A land of beautiful people, wide open spaces, impressive mountain views and unrivaled wildlife describes East Africa. Joining us on the Tanzania Sponsor Tour allows you to meet your sponsored child as well as experience each of these characteristics. Tanzania has much to offer but has not had as much Western or commercial influence as some of its neighbors. Few languages are more lyrical than Swahili, few people groups more distinctive than the Maasai, and few sights more remarkable than impalas, zebras, warthogs and other wildlife coming together at dusk for their evening meal. This is your Compassion child's country.

As we tour Tanzania together, you'll learn more about Compassion during visits to several different child development centers and the country office. You'll see the day-to-day workings of the centers and better understand how you and thousands of other sponsors are changing the lives of children around the world. Arriving at the centers, excited children will welcome you. Be ready to exchange hugs and smiles. You'll even be able to visit homes of some of the children and get a glimpse of their daily lives. Also included is a day serving the children and staff through sports activities, handcrafts, lunch or snacks, and even helping complete a service project to benefit one of our centers.

Of course the most important and exciting day is the one you spend with your own sponsored child. All children sponsored by tour members will be brought together to Arusha for a fun day of activities, photos, personal time, and true relationship building. What a day to remember!

Days 1-2: Welcome to Tanzania

Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22: After meeting in JFK Airport in New York we board our KLM plane for the long flight via Amsterdam to Tanzania. Arriving at the Kilimanjaro Airport we immediately travel to the capital city Arusha.

Days 3-5: Learning About Compassion

Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 23-25: We visit our Compassion Tanzania office and have opportunity to ask questions as we tour their facility. Lunch with the staff gives us time to know these dedicated men and women personally. Off to our Compassion student centers where we begin learning about child development. The children and staff have many different things planned for us. We can also visit nearby homes and get to know the families.

Day 6: Our Big Day!

Thursday, Feb. 26: All children join their sponsors and translators for a very special time together. This is the big reason you came so enjoy it to the fullest!

Days 7-8: Student Center Activities

Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28: We travel to Moshi where we continue to learn about poverty, what Compassion is doing with child development, and see the activities while a center is in full operation. We can participate right along with them.  

Days 9-10: Worshipping Together and Seeing the Natural Beauty

Sunday and Monday, March 1-2: Praise and worship has new meaning as we share with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters. After service, our safari drivers head off for the Ngorongoro Crater. Besides driving in the bottom of the crater for animal and bird sightings, our overnight stay in the safari lodge gives us opportunity to view the gorgeous sunset and sunrise.

Days 11 and 12: Traveling Back Home

Tuesday and Wednesday, March 3-4: Back in Arusha we have time to shop for souvenirs, share our special thoughts, and start our transition home. The evening flight takes us to Amsterdam and then to JFK. Back on American soil we realize Tanzania has changed us and we're ready to share that with others.

RESERVATIONS should be made well in advance and require a nonrefundable deposit of $350 per person. Final Payment of $3,650 is due no later than Nov. 4, 2008. Additional fuel surcharges are assessed at time of ticketing and due no later than 60 days prior to departure.

AIR TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL SURCHARGES:  Air transportation is included in the tour is based on economy-class transportation and is subject to all rules and regulations governing these fares. Fuel surcharges are added on a per-ticket basis at time of confirmation. In the event these surcharges are increasingly higher than budget estimates, we may require additional funds to cover these surcharges.  We will communicate any pricing changes immediately.

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, please refer to our cancellation policy below:

All deposits are nonrefundable.

50% of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 59-31 days prior to the Sponsor Tour.

100% of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 30-0 days prior to the Sponsor Tour.

Only written cancellations accepted.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to adjust or alter any travel program when necessary or desirable for the protection, safety or improvement of said travel program, or when local conditions do not permit operation as published. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to accept or deny participants application at its sole discretion.
RESPONSIBILITY: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL makes arrangements with airlines, hotels and other independent parties to provide you with the travel services you purchase. These parties are independent suppliers over whom we have no direct control. In the absence of negligence on our part, we are not responsible for any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising out of injury, accident or death; damage, loss or delay of baggage or other property; or delay, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from (1) the act or omission of any party other than COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL or its employees; (2) mechanical breakdown, government actions, weather or other factors beyond our control; (3) failure to obtain documents, passports, visas and health certificates valid through the date of reentry, when required, in which case a cancellation charge will be assessed; (4) failure to follow instructions including but not limited to check-in and checkout times and baggage handling; (5) cancellation or change for any reason in the travel services offered; and (6) medical or health problems or physical disabilities. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to cancel or alter the travel services at its discretion, except as otherwise noted herein. In the event of change, COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will try to substitute comparable services; in the event of complete cancellation by COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL, we shall refund all monies paid to us. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will not be responsible for any other cost incurred by participants.