SCHOOLGIRLS flew to Africa to meet members of a tribe — after befriending them on the internet.

Year 10 pupils from Bolton School spent two weeks in Tanzania, where they stayed with the Maasai tribe.

Links between the school and the tribes people were forged thanks to the wonders of modern technology — Skype, Vodafone, USB dongle and the Tanzanian mobile phone network.

This enabled the girls to talk directly to the members of the Maasai from their classroom as part of a project on the impact of tourism on the tribe’s way of life.

The link-up came about through the school’s connection with LivLife, a charity which has been set up by two old boys of the school, Max Griffiths and Sam Yates, to provide free education centres in villages of Tanzania.

The project aims to give children and adults the skills they need to help break away from poverty and live by their own culture.

It provides the country with help in English, French, computing, numeracy and literacy. Since forging the links through the internet, the girls have sent educational resources to help with the scheme.

While out “living”

with the tribe, the girls worked at the education centre, teaching children and playing games with them as well as helping to organise a sports day.

They spoke to the elders in the tribe and assisted with the building of a traditional Maasai hut.

They also spent one night as guests in a genuine Maasai Boma or settlement and also enjoyed a day-long safari and visit to a Maasai cultural museum.

Teachers said the trip allowed the girls to “fully immerse themselves” in African life and provided a “real” cultural exchange Year 10 pupil Scarlett Tankard admitted she did miss home but added: “I could equally have stayed out there forever.

It has honestly been the best trip of my life.”