Amazing nourishing 100% pure essential oils are now available in Tanzania!
Essential Oils available in Tanzania!
Tag: boma africa
Days for Girls Cloth Menstrual Pads
Just wanted to share an update on our Days for Girls pads program!
Our tailors are doing a great job and are currently working on our first delivery for FAME hospital. Every postpartum Mum will get a kit to take home.
These pads are washable and can last up to 3 years. This is a great way to save money, and for many provides a solution for their periods, where they otherwise may have gone without.
We also had a second order from the amazing doulas at Wombs of the World. They ordered 45 kits and we distributed them to the postpartum moms at two government hospital in Karatu. Then nurses helped us to provide a little education on how to use the kits, and also on child spacing and contraception. It only took 1 day to give out all 45 kits. (That’s a lot of new babies!)
Period Poverty in Tanzania
This is a very thorough article by CNN on the need to address menstrual hygiene in Tanzania. The timing is impeccable as we just launched our Days for Girls enterprise. In the west we are fighting tampon tax, here we are simply fighting for access to menstrual health products.
A package of pads (8pads) costs $1 or more. Many families only have $1 per day or less, and may have 4-5 menstruating women in the family. Food, rent, water, power, school fees, medical bills, a lot of items are higher on the priority list.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/03/health/tanzania-period-poverty-asequals-africa-intl/index.html
awesome new promo video!
Boma la Mama Birth Centre is gaining momentum! Check out this great new video that explains what we are doing!
What to expect on Kilimanjaro
Summiting the world’ tallest free standing mountain in Tanzania
Pick Up
- Boma Africa will greet you up upon arrival at the airport or bus station
- You will stay the first night in Arusha at a comfortable B&B
- Your guide will come to welcome you and provide your mountain orientation
- Your guide will check your gear and packs to make sure your equipment is appropriate
- Sleep well the night before your climb!
First Day
- Early in the morning, after breakfast, your guide and crew will pick you up at your hotel
- Make sure to bring:
- your passport, or a photocopy of your passport for registration at the park
- Pocket money for last minute purchases such as batteries, chocolate bar, water, etc.
- Cash to tip your crew if desired
- Extra luggage can be stored at your hotel or the Boma Africa office (please arrange in advance)
- You will all leave Arusha and drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate for registration
- Depending on your route you may have a packed lunchbox, or your cook might serve a hot lunch before you start to trek
- Once registration is complete, you will begin walking slowly through the rainforest zone of Kilimanjaro!
Trekking
- On most days climbers will walk between 7 and 15 km, taking from 4 to 9 hours.
- Pole Pole!! Slow steady climbing is the rule!
- The crew will provide you clean drinking water for each day
- You are expected to drink 3L of water each day, so your guide will remind you many times to take a rest and drink some water
- As you are trekking you are likely to be sharing the route will some other trekkers, and you will see porters making their way up and down the path
- Your guide will tell you about special plants, features of the mountain, and cultural anecdotes
- First thing in the morning, you will have a wakeup call from the crew, and they will provide you with soap and warm water to wash up.
- A full hot breakfast is served daily with tea and coffee.
- After breakfast and preparing, you and your guide will start the daily trek while the crew breaks camp
- Lunches on the mountain vary between packed lunchboxes and prepared hot lunches served at carefully chosen rest points along the route
- When you arrive at the next camp, you will be welcomed with a light snack and steaming hot tea and coffee
- Your crew will be busy setting up camp; you may feel like resting, or like helping out and setting up some tents! Karibu!
- You will be provided with warm water and soap to freshen up after a long day’s trekking.
- A delicious hot dinner is served every evening in the mess tent.
- Your guide will debrief with your group about the day’s hike, and let you know what to expect for the following day
- Going to bed early is common as climbers are tired, and the days start early. As sleeping disturbances are common at higher altitudes, it’s best to rest as much as possible. Even if you have trouble falling asleep, resting your body and mind will rejuvenate your energy.
- It is common to experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness as the days go on. LINK TO SAFETY->Click here to read more about altitude sickness.
Summiting
Many routes require summiting at night, while there are few that lead you to the crater during daytime.
