18.10.2026 - Visit to our oldest boy

Our oldest boy has been at boarding school since June and we took the opportunity to visit him there.

The school is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area at an altitude of over 2000 meters. We were lucky enough to experience the area on a beautiful day. However, on windy days it can look very dreary and get incredibly cold. On the way there we saw zebras and giraffes. Baboons blocked our path, and of course we also encountered many Maasai with their herds of cows, sheep and goats.

A school with many young people

The school currently has around 1,600 students, approximately 900 of whom are boys. They are cared for by just 25 teachers and 10 student teachers…

School starts at 4:00 AM! ⏰

Some classes are already in exam season. The government has moved the exams forward by about a month. To allow the students sufficient time to prepare, they now have to be in school as early as 4:00 a.m. To ensure fairness for everyone, the school administration has decided that all nearly 1,600 students will start school at 4:00 a.m.

I asked if there was at least a break where the young people could lie down or rest. But that was denied. The reason given: it was only another month, and the children would just have to make it through. Once again, I realize that something like this would be absolutely unthinkable in Switzerland!

We sincerely hope that our son continues to settle in well at boarding school, passes his exams successfully, and feels comfortable there. Below are some impressions from our visit: