APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION

Africa's Gem: Hiking And Wildlife Safari In Tanzania

Erika Bloom / None Jan 26-Feb 10, 2007

APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION

(Use the F1 key to summon help for most fields)

(Forms and General Information: http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ )

1.

SUMMARY INFORMATION

A) Trip Title: Africa's Gem: Hiking And Wildlife Safari In Tanzania

B) Leader: Erika Bloom

C) Co-Leader(s): None

D) Dates: Jan 26-Feb 10, 2007

E) Type of Trip: Hiking/Trekking/Camping/Safari

Total # of days: 16

F) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum: 10 Maximum: 13

Advertised Cost: $5000-5390 per person plus estimated airfare of $1,500 (Boston-Arusha)

2.

TRIP DETAILS

A) Executive Summary: Brief outline of trip and trip activities .

PROPOSED ITINERARY (subject to change)

Friday 26 Jan depart US on afternoon/evening flight to Amsterdam

Saturday 27 Jan Change planes in Amsterdam to KLM, arrive at Kilimanjaro airport (JRO) late evening & transfer to the Arusha National Park - Mt. Meru luxury camp

Sunday 28 Jan Arusha National Park - Mt. Meru luxury camp. Hike today may be short to visit a close by waterfall or long all the way to the crater floor of Mount Meru. If it’s clear, wonderful view of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, and Mount Meru behind us.

Monday 29 Jan Drive to Arusha to catch the flight to the Serengeti. Stop at school in Arusha to meet the children and staff, and to bring donated school supplies. Fly to Seronera in the

Serengeti, game drive to the Luxury Camp for the night. Your drivers are very knowledgeable and are able to help with spotting and identifying animals and birds.

Tuesday 30 Jan Full day of game drives in the Serengeti – overnight Luxury Camp

Wednesday 31 Jan Second full day to explore the vast Serengeti with game drives - overnight in the Luxury Camp.

Thursday 1 Feb Leave camp and spend the day crossing the vast Serengeti plains. Visit

Olduvai Gorge – learn about the Leakeys and our early human ancestors in the museum. Arrive at the walking camp near Olmoti Crater in the northern Ngorongoro Highlands. If there is time, hike up into the crater for sunset. Note: depending on conditions and location of the migrating herds, we may choose instead to hike in the Gol Mountains of the short grass plains.

Revised 06/29/05 Pg. 1 of 9 Application to Lead an AMC Major Excursion

Application Submitted 04/17/20



Friday 2 Feb Maasai village visit & hike around the rim of Embakai Crater in the Ngorongoro

Highlands. This extinct caldera is one of the best kept secrets of the area with its thickly forested sides, and the sparkling lake covering half of its floor, frequented by flamingos and their lurking predators, hyenas and jackals. Overnight walking camp.

Saturday 3 Feb Hike down into the Embakai Crater for the day – back to the same walking camp for the night. The day is dedicated to a full exploration of Embakai Crater. We will hike down the steep forested slopes of the caldera where we hope to catch glimpses of rarely seen forest animals such as bushbuck, duikers and even leopards. Around the lake shore we will find many waterbirds, especially the celebrated flamingos of East Africa. Up to four million of these birds roam the Rift Valley lakes in great flocks throughout the year searching for the best feeding and bathing conditions.

Sunday 4 Feb Morning game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. Drive to the luxury camp near Ole

Dorop’s Boma (Ole Dorup is the chairman of the local Maasai). Afternoon hike up Saadiman mountain and into camp.

Monday 5 Feb Morning game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. Cultural exchange in the afternoon

- "Ol Pol" traditional goat roast prepared by the Maasai warriors, and traditional Masaai dancing and singing in the evening. Overnight luxury camp.

Tuesday 6 Feb Drive to Endulen. Meet the Hadza tribe guides enroute. 4 to 5 hrs hiking down the Rift Valley to the Eyasi basin where vehicle backup is available, or continue hiking two hours or so more to camp. Overnight in the walking camp.

Wednesday 7 Feb A day with the Hadza & visiting the area. We will learn about the culture of this tribe who continue to preserve their hunter/gatherer culture. The Hadza spend their days walking in search of different types of food and today you will be part of that journey to find food. Overnight in the walking camp (the crew will have moved our camp while we are hiking).

