experiences and inspirations
Optional Excursions to Spark Creativity & New perspectives
While our studios remain open daily, we also believe that stepping outside your workspace can refresh your perspective, awaken your senses, and fuel your next idea. Whether you're seeking inspiration, a mental reset, or a post-project reward, we offer a variety of local and regional experiences to choose from.
These excursions are optional and available throughout the residency period. Costs may vary depending on several factors, including the number of participants, the nature of the activity, distance to the destination, length of stay (if overnight or longer), and any additional materials or entry fees required.
We strive to keep all activities and experiences as affordable and accessible as possible
Tanzania has repeatedly been named one of the world's top travel destinations, celebrated for its extraordinary landscapes, vibrant cultures, and biodiversity. As Lonely Planet writes, “Few countries can match Tanzania’s sheer natural beauty and cultural richness.”
It is the land of the world-renowned Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the idyllic spice islands of Zanzibar — icons that represent the country’s unmatched diversity and allure.
This is a place where nature, history, and creativity intersect, offering endless opportunities to inspire your work in fresh, meaningful ways.
How It Works: Studio Time Meets Exploration
Your studio is always available—every day, throughout your residency. Whether you’re deep in a project or taking time to reflect, you’ll have uninterrupted access to your creative space.
But for those moments when you feel like stepping out, recharging, or gathering fresh input, we offer a rotating schedule of optional excursions. Each week, we post a sign-up sheet with that week’s activity options. You can sign up in advance or spontaneously during the week, depending on availability. For planning purposes—especially for transportation or group discounts—we encourage early sign-ups whenever possible.
There’s no pressure—just options. Your time here is yours to shape. Here are some of the activities that are available for you to sign up for…
🎨 Creative Workshops
Explore local craftsmanship and traditional art forms in guided, hands-on sessions. These experiences are designed to immerse artists in East African materials, techniques, and creative rhythms. Workshops are guided by skilled local artisans and cultural experts.
Glass Art Making
Discover the basics of fused glass and recycled glass techniques with local artists. Learn to transform discarded materials into vibrant, meaningful pieces of art.
Beading & Jewelry Design
Create your own wearable art using traditional East African beadwork patterns. Learn the cultural significance of colors, patterns, and materials in this delicate, detail-focused workshop.
Wood Sculpture Carving
Work alongside skilled artisans to explore the tools, techniques, and symbolism behind traditional Tanzanian wood carving. Perfect for those interested in 3D form and cultural storytelling.
Cob House Building
Participate in sustainable construction through hands-on cob building. This meditative process connects you to earth, architecture, and ancestral knowledge while creating something lasting and grounded.
Coffee Farm Tour
Visit a working Tanzanian coffee farm to learn about cultivation, harvesting, and roasting. Enjoy fresh brews while sketching the lush environment, drying beds, and rural scenery—an ideal sensory-rich experience for illustrators and observers.
Tinga Tinga Art Workshop
Dive into the bold, colorful, and imaginative world of Tinga Tinga—a distinct Tanzanian painting style known for its narrative flair and vibrant patterns. Explore its origins and create your own artwork in this playful, story-driven session.
🏛️ Cultural & Historical Tours
Immerse yourself in the region’s rich artistic and cultural heritage through curated visits to local institutions and communities. These experiences connect artists with the historical, geological, and social layers that shape Tanzanian creativity.
Cultural Heritage Art Gallery
Explore one of the most extensive collections of Tanzanian art, traditional artifacts, crafts, and architecture. Gain insight into the cultural threads that influence generations of makers across the country.
Tanzanite Mines Museum
Uncover the story of Tanzanite, a rare gemstone found only in Tanzania. Learn about the country’s geology, mining economy, and the significance of this blue-violet crystal through interactive exhibits and guided interpretation.
Natural History Museum
Step into a space where science, archaeology, and East African heritage meet. From ancient fossils to colonial history, this museum offers artists a layered understanding of time, place, and people.
Maasai Art Market
Visit a vibrant open-air market where Maasai artisans sell handcrafted jewelry, textiles, and sculpture. This is more than a shopping trip—it's a chance to hear the stories behind the materials, techniques, and symbolism of each piece.
🌄 Scenic Inspiration Trips
Leave the studio and take in breathtaking landscapes that stir the soul. These curated outings are designed to rejuvenate the creative process through nature, cultural exchange, and sensory richness.
Kondoa Rock Art Sites
Journey into Tanzania’s ancient past with a guided visit to the 5,000-year-old cave paintings in Kondoa. These preserved images are among Africa’s most important cultural heritage sites, offering timeless inspiration through visual storytelling.