Night Summit
- After dinner you will rest for several hours
- Around 11 your guide will wake you up and you will have orientation over tea and biscuits
- You will begin the ascent around 12 am
- You will need all your warmest clothes, headlamp, any special snack, water and walking poles
- You can expect to feel a strong headache, you may vomit, and you will become extremely fatigued
- Making it to the summit around sunrise is common; after a quick celebration and photo session, you begin descending
- Usually you spend less than 15 minutes at Uhuru Peak
- You might ask your guide to take photos as you will likely be very cold, very tired, and may have some mild confusion due to altitude
- Communicate regularly with your guide
- Making it to the summit often takes every last bit of strength and mental determination you can muster!
Daytime Summit / Crater Camp Excursion
- If you are spending a night at the crater camp, you will make the climb from the preceding camp during the day
- Early the next morning (around 4 am) you will awaken and hike the final 2 hours to the summit- making it in time for sunrise.
Last Day
- It is usual to get to the gate in the early afternoon. A celebratory lunch will be served with wine and beer (as per request)
- You will be presented your certificate of achievement, and have a chance to say thank you to your crew (this is the best time to give any tip to the crew). See FAQs – tipping + Expeditions Equal Payment Plan
- All Boma Africa expeditions end by participation in Boma Goes Green, our environmental improvement program.
- You will get to plant a monumental tree to commemorate your climb, while building a shaded garden in Moshi.
- Think of a name for your tree!
- You will be dropped off at your B&B in Arusha for a much deserved shower and rest!
Food
- Boma Africa carefully plans your meals before your expedition
- Choosing top quality ingredients and providing a well-balanced diet on the mountain gives you the best chances of a successful healthy climb
- Meals are cooked and served inside a mess tent or mountain hut
- One of the side effects of altitude is loss of appetite and nausea. Don’t be surprised if you find it hard to eat- but please make the effort! Being well nourished is extremely important for your climb!
- Please advise in advance of any special dietary requests.
- Don’t hesitate to speak to your guide with any concerns regarding meals during your climb.
Breakfast
- A full hot breakfast is served with tea or coffee every day. It is common to have a variety of eggs, bread, sausage, porridge, pancakes, French toast and fruit.
Lunch
- Lunch alternates between a variety of carefully packed lunchboxes, and hot lunches that are served along route.
- It is common to have boiled eggs, pasta or rice salad, chicken, fruit and vegetables, biscuits, fruit juice, simmered sauces with rice, and more.
Dinner
- Always hot and appetizing, your dinners are prepared by your cook at the camp. It is common to have 3 courses: soup & bread, main course, and desert.
Tea Time
- You will have hot tea & coffee every morning and afternoon.
Toilets
- There are “outhouses” or “longdrops” situated along the routes and near to camps. On some routes you are provided with a private portable toilet. (available on all routes at special request)
- You will be provided with toilet paper.
- There are no shower facilities on the mountain.
Socially Responsible Tourism in Tanzania
Boma La Mama Baby Products
We have started this awesome line of baby products in the village! Our tailor Harrieth is amazing and items are turning out so well.
We are making baby carriers, sleepsacs, slippers, bandana bibs, crinkle and ribbon toys; using absolutely gorgeous kitenge fabrics.
We sold out our first order and have sold the second order that is in production. We have a few custom orders in the works, and are applying to sell at the Arusha Christmas market. Harrieth is going to move into a bigger workspace where we will have a small store front too.
We are also going to make some baby body butter and diaper cream using locally sourced ingredients; coconut, aloe, honey, beeswax, shea….. mmmm
So pleased for Harrieth, for the beautiful products, and excited to see what the future will bring.
See more under Boma la Mama @ www.bomalamama.com
Photo Gallery! African Wildlife Safari
Absolutely stunning wildlife roaming in the world famous Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the many other parks and reserves of Tanzania.
Tanzania’s Non- Profit Tour Co.!
