Visitor Program (Non-sponsors)
We love visitors! And since we're based in Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania and less than an hour's drive from Moshi, the town at the foot Mount Kilimanjaro, it's really quite easy to get to our school.
Even if you're not currently a sponsor or donor, you are more than welcome to come to meet our students and staff! We are very proud of our school and so we enjoy being able to show it off. For this reason we have a special visitors program for people who would like to drop in for a morning or an afternoon for a tour of our beautiful school.
So whether you are passing through Arusha on a safari, about to climb Kilimanjaro or doing an overland tour of Africa, try to make the time to drop in and see this amazing school for yourself!
P.S. If you are going on a safari and you want to visit us one day, make sure to let your safari company know well in advance so they can factor it into your itinerary.
Where are we?
We are situated near Arusha in Northern Tanzania, almost in the centre of the African continent, tucked in beside Mt Meru, which is the beautiful mountain in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro. And if you're still not sure, get out your atlas!
Arusha is a big, bustling, and colourful 3rd world town, which has grown immensely in the last few decades as it is the main stopping off point for tourists wanting a safari to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha National Park or a Mt Kilimanjaro or Mt Meru climbing adventure. And if you feel like a plunge into the Indian Ocean, a trip to Zanzibar, Mombassa or Pangani is a short plane ride or long bus trip away. All these exotic locations are, relatively, on our doorstep!
The two campuses of this successful school are located in the village of Moshono and the village of Usa River. Our Moshono Campus is approximately a 15-minute drive west of Arusha town along the Old Moshi Road. It's a shocker of a road – badly potholed, rugged and dusty! But it leads to a pleasant surprise – the school is set in leafy grounds surrounded by new and established trees with as many lawns and gardens as the minimal water supply can sustain. Our Usa River Campus is approximately a 40-minute drive west of Arusha town on the Moshi-Nairobi Road.
When can you come?
If you would like to come, you can do so between the hours of 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday during term (dates are below). If, for some reason, you can't make it during these hours, send us an email and, where possible, we will do our best to show you the school at another time.
So if you have a few hours to spare in Arusha, just send us an email with details of when you would like to come and we will get back to you as soon as possible, to let you know it's okay, so you can start planning. You can email us at schoolofstjude@habari.co.tz.
Term Dates 2010
January 5 - February 19
March 1 - April 15
May 4 - June 11
June 21 - August 5
August 24 - October 8
October 18 - December 2
Term Dates 2011
January 4 - February 18
February 28 - April 14
May 3 - June 10
June 20 - August 4
August 23 - October 7
October 17 - December 1
Accommodation
If you decided to travel to Arusha but don't know where to stay, we will try to help you. Our accommodation at the school is limited to our sponsors and donors, we are happy to recommend some hotels that we know in the Arusha area. There are lots of choices from budget accommodation to 5-Star hotels so let us know what you're looking for and we'll do our best to make a good recommendation.
Going on Safari
We can help organise safaris for visitors who come to the school, so if you would like us to do this, please email us and we will do our best to help!
And now a few glimpses of life at St Jude’s...
The following photos show some of our past visitors enjoying a few of the activities to get involved in at the school:
A sponsor visiting her sponsor childs home and family.
Visit the students in their boarding houses in the evenings.
Visitors can be a part of the weekly assembly on Thursdays at Usa River Campus and on Fridays at Moshono Campus.
Enjoy having lunch with the students of St Jude's. The students learn English fast, particularly as they love chatting to visitors .
Go on the school bus to see how the students get to and from school.
We always have something for our visitors to do if you would like to help. Covering some textbooks really helps us alot!
American Money:
We are not able to exchange or accept any American notes that are dated prior to 2001. If you would like to exchange money at the school or in Arusha town they must be dated 2001 or later.
UPDATED: 09/06/09