airpass-02-tanzania-while-youre-here - Mission Aviation Fellowship

While you’re here

Not your average safari

‘Safari’ is the Swahili word for ‘journey’.

But MAF’s monthly safaris provide much more than a souvenir photo of Tanzania’s stunning landscape and the occasional wild animal. They are vital journeys that provide thousands of remote people the medical, educational and spiritual care they need to thrive.

Malambo outreach safari

MAF’s main partner in Malambo is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, which we have served for more than 30 years. We fly Maasai evangelists to remote villages to spread the Gospel, pray for the sick and plant new churches.

Our mission is to transform communities by teaching the love, hope and forgiveness of Jesus in the face of cultural oppression, inequality and violence.

Location: 11 remote destinations in northern Tanzania
Length: 3 days
Purpose: sharing the Gospel with unreached people
People helped: many Maasai communities in the North Maasai regions
Tribes reached: Maasai
Time saved: 4-5 months by foot

Haydom medical safari

The Haydom safari’s main stop is the Haydom Lutheran Hospital, which runs a network of mobile clinics in nearby villages. MAF plays an important role by transporting medical specialists to the hospital, then out to tribes who would otherwise be unreached.

On the Haydom safari, you might share the cabin with a Dutch surgeon who is flying to volunteer in the bush, or a pregnant woman experiencing life-threatening complications. Every trip is a life-changing adventure.

During the safari, medics examine expectant mothers, vaccinate children and treat those who are sick. Often a pastor is on board too and will pray with patients and tell villagers about God’s love.

Location: 9 remote destinations in the north-eastern region
Length: 5 days
Purpose: Medical outreach
People helped: 1,000 – 1,600 a month
Tribes reached: Hadzabe, Taturu and Datooga (all classified as unreached peoples)
Time saved: 4 days by car

South Maasai Safari

Using MAF’s aircraft, medical and evangelistic teams can reach areas where there are no health facilities, schools or churches.

The majority of the Maasai still live as semi-nomads, and spend months wandering through the desert, depending on their cattle to survive. MAF has helped set up ‘mobile’ clinics, which can move and respond to this nomadic way of life. More babies are now surviving birth and developing in their early years, thanks to improved antenatal care and vital vaccinations.

Flying on a South Maasai safari, you might meet MAF team members who are planning a new airstrip, which could double or triple our impact in this region in the coming years.

Location: 3 villages in the South Maasai region
Length: 2 days
Purpose: medical and spiritual outreach
People helped: 300 a month
Tribes reached: Maasai, Dorobo
Time saved: 2-3 days across desert by truck

While you're here, your guide to visiting Tanzania

Despite its poor transport system, Tanzania hosts many world-famous natural attractions, which have become major sources of income. But there are also many fascinating places to explore with MAF, which are certainly ‘off the beaten track’.

1 – A day in the park

Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania is known for a massive annual migration of wildebeest and zebra, which look spectacular from the air. The herds move north from their breeding grounds to follow the rains and growth of new grass.

2 – Trek up a mountain

Mount Kilimanjaro stands 19,341ft above sea level, and offers 6 official climbing routes. Africa’s highest peak sits in the north-east of the country, very near MAF’s base in Arusha. On a clear day, you can see the summit of this dormant volcano from our aircraft as we carry out safari flights nearby.

3 – Get lost in a market

Arusha central market is famous for vibrant colours, exotic spices and fresh produce. Although it is always bustling, efforts to resolve Tanzania’s hunger crisis by boosting agriculture are limited by unpredictable rainfall. Entire regions are still experiencing drought, which forces up food prices.

4 – Meet a heroine

Martha Katau is an educated Maasai woman – a rare phenomenon for a girl raised in the bush. Today, she is an important part of MAF’s work in the South Maasai region, and she helps local pastors, medics and NGOs reach out to her ‘forgotten people’. Martha wants to break the cycle of oppression of illiterate young women through the power of education and God’s love.

5 – Head to the fields

MAF is supporting a Food for Life project run by World Relief in Tanzania. This local initiative is expected to benefit 7,500 subsistence farmers and their families by offering agricultural training which could double harvest sizes in central Tanzania.

6 – Unlock the Scriptures

Sangu is 1 of the 13 languages spoken in south-western Tanzania, where Wycliffe Bible Translators co-ordinate ambitious translation projects. Travelling to these regions from Mbeya can take up to five hours by road, but an MAF flight can get you there in a matter of minutes.

Continue your journey through Tanzania

Welcome to Tanzania

Explore your second destination

Come fly with me

Meet Kirstein Combrink

Just before you leave

For your next destination...

We fly to remote places to reach the world’s most isolated people – thank you for joining us in Tanzania.

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About MAF UK

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator. For over 75 years we have been flying light aircraft over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts. We enable more than 1,400 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief and long-term development. Our pilots and personnel deliver relief workers, doctors, pastors, school books, food, medicines - everything that can only be safely and speedily delivered by air. Our faithful supporters give and pray to make this all possible.