Mount Meru Trails & Drives
Explore lush forests, winding trails, and panoramic mountain views on foot or by vehicle. The biodiversity and dramatic scenery of Mount Meru offer endless material for sketching, writing, or reflective practice.
West Kilimanjaro Forests & Plains
Wander through sweeping savannahs, acacia groves, and misty highland forests. The shifting light and open horizons make this ideal for landscape painters and photographers seeking solitude and visual drama.
Kikuletwa Hot Springs
Take a rejuvenating dip in these natural geothermal pools, surrounded by fig trees and crystal-clear blue water. The Kikuletwa Hot Springs provide a refreshing escape—and a dreamy setting for watercolors, journaling, or meditative sketching.
Maasai Village Visit
Engage with Maasai life, culture, and creativity in a respectful, guided experience. Learn about traditional architecture, adornment, and community practices—many of which continue to influence regional art.
Themi Falls Forest Walk
A peaceful guided hike through a forested reserve, ending at a cool, shaded waterfall. This short nature walk is perfect for artists looking to clear their mind and reconnect with nature.
Panoramic View CAFE
Relax over coffee or lunch at a hilltop cafe with expansive views of the Tanzanian landscape. Whether you’re sketching the skyline or journaling in the breeze, it’s a perfect midday retreat for quiet reflection.Leave the studio and take in breathtaking landscapes that stir the soul.
⛺ Camping & Overnight Adventures
Escape into Tanzania’s wild beauty and reset under the stars. These longer, immersive trips offer more than just a change of scenery—they reconnect you with the land, with story, and with yourself.
Lake Natron & Ngaresero Village – 3 Nights
Camp in the otherworldly landscapes of Lake Natron, a surreal region defined by pink flamingos, volcanic rock, and alkaline waters. Your base is Ngaresero Village, a Maasai community set beneath the towering peak of Ol Donyo Lengai, the “Mountain of God.” Days are filled with hikes to waterfalls, sketching moon-like terrain, and absorbing the quiet power of this sacred place. Nights bring stars, stories, and pure stillness.
Ushongo Beach Retreat – Pangani Coast – 3 Nights
Unwind at the tranquil shores of Ushongo Beach, one of Tanzania’s best-kept coastal secrets. Spend your days swimming, beachcombing, sketching under coconut palms, or capturing the colors of the Indian Ocean in your journal. Enjoy a seafood dinner, watch the sun dip into the sea, and fall asleep to the rhythm of the waves.
Kondoa Highlands Overnight
Spend a night immersed in the mystical highlands of Kondoa, home to ancient rock art and dramatic escarpments. This condensed adventure includes guided hikes, storytelling around the fire, and a visit to remote cave paintings—timeless works etched into the cliffs by ancestors.
Makuyuni Reserve Overnight
Disconnect from the digital world and step into a quiet, untamed reserve. This overnight trip includes walking safaris, wildlife encounters, and stargazing by the campfire. A gentle yet profound experience that brings you back to nature’s pace.
🐘 Safari Experiences
Step into the wild and experience the raw beauty of Tanzania’s natural landscapes and iconic wildlife through curated day trips and overnight safari options. Whether you’re recharging, sketching on the move, or gathering new textures and ideas, these journeys offer adventure and awe in equal measure.
Arusha National Park – Day Trip
A nearby gem just a short drive from the city—perfect for a relaxed, full-day safari. Explore varied terrain with views of Mount Meru, lakes filled with flamingos, and chances to see giraffes, zebras, monkeys, and more. An inspiring option for spontaneous sketches and photo studies.
Tarangire National Park – Day Trip or Overnight
Known for its massive elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and rich birdlife, Tarangire is a classic savannah setting that captures the heart of East African wildlife.
Makuyuni Game Reserve – Day Trip
A lesser-known, intimate reserve offering an off-the-beaten-path experience. Fewer crowds, peaceful landscapes, and plenty of wildlife—perfect for artists seeking quiet observation and slow creative pacing.
Ngorongoro Crater – Overnight Safari
Descend into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with life. Ngorongoro Crater is home to lions, rhinos, wildebeest, and lush terrain bordered by steep crater walls—ideal for dramatic landscape studies and wildlife photography.
Serengeti National Park – 2–3 Night Safari
The Serengeti is the crown jewel of African safaris… endless plains, roaming predators, and the rhythm of migration. Whether you're watching lions at golden hour or sketching herds of wildebeest in motion, this is an unforgettable journey into raw, untamed nature.