Thursday 8 Feb Last day in the bush – walking with the Hadza or visiting Lake Eyasi.

Overnight in the walking camp

Friday 9 Feb Drive back to Arusha, shopping on the way, lunch and supper in town. Hotel rooms for the afternoon to shower, and pack your purchases before flying out in the late evening on KLM to Amsterdam.

Saturday 10 Feb Change flights in Amsterdam, arrive back in US in the afternoon

B) Accommodations: Please describe your plans for accommodation(s).

Our accommodations will be in two types of camps – “Luxury Safari Camp” and “Walking

Safari Camp”. Both types of camps are quite comfortable, although the Luxury Camp will feel like the five star hotel of camping. In both camps, hot water is delivered to a basin outside your tent to wash up every morning, and hot showers are provided. Lanterns are placed outside your tent each night as a visual barrier to wildlife. Tents have two beds or cots each, and you will be assigned a tent-mate. The comfortable dining tent is a short walk away. Special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. The crews are amazing at preparing wonderful meals and providing great service with a genuine smile. Getting to know them is a highlight of the trip!





Luxury Safari Camp: These camps are semi-permanent so tents are more spacious, with attached rooms within the large tent for the shower stall and the toilet stall. These tents have regular beds, bedding, and battery operated lanterns. There is a large, comfortable dining tent where our crew will serve us amazing food.

Walking Safari Camp: This camp is light and simple enough to be packed up and moved easily (by small pickup trucks). The camp is designed to blend in with the environment to encourage wildlife to come around camp. The tents are walk-in height, nylon dome tents with cots, comforter and pillows. Separate, shared toilet and shower tents are provided. Tents have a flashlight overhead for light. Meals are served in a comfortable dining tent with table, chairs, and cold drinks. Meals are simpler than at Luxury Camp, but still amazingly tasty. Basically this is a scaled-down version of Luxury Camp that can be moved easily to accommodate the walking safari portion of our exciting itinerary.

C) Meals: Please describe your plans for meals.

All meals are provided and are prepared by the crew. Special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. The day we fly out, we may eat lunch and/or dinner in a tourist-level restaurant.

D) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands Yes

The Outfitter, African Environments, provides all necessary permits.

E) Equipment: Does the trip require special/technical equipment?

<If YES explain what equipment is needed and will any of it be provided by the trip>

No

F) Pre-trip activities: Do you plan to get your group together before the major excursion for an activity or social event? Yes

To be determined - but will likely get together for a hiking or camping weekend.





G) Conservation/Education/Recreation: : Given that the AMC Mission Statement is as follows

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest conservation and recreation organization. We promote the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Appalachian region. We believe that the mountains and rivers have an intrinsic worth and also provide recreational opportunity, spiritual renewal, and ecological and economic health for the region. We encourage people to enjoy and appreciate the natural world because we believe that successful conservation depends on this experience. We fulfill our mission through the three interconnecting pillars of the AMC: conservation, education, and recreation

How will this major excursion meet this mission of conservation, education, and recreation?

For examples, please see < http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/mission/ >

The oppotunity to view and learn about wildlife, birds, plants, and cultures on this trip is unsurpassed. This trip will be a wonderful opportunity for participants to interact with the local

Maasai and Hadza tribes, and our crew likely will include members of the Meru or other tribes.

The outfitter strives to have the least impact possible on the environment, and participants are taught how to participate in that effort. Simply by visiting National Parks in a third world country and paying the entrance fees, we are supporting conservation of land and wildlife. However, on this trip we will participate in a learning adventure.

H) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter?

Yes

Name: African Environments

Safety record: At the time of this trip, African Environements will have been the outfitter on

4 previous AMC trips.

Liability insurance: They have liability insurance, and Heidi Reilly will negotiate all of the necessary insurance details.

Emergency response: We know that emergencies can happen anywhere . AE proved they have highly trained staff and a very fast response time to emergencies, and are very able to coordinate effective evacuations, after the Kilimanjaro rockslide in January 2006 affecting the AMC President's Society trip. Of any outfitter on the mountain and safari during my ME later that same month, I found AE staff much better trained, more knowledgeable and better able to respond to any problems compared to other outfitters I personally observed.




