After months of preparation, the big day had finally arrived. Early in the morning, we gathered in the main departure hall at Schiphol Airport before setting off with a group of 17 girls, 1 boy, and 2 trip leaders for our first destination: IOP in beautiful Tanzania.

After a long flight, we arrived in Dar es Salaam, where we boarded a bus that would take us to IOP. Following a rather long journey of more than 12 hours, we finally arrived and received a warm welcome. To celebrate our arrival, a large welcome party had been organized. After enjoying the festivities and a delicious meal, we were finally able to get some sleep after traveling for more than 35 hours.

On our first day, we were given a tour of IOP and its surroundings. We learned about the organization's sponsors and how the donated funds are used to support the projects. Unfortunately, I missed the entire presentation because I was the only one who fell asleep!

During the following days, we volunteered both at and around the orphanage. We helped plant avocado trees, organized a clothing market and a marathon, assisted single mothers with cooking, and visited the IOP schools. Around the fourth day, we also took a trip to Stone Age, an archaeological site containing fossils that are millions of years old.

After seven unforgettable days, it was time to say goodbye to the friends we had made at IOP. The following morning, we visited a Maasai village, where we spent the afternoon learning about their culture and way of life. After enjoying another delicious meal with the Maasai, we continued our journey to Mikumi, where we would stay for the next two days.

Early the next morning, we headed out in jeeps for an exciting safari in Mikumi National Park. Spending an entire day surrounded by Africa's incredible wildlife was an unforgettable experience. After the safari, we drove back to Dar es Salaam, where we boarded the ferry to Zanzibar.

Late that evening, we arrived at More Africa, our accommodation on Zanzibar. Thankfully, we were able to head straight to our rooms and get some much-needed rest.

Our first full day on Zanzibar was dedicated entirely to relaxation. We spent the day enjoying the island's stunning white-sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters while recovering from the adventures of the previous twelve days. In the evening, we returned to More Africa for dinner before getting another good night's sleep.

The following day happened to be my birthday. We celebrated by exploring the historic streets of Stone Town, visiting Prison Island to see its famous giant tortoises, relaxing on a beautiful sandbank between Prison Island and Stone Town, and of course celebrating my birthday together.

Before we knew it, it was already our second-to-last day on Zanzibar, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire trip. We had the opportunity to go out in search of wild dolphins.

Unfortunately, the waves were too high, making it unsafe to swim with them. Even so, it was a memorable experience. That evening, we packed our suitcases in preparation for the journey home.

After a good night's sleep and a final breakfast together, we traveled by bus back to Stone Town, where we boarded the ferry to Dar es Salaam. Once we arrived, we had to wait until half past two in the morning before our flight departed.

As soon as we settled into our seats on the plane, we realized our incredible adventure through Tanzania and Zanzibar had truly come to an end. We arrived back at Schiphol with hearts full of unforgettable memories. It was time to say goodbye once again, only this time there were a few more tears.