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Traveling Abroad with Chicago Booth: Trek to Tanzania

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This past December, about 20 Boothies and their partners embarked on an adventure of a lifetime in Tanzania. Read on to learn more about the recent Booth trek to Tanzania.

Our students at Chicago Booth have the unique opportunity to experience all that the world has to offer by means of traveling domestically and abroad with other Boothies. One way Boothies can travel during their MBA experience is by signing up for a Booth trek. Students have the opportunity to embark on a trek of their choice with their fellow classmates, partners, and other students across the breadth of MBA programs offered at Chicago Booth.

At Booth, there are both industry-focused and socially-focused treks for students to participate in. The purpose is to connect students with other members of the Booth community, all while exploring a new city or country and checking a destination off your bucket list. Read on as second-year Full-Time MBA students, Mariela Bucio Aguilera and Bhargavi Munukutla, shine light on their experience at Booth, including insights from their recent trip to Tanzania.

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Mariela is originally from Monterrey, Mexico. Before Booth, she led strategic planning projects at a boutique consulting firm in her hometown. She decided to pursue an MBA at Chicago Booth to further her career in consulting and pivot to a bigger consulting firm in the United States. Mariela appreciates the opportunity she’s been given to explore her vast interests at Booth and in Chicago; Mariela has developed a passion for sourdough baking, ran her first half marathon, discovered she’s very interested in Behavioral Economics, and she’s even tried to eat her way through Chicago’s restaurant scene with the Epicurean Club at Booth!

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Bhargavi worked in data and analytics for seven years before coming to Booth. She started off in consulting and then moved to working in revenue, sales, and marketing strategy functions throughout her career. She decided to pursue an MBA at Chicago Booth in order to refine her executive presence, all while working to build upon her finance and accounting skills.

What’s one word or phrase that best describes your experience at Booth?

Bhargavi: Exciting!
My experience at Booth has been filled with constant surprises. Candidly, I was a bit worried coming in since I’d been out of school for seven years. I wasn’t sure if I’d thrive in an academic setting when I hadn’t been in one for such a long time. In a sea of professional resources, I felt unsure of how to craft a path for myself. Initially, I was right. Every day there were so many social events I wanted to attend but felt overwhelmed by how to prioritize. There were so many professional groups and academic experiences I wanted to join. While it took a minute to introspect on what I wanted to do and accomplish during my MBA experience, I eventually found my path. My Booth essays were focused on how I aspired to be a TA and an Admissions Fellow – I’ve been able to do both! I’ve settled into a friend group I love and know will be one I preserve for life. In the next few months, I know I’ll leave Booth feeling excited about the mark I’ve made and my continued engagement with the school.

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In one word or phrase, how would you describe your experience on the trek to Tanzania?

Mariela: Fun in the wild!
Visiting Tanzania with my classmates was an unbelievable experience! We got to experience a new culture and a completely different side of nature, all while getting to know other incredible Boothies. We hiked, saw “the big 5” up-close, enjoyed lunch in the wild, and we even slept to the roar of nearby lions. It was such an exhilarating experience!

Tell us more about your recent travels.

Bhargavi: The Tanzania trek was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life! I had always dreamt of going on a safari trip but frankly had no idea what to expect.

Our journey started with an 18 hour flight to the Kilimanjaro airport with a layover in between. Once we landed in Kilimanjaro, we headed over to our accommodation for the night. The next day we explored Tarangire, where we spotted our first animal discoveries! We learned that having a sharp eye is crucial on safaris – no day is like another and keeping an eye out for exciting animal sightings keeps you on your toes and really helps to ensure you see everything you want to see. We had a day full of spotting warthogs, elephants, dikdik, and giraffes.

Next, we explored the Ngorongoro Crater. What I found amazing about this transition is that each park was completely unlike the other! The crater was lush and filled with monkeys, elephants, and exotic birds. The environment looked and felt entirely different from the previous day. The next day, we moved to Serengeti where we stayed for the next few days. We stayed in the Kati Kati camp, right in the middle of the park. At night we could hear lions roar and hyenas cackle! Our safari guide during this leg of the trek, Hagai, had done this for 30 years and it showed. He had a wealth of knowledge, elaborating on everything we saw, knowing exactly which route to take, and identified animal behaviors that were interesting anomalies that we should take note of.

After three days of our safari adventure, we moved to Zanzibar, the final part of our trek. Zanzibar was a fun beach town filled with markets, beaches, and plenty of relaxation. We hung out by the pool and read for a day, after which we explored Old Town. We learned the history of the city and ended the trek with serene massages at the hotel. Finally, we headed back to the US having learned a tremendous amount and collecting some wonderful memories of a beautiful continent.

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What’s your most memorable experience from Tanzania?

Mariela: One of my favorite parts of the trip was getting to see nature in its most natural form. Witnessing a lion scared by a pack of elephants, a baby elephant being fed by its mother, a hyena protecting its food, and so many other instances of nature I had only pictured in documentaries and movies. This made me think about my own nature and interactions with other human beings; how natural and essential it is to form groups, how we need every species in the world and how carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores are constantly interacting with peace despite their differences and power dynamics.

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How did you connect with your fellow Boothies during the trip? Were you all able to form special bonds?

Bhargavi: The safari jeeps were such an amazing way to bond with other Boothies! Each day, we rotated jeeps to meet and mingle with as many people as possible. Nothing brings a group together like a singular mission to spot wildlife nearby. Several partners joined the trek as well so we were able to meet a wide group of people from a variety of professional backgrounds.

In particular, the Kati Kati camp was a great way to form meaningful bonds with the group. Something about having no internet and staying in tents in such a serene place really brings people together. Every morning we had a huge breakfast spread to feast on, and we all sat and chatted about what we were enjoying. After long days out in the park, we would come home for a similar dinner. Having the ability to disconnect and get to know one another made for an unforgettable experience.

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What would you tell prospective students interested in learning more about international travel opportunities available for Full-Time Booth students?

Mariela: International travel at Booth has been the highlight of my MBA experience – the bonds you build and relationships you form during trips are unlike any other! Being able to visit my classmates’ countries with them, sharing their experiences and their backgrounds, has strengthened my ability to connect with others and understand the world better. If your schedule allows, I would definitely recommend going on at least one trip with other students during your MBA experience.

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Bhargavi: I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for all of the treks that are being organized! There are so many constantly being organized and a lot of it is based on student interest, so you never know what might pop up. I personally had NO idea that the Tanzania trek was happening. I decided to tag along because my best friend was doing it and I loved every single minute. Additionally, if you have a keen interest in seeing a particular international region and there isn’t a trek available – organize one! Booth is such a diverse community that you really can crowdsource so much information and there usually tend to be other people who have similar traveling goals, so it’s easy to do all of the international travel you want.

Interested in learning more about trek opportunities available to students at Chicago Booth? We encourage you to peruse more student trek stories and visit our website to learn more.

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