FAQs

Student Interns

Logistics
Where will I stay?
What is Loibor Serrit like? 
How often will I be in Arusha?
What kind of bathroom facilities will I have access to?
What kind of food is available in the field?
Is drinking water easy to obtain?
Will I get to visit Tarangire National Park?
Where will I have internet access?
Is there cell phone reception at the field base?
Is there any danger from wild animals at camp?
Is there an address that I can have mail sent to?
What are the cultural restrictions for women?
Where can I travel alone?
Where can I travel at night?
What can I do with valuables?

Traveling To Tanzania
How do I get to Tanzania?
Should I take anti-malarial medication? Which?
Should I get a rabies shot?
What other vaccinations do I need?
What do I need to do to get a visa?
When should I arrive and leave?

Traveling Within Tanzania
Is there accessible public transporation?
How do I get from the airport to Arusha?
How do I get from Arusha to the bush?

Language
What kind of language proficiency do I need?
What kind of books should I read/bring?

Climate & Dress
What will the climate be like?
Should I bring sandals?
Should I bring a coat?
Will I need sunscreen?
Do I need to wear skirts?

Gear
Do I need to bring a tent?
Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
Should I bring my laptop?

Logistics

Where will I stay?
The PPF field site is located on the southeasten boundary of Tarangire National Park, just outside the village of Loibor Serrit.  The field site is equipped with a guest tent, or you may bring your own tent to camp from.What is Loibor Serrit like? 
Loibor Serrit is a small village of approximately 5000 residents, mostly Maasai, who are spread out over a large area.  The village center contains a few small shops where you can find coke, flour, sugar, kerosene and a few other basic items. While you are in Arusha, you may stay at Buddy and Laly’s house for $15 per night.How often will I be in Arusha?
Going into town every couple of weeks to restock food may necessary and/or desired.  More time in town may be necessary depending on the project. What kind of bathroom facilities will I have access to?
Bathroom facilities at the field site are very simple.  There is no regular plumbing at the field site or in Loibor Serrit.What kind of food is available in the field?
The field base has cooking staff, but responsibilities are shared.  Communal eating is standard with lots of traditional ugali (a corn flour-based dish) and rice.  Fresh vegetables and fruit are not widely available in Loibor Serrit, but are regularly brought from Arusha. Is drinking water easy to obtain?
All drinking water is boiled and filtered by field base staff.Will I get to visit Tarangire National Park?
A trip to the park is definitely in order during your stay. Daily permit fees and limited transporation make visits infrequent, but exciting.Where will I have internet access?
There is no internet access at the field base or in Loibor Serrit. In Arusha there are internet cafes on virtually every block, and the PPF house has wireless internet access.Is there cell phone reception at the field base?
Loibor Serrit recently acquired intermittent cell phone reception in parts of the village. If you have a phone that works in Tanzania, you may be able to use it from Arusha.  Calls to the US are expensive—at least $3 per minute.  PPF has cell phones and a satellite phone at the field base in the event of any emergency.Is there any danger from wild animals at camp?
At night, be aware before leaving your tent and shine a flashlight to check for eyes.  There have been no problems in the past with animals.  Each tent has a lantern outside it during the night to deter any animals.Is there an address that I can have mail sent to?
c/o Laly Lichtenfeld
PO Box 11306
Arusha, Tanzania. Be aware that mail sent to and from the U.S. is slow in transit.What are the cultural restrictions for women?
Women need not wear skirts in Tanzania, but long pants are appropriate.  The role of Maasai women in the community around the field base is quite different from the United States, but American women are not expected to abide by these cultural differences.Where can I travel alone?
During the day you may travel anywhere alone, using common sense, of course. Because of wild animal dangers, solitary walks at dawn and dusk are not recommended.Where can I travel at night?
Nighttime travel without a car is not recommended, as many animals are prowling about.What can I do with valuables?
Everything is safe at the campsite.  You may leave stuff that you don’t need in Arusha or bring locks for your valuable items at the field base.

Traveling To Tanzania

How do I get to Tanzania?
It is best to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is a 1 hour drive from Arusha, where a PPF office is located.  You may stay in Arusha for a short period of preparation before embarking on the 3-4 hour journey to the field site in a PPF vehicle.Should I take anti-malarial medication? Which?
Yes. Malarone is currently recommended by many doctors, though the most expensive. Should I get a rabies shot?
It is up to you.  You are unlikely to get rabies, but PPF is not responsible for you if you do contract it. What other vaccinations do I need?
Yellow fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Polio, MMR are recommended by most doctors.  You will have most of these already, usually only Yellow Fever and Typhoid are new to get.  The hospital will tell you what you need to go to Tanzania. What do I need to do to get a visa?
You can get a 3 month travelers visa with no hassle at the airport when you arrive.  Be sure to say that you are just traveling. Students conducting original research in Tanzania will have to submit research permit applications prior to travel. When should I arrive and leave?
Each student has different requirements and schedules.  A period of study will be arranged on an individual basis.

Traveling Within Tanzania

Is there accessible public transporation?
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.How do I get from the airport to Arusha?
There are always taxis at the airport.  A trip to Arusha is $50.  It is easy to find a ride to Arusha as well.How do I get from Arusha to the bush?
You may get a ride in a PPF vehicle to the field site. 
Language

What kind of language proficiency do I need?
Swahili and Maasai are the languages spoken in the community around the field base.  In Arusha there are many English speakers, but there are few near the field base.What kind of books should I read/bring?
Bring books to read for entertainment in the bush.  A Swahili dictionary will be useful if you are learning the language, as will tree, bird, and animal identification books as one sees fit.

Climate & Dress

What will the climate be like?
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.Should I bring sandals?
Yes.  Bring shoes that are good for hiking as well. Running shoes would also be useful if you want to go on PPF morning runs with Laly and other students.Should I bring a coat?
A light coat for the mornings might be useful.Will I need sunscreen?
Yes.Do I need to wear skirts?
No, but you should wear long pants as an alternative.

Gear

Do I need to bring a tent?
Do bring a tent if you have one.Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
Yes. Should I bring my laptop?
You may want your computer to enter data or check email (internet access is available in Arusha), but you don’t have to bring a computer.  It is quite safe to bring one along if you want to, though.  Remember an adaptor for the power outlets and something to put your computer in to keep out the dust.