Where Is The Roof of Africa School?
You can find the Roof of Africa school in Tanzania.
With Kenya to its North, Mozambique to the south and a coastline on the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is a beautiful, vibrant country in East Africa. It is home to spectacular wildlife and breath-taking mountains. The most famous being Mount Kilimanjaro, as the highest mountain in Africa, it’s one of the most famous in the world. In the National Parks, namely Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti you will find elephants, lions, giraffes, and hippos roaming.
The national language of Tanzania is Swahili, and many Tanzanians also speak a tribal language. In the country there are over 130 different tribes, including Maasai and Chagga. In the towns and cities popular to tourists, English is spoken. High schools also teach in English, so younger generations are more likely to know the language if they have been able to go to school.
Most Tanzanian communities live in rural areas and 76% of people depend on agriculture by trade. Though, this is vulnerable to drought and flooding. The uncertainty of crops mean that poverty levels are high, and infrastructure is often inadequate.
The Roof Of Africa school is located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in a small rural village called Sonu. With a couple of small shops and a church, the local people of Sonu are mostly subsidence farmers growing maize and bananas. Community is strong in the village, as children play together on the dirt tracks and sing songs passed through generations. Few homes have electricity and most contain only one room. Overall, it is a peaceful location. The high altitude means that the temperature does not rise too high, and the hills are leafy green. Water is collected from springs and a small river. The people of Sonu live off the land, selling fruit and vegetables as well as rice and beans. The local diet changes depending on the season, and is simple but deliciously cooked. Ugali is the local speciality, and is a stiff, filling porridge.
45 minutes down the road is the large town of Moshi. It’s most frequented as the base town for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and offers markets, shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, bars and clubs. The streets are bustling and vibrant with activity as the delicious smells of Tanzanian coffee and chai fill the air meeting anticipation from the tourists. Tarmac roads, running water and electricity also set the town apart from Sonu.
The Roof of Africa school is just a small part of East Africa, but it has a big heart… and the view is great!