Erika Bloom / None

3.

LEADER INFORMATION

A) Contact Information:

Leader: Erika Bloom

9 Holiday Drive

Jan 26-Feb 10, 2007

Fairhaven MA 02719

(home) 508-996-3290 (work) 508-951-1001 cell

(e-mail) ebloom1@comcast.net

Co-Leader: None

<Street Address>

<City, State, Zip>

(home) <home telephone>

(e-mail) <e-mail address>

(work) <work telephone>

B) First Aid Training

To lead a Major Excursion, you must have current CPR and Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or its equivalent at the time of your trip.

Leader: CPR: 09/07

WFA: 03/07 (Advanced WFA)

Other: I am a physician assistant

Co-Leader: CPR: <Expiration Date>

WFA: <Expiration Date>

Other: <Describe course; expiration date>

If CPR and/or WFA certifications will expire before your trip starts, describe your plans for re-certification:

<Plans for re-certification prior to start of trip, if required>

C) Leader Experience and Training

New Leaders: If you are a new leader or co-leader, you must have submitted the form

“Application to Become a Major Excursions Leader”.

Experienced Major Excursions Leaders: Please list below the last three trips you have led for the AMC including destination, type of trip (backpacking, skiing, etc.), dates, and number of participants. Feel free to list additional trips you have led, particularly if they demonstrate experience related to the trip you are proposing.

1. Tanzania - Kilimanjaro climb and Safari, January 2006, 15 participants

2. Glacier National Park hiking, July 2004 (to be repeated August 2006), 7 participants

3. coleader, Canadian Rockies hiking & backpacking, 2002, 10 participants

Others: <Trip description>





D) Scouting:

Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area? Yes

On the AMC ME I led in January 2006, we visited the Arusha National Park, Serengeti and

Ngorongoro areas and used the same outfitter and similar camps. The walking portion of the safari is new.

E) Special Experience:

Are any special skills or experience on the part of the participants required? No

<If "Yes" please describe>

F) Couples:

Do the Leader and Co-leader have a significant personal relationship?

<If "Yes" please detail plans if one party cannot go>

4.

RISK ASSESSMENT

No

Please assess the risks/hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it may affect your trip with specific potential hazards. Then, devise a plan to attempt to prevent each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary.

A) Climate/Terrain

Potential Hazards: Trrail conditions, weather, etc.

Response: While on game drives in Serengeti and Ngorongoro, park rules require us to stay inside vehicles. While hiking in Arusha National Park, an armed ranger accompanies all groups for protection against animals. Although vehicle backup is available for the walking safari portion of the trip, participants will be screened for a basic level of fitness and recent hiking experience. Footing may be uneven - participants will be warned and hiking boots are required.

If weather is bad, we have the option to ride in the vehicles to the next camp. And, raingear is required!

B) Foreign Countries

Potential Hazards: Political concerns, crime, language translation.

Response: Tanzania is relatively stable politically. The State Department travel advisories will be monitored. Also, African Environments will monitor any unrest and safety considerations. Travel insurance will be highly encouraged for all participants. We will have

English speaking crew with us at all times.

C) Transportation

Potential Hazards: Vehicles, drivers, insurance

Response: African Environments will be providing all transportation and drivers.

Participants and leaders will not have to do any driving during the trip. Vehicles are equiped with seat belts.

D) Participants

Potential Hazards: Skill level, health, group dynamics

Response: Participants will be screened for a basic level of health, fitness and recent hiking experience since a number of days will be spent hiking. Medical histories will be reviewed





prior to acceptance, and recommendations will be made to visit a travel clinic for appropriate shots and medications such as malaria prevention, antibiotics for traveler's diarhea, etc.

E) Other

Potential Hazards: Tanzania is a developing country with concerns such as unsafe drinking water and disease.

Response: Participants will be advised about recommended vaccinations, safe drinking water practices, and African Environments will prepare its food to the highest standards and hygiene practices it can. African Environments provides filtered water on safari.

5.

EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Please use as much detail as possible and attach additional sheets if necessary.