Testimonial! Keri-Lyn, Canada, 2018
I stayed with Leesha and Lau and family on a 6 week trip through Tanzania. I’ve known Leesha for many years and it was wonderful to reunite with her in Mto Wa Mbu. They showed me around the village, introduced me to their community and I got to witness the passion and inspiration that lives in their entrepreneurial projects. I had such an incredible time in the village. The people are kind and welcoming, the scenery of the Rift Valley walls and Lake Mayanara stunning. I shared some art classes, visited the market regularly, enjoyed the local food and hit the dance floor for a little nightlife! I highly receommend connecting with Boma Africa. Mto Wa Mbu is the perfect place to set out for safari or take some time to relax and settle in and make some friends after travelling around. I hope to make it back one day!! Thank you for being such amazing hosts! xoxo
Keri-Lyn; Canada; 2018
Go fund Me for Harrieth’s Sewing Machine!
Hello kind and generous people around the world!!
We are supporting Harrieth, a very talented seamstress and small business owner in our village in Tanzania.
She currently has a small shop in the local market of Mto wa Mbu where she does her sewing. Harriet makes beautiful contemporary handbags and accessories and comes up with innovative designs to stand out from the other vendors. She uses traditional Tanzanian fabric, Kitenge, which of course makes the products so stunning.
Her small business supports her family; and we want to see her really succeed as a woman entrepreneur in Tanzania; as well as create more employment opportunity for the village.
The fabulous Keri-Lyn has committed to opening a fair trade business for Harriet in Canada, called Shona. She will get custom orders from Harriet to export to Canada! Keri-Lyn is very well connected in the artisanal markets circuits, as well as the organic foods community in Canada.
Boma la Mama will also use Harriet’s sewing business to create and launch their Mama and Baby boutique line of products for the Tanzanian market. Our first production, the mai-tei baby carriers have almost sold out in 2 weeks!
As we live in the village, Boma Africa will also provide Harriet with business mentorship and support here in on the ground.
This is a grass roots project and a micro loan has made it possible to get started (and has been paid back with 2 WEEKS!)
Harrieth is on a roll, BUT a major set back has hit our little project .. her sewing machine broke! She has some of her revenues to put towards new one, but needs another boost get back on her feet. A top of the line machine (which allows her sew heavy fabric such as leather, and foam, etc.) is $1200 CND.
If you like her story please don’t hesitate to pitch in! (or pm me if you are interested in providing a micro loan or donating by transfer). We all have seen how small donations quickly turn into a successful campaign!
Donate Here!
Love!
Volunteer Profile: Carly Beaulieu
Carly first came to Tanzania in August 2017 and volunteered to be in midwife (for my own birth!) here in Mto wa Mbu town. Tanzania got under her skin and she is back in June! Carly wears many hats and is using them all this month.
First she an educator. She worked in Canada as a teacher for several years before her calling to midwifery led her back to her own training. Carly brought supplies for the school and spent a week at the LK Kindergarten mentoring our teacher, Sophia, in the concept of “learning through play”. They played games, set up stations, and Sophia got tonnes of new ideas and resources to use with the children. Sophia’ second week of immersion she spent in a mentorship with the with the kindergarten teacher at Black Rhino Academy, International School.
Carly is also an EMT and trained in wilderness first aid. She developed a first aid course relevant to our zipline activities and environment and delivered an awesome course with the Tanzip Zipline team. The course is in the Tanzip training manual and will be used annually. She also guided us to put together a great custom first aid kit.
Carly also spent some time observing and mentoring students at a couple of local hospitals, on the L&D ward. She is passionate about the rights of birthing women to safe and dignified care. Carly got inspired to support Boma la Mama Birth Centre, and is committing to a giant donation in 2019; which should allow us to open the doors and start providing care. We are also putting together a prenatal course to offer to the public with information on nutrition and safety in pregnancy, what happens in labour, breastfeeding and infant nutrition, and more.
Last but not least, Carly provided Harieth and I a micro loan of $300 to start a small business sewing baby carriers. Harieth is a talented tailor here in the village. We started making mai-tei style carriers and were able to pay back our micro loan within 1 week(!) form pre-sales. Amazing. Once this first order is done and sent off the Canada, we have a second batch that are pre-paid! Harieth is dreaming of a sewing workshop with 4 sewing machines and 2 assistants. We will make baby carriers, sleeps sacs, reusable pads, and maybe even cloth diapers.
Carly has been a huge supporter; sharing her skilled training, smiles, and also money!
ASANTE SANA DADA!
