainment in the bush. A Swahili dictionary will be useful as well as tree, bird, and animal identification books as one sees fit.
 

In June, July, and August, it is winter in Tanzania. Bring warm clothes; pants, sweaters, fleeces and hats are recommended. It gets particularly cold at night. During the day the temperature is in the 70s and 80s (F). Long pants or skirts are best for women.
 

Yes. Flip-flops, tevas, crocs, or other outdoor shoes are recommended. Bring shoes that    are good for hiking as well.
 

A warm fleece and windbreaker for the mornings and evenings will be useful, as well as night game drives. You might also want to bring a thin layer for the occasional chilly, overcast day.
 

Yes. A high SPF is recommended. A hat and sunglasses are also a must. Long sleeves are also an effective way of protecting against the sun.

No, but you should wear long pants or Capri-pants as an alternative in the village.
 

APW has tents available for shared use, but you may prefer to bring your own.
 

A sleeping bag that goes down to 45°F will suffice for sleeping at Noloholo. You might want to bring a sleeping mat, but you will also have a foam mattress in your tent that is perfectly comfortable to sleep on.

If you have one, you will want your computer to write proposals and papers, enter data,and check email (wireless internet access is available at the APW house in Arusha). Remember an adaptor for the power outlets and something to put your computer in to keep out the dust!
 

Yes, binoculars are a must for anyone spending time at the environmental center!