A) Emergency Communication

AE has cell phone and radio contact with headquarters. If available, the AMC satellite phone will be taken on this trip.

B) Evacuation

If necessary, AE has proven they can quickly and efficiently arrange evacuation within or outside of Tanzania. The evacuation insurance also provides help with this.

C) Medical Care

Arusha has medical facilities and a hospital.

Before you leave for you trip, you will need to provide a list of participants and their emergency contacts in case something happens to someone in the field as well as an itinerary with phone numbers (where available) in case something happens at home.

6.

COST INFORMATION

A) What deposits are will be required from airlines, hotels, outfitters, etc. (and when):

$1400 deposit (total for entire group) to African Environments to reserve campsites; balance due 90 days prior. Trip is completely cancellable until shortly before, other than that campsite deposit. We are currently negotiating last possible date for that deposit.

B) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund?

: see above

C) What is the value of the deposit you will require of the participants? $ 1000

D) What will be your cancellation policy for the participants?

Spots will be filled from a waitlist if qualified replacements are available. If the spot cannot be filled, refund will be limited to that which does not increase the trip cost for the leader or other participants. Once we purchase airline tickets, those are non-refundable, nontrasnferrable and the participants owns it.

E) Will trip run if minimum participant count not met? No





Unlikely but possible if very close - would depend on cost to leader. If less than 10 go, AE will give less of a discount toward leader costs so that has to be taken into consideration.

7.

PRIVATE TRIPS

Are you currently (up to and including the time frame of this proposed trip) leading trips that are “private,” i.e. not sponsored by the AMC?

No

8.

AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION

Please see < http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/info/Trip_Notice_Rules.html

> for the current rules

and schedule for submitting notices for AMC Outdoors. E-mail both the long (150 words maximum) and short form (50 word maximum) trip announcements to goeke@space.mit.edu

, preferably in plain text format, at the same time you submit the trip application. Although the trip notices travel a different route to the Committee, it helps to have the notices on the web site when the trip is reviewed.

It your trip notice is somewhat preliminary at this time, that’s OK. You have plenty of opportunity to change it before the publication deadline. If you don’t want to have the first (long) notice appear at the normal time – see the above referenced rules – include your special request in the body of the e-mail containing the trip notices.

After you trip is approved, please check your trip announcements as posted on the Major

Excursions web site: http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ ; we cut-and-paste directly from this site

to AMC Outdoors !

9.

TRIP PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL PROCESS

Trips cannot come before the Major Excursions Committee for approval unless the application is completed and received two weeks prior to MEC meetings for review. The ME Leader’s web site has the Handbook and all required forms: http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/handbook/ . As a minimum we need:



This application form



A detailed trip budget/costing form

In addition the following are helpful during the review process, but need only be submitted after your proposal is accepted:



50 and 150 word notices for AMC Outdoors



Trip prospectus – without application forms

Finally, we need to have on file at Joy Street (again, after proposal acceptance)



A filled out Confidential Medical Form for leader and co-leader



Copies of first aid certifications for leader and co-leader





We will accept snail mail applications, but electronic forms are preferred. Please save and forward your electronic documents with the following naming convention:

Leader’s Last Name, Trip destination, Trip Activity (if applicable), Trip Start date.

For example: Zukroff-New-Zealand-Hiking-12-03-Application.doc

Email should be sent to both of the following two addresses :

Stacia Zukroff, Major Excursions Committee Chair at mecchair@amcboston.org

Heidi Reilly, AMC Travel Programs Coordinator at hreilly@outdoors.org

Or, if you unable to send electronically, please mail a single hard copy to:

Heidi Reilly, Appalachian Mountain Club

Five Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108

617-523-0655, x356 (voice) 617-367-8878 (FAX)

10.

CONCLUSION

By turning in this proposal, you are agreeing to the following:

I have read the Major Excursions Leader Handbook and I agree to follow all policies and procedures of the Major Excursions Committee and the Appalachian Mountain Club in preparing for and conducting my major excursion.

Questions? Contact Stacia Zukroff at mecchair@amcboston.org

or 781-648-5503. She can put you in touch with an experienced MEC mentor who can help you with trip planning.



APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION

APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION

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