Where Are We?
Moshono Campus
Use the [+] zoom button on the map below to see our Moshono Campus near Arusha city in Tanzania, Africa. You can even see a few of our colourful school buses parked at the front!
The School of St Jude is in Arusha in northern Tanzania. Beautifully situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha has a pleasant climate and is close to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania's largest and most famous national park, the Serengeti is a 14,763 sq km wilderness that offers unparalleled safari opportunities and a chance to see one or all of the 'big five' – rhino, buffalo, lion, elephant and leopard.
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain at 5,895m. Off the coast is the larger of the 2 spice islands, Zanzibar with beautiful beaches and lively markets coupled with the stunning architecture and history of Stone Town.
In Northern Tanzania about 75% of Tanzanians are Christian with 25% Muslim.
Around 80 percent of Tanzanian children will start primary school but only half will complete it. And only about 5% of Tanzanian children will complete secondary school... in Australia it's about 85%.
Tanzania's coolest months are from June – October, the warmest from December to March – with 2 rainy seasons – the long rains from mid March to May and the short rains November to January.
The local language is Swahili with English also widely spoken.
About Arusha
Arusha is a big, bustling, grimy, but colourful third world city It has grown immensely in the last few decades as it is the main stopping 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. If you feel like a plunge into the Indian Ocean, a trip to Zanzibar, Mombassa or Pangani, it is only a short plane ride or long bus trip away. All these exotic locations are, relatively, on our doorstep!
The Clock Tower, said to be situated at the midpoint between Cairo and Cape Town, is the most famous landmark in Arusha. It is a great place to meet friends, browse for souvenirs from the street vendors and convenient to stores for all your shopping needs.
At the colourful Central Market you will find all the fruit, vegetables, grains, meat, fish and spices and whatever you could possibly need alongside every utensil required for cooking them – and the friendly nature of the Tanzanians makes bargaining a fun part of the experience!
Also, along the streets you can find the mamas selling the produce from their own farms (if there is any spare) or they go to Central Market in Arusha town to buy the vegetables and walk back to re-sell them at their village. These long days of tiring work result in little more than a few dollars but like most women around the world, feeding the family is their top priority.
The crippling poverty in the countryside has drawn thousands to the city centres of Tanzania in the hope of finding work and a better life style. Arusha is the most popular destination for those in the north of Tanzania as the thriving tourism, mining and manufacturing industries in the area create hope for job opportunities. Sadly, demand far outweighs supply and many migrants join the out of work locals wandering the streets trying to eking out a meager living or resorting to crime.
The children of Tanzania are very resourceful (above left) - an old pack of cards found on the street, or discarded bottles, cans, wire and rope are quickly assembled into play things.
The mud huts and narrow winding alleys of the Arusha’s slums (above right) are the neighbourhoods of many of our students. Such overcrowded slums can house up to 250,000 people living without basic amenities such as fresh water and electricity.
Despite the invention of the nylon rope, sisal plants are still farmed throughout Tanzania and this traditional rope is still readily available in the marketplaces.
Containers of second hand clothing, shoes and accessories sent from the West provide many market store holders and street venders with a roaring trade. There are great bargains for everyone - even Amani suits adorn the slender frames of the urban Maasai!
The local supermarket (above left)! Here you can buy everything from phone credit to toothbrushes and kerosene to fish.
Many of our students’ parents make a living by selling vegetables at stands like this (above right) which can be seen very commonly all around Arusha. A common earning for a stall like this would be around $2 per day.
The takeaway diner Arusha-style! This local mama is frying cassava on the roadside. Cassava is a fleshy root (a bit like a potato) and a primary staple food in Tanzania.
One of the hazards on the local roads (besides the clapped out vehicles with no brakes!) are the herds of cows returning home after grazing the common land along the roadside (above left). As the Maasai believe they are the ‘keepers of the world’s cattle', they are the most common animal seen in Tanzania and a status symbol of prestige and wealth.
However, sheep and goats (above right) are also plentiful in Tanzania but are less revered and more frequently eaten at special events and celebrations .Owners also will use the little milk they produce for selling or personal use.
This is our local market on the main street just around the corner from the Moshono campus (above). We all have our favourite mama who will slip us an extra tomato or two on top of the bag full of fresh vegetables!
Arusha is a major starting and finishing point for Mt Kilimanjaro climbers (above left). Kili (as it is affectionately called) is the highest mountain in Africa at 5895 m. This photo shows the 3 Peaks in 3 Weeks team who climbed Kili to raise money for St Jude’s. Arusha is also situated at the base of Mt Meru, which is also a popular climbing expedition.
Arusha is known as the ‘Safari capital of East Africa’ (above right). Tourism is the main contributor to the economy of Arusha and the second largest contributor to Tanzania’s economy. The major parks around Arusha include the Ngorogoro Conservation Area, the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tanangire and its very own Arusha National Park on the slopes of Mt Meru.
Arusha also has a range of hotels a weary traveller can choose from. From the budget traveller to the luxury lover, everyone can find somewhere to wash off that red dust from safari and fill their stomachs with something other than rice and beans!
