Be adventurous and make a positive change in the lives of others! As a volunteer in Tanzania, you will undoubtedly have the experience of a lifetime. Tanzania graces visitors with spectacular landscapes and national parks bursting with wildlife. Volunteers can hike Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, relax on the beaches of Zanzibar and take a trip to the Serengeti, where lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, elephants and much more roam in stunning savannas. Regardless of your personal interests, Tanzania has an abundance of activities and attractions to offer you.
As a volunteer in Tanzania, you can enjoy a beautiful country while making a difference in the lives of others. Rustic Volunteer has exciting arrays of volunteer programs for our volunteers to choose from. You can enrich the lives of Tanzanians by providing care to orphans, teaching English, preventing HIV/AIDS, improving local healthcare or working for women's empowerment. Rustic Volunteer is currently partnering with local organizations, municipalities, schools, orphanages and clinics in Moshi and Arusha.
Our programs are meaningful and rewarding and will be a significant experience both for you and for those you help! Email Us NOW! We will be happy to send you more information about our programs in Tanzania. Your time will be undoubtedly well spent as you create forever lasting memories.
Very Important Notice: Residency Permit required to work in Volunteer Projects in Tanzania
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Fees and Dates
Start Dates:
All volunteer programs start on the first and third Monday of each month.
If you are tired of expensive volunteer programs but want to make a positive contribution in the world, look no further! Rustic is dedicated to offering high quality, well-organized and meaningful programs at the most affordable price in the United States. We work hard to keep costs as low as possible, focusing on the effectiveness of our projects, the safety of our volunteers and the quality of participant experiences. We currently offer the most competitive price possible in today's market including an application fee (of $299) AND a small weekly fee as follows:
| Duration |
All Projects |
HIV |
Medical |
| 1 Week |
$175 |
$225 |
$425 |
| 2 Weeks |
$300 |
$400 |
$550 |
| 3 Weeks |
$425 |
$575 |
$675 |
| 4 Weeks |
$550 |
$750 |
$800 |
| 5 Weeks |
$675 |
$925 |
$925 |
| 6 Weeks |
$800 |
$1,100 |
$1,050 |
| 7 Weeks |
$925 |
$1,275 |
$1,175 |
| 8 Weeks |
$1,050 |
$1,450 |
$1,300 |
| 9 Weeks |
$1,175 |
$1,625 |
$1,425 |
| 10 Weeks |
$1,300 |
$1,800 |
$1,550 |
| 11 Weeks |
$1,425 |
$1,975 |
$1,675 |
| 12 Weeks |
$1,550 |
$2,150 |
$1,800 |
Mandatory Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day
Please apply for volunteers visa since volunteers are not allowed to use tourist visa to work as a volunteer,
Program Fees Cover
- Accommodation (volunteer house)
- Food (local food 3 times a day)
- Program Orientation
- In-country support
- Personalized project
- Pre-departure information
- Certificate of completion
- Fundraising ideas and letters
- Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude
- Volunteers visa fee $250. Pleases see volunteers visa requirement in Tanzania http://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/?page_id=76
- Airfare
- Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
- Daily transportation
- Airport return transfer
C permit can be received upon arrival.
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Volunteer Programs in Tanzania
Work in Orphanage (Moshi)
Due to poverty and disease, especially HIV/AIDS, thousands of children have become orphans in Tanzania. The country is one of the poorest in Africa and orphanages lack the resources and staff necessary to adequately care for the increasing number of destitute children. Sadly, many children end up on the street and begin to engage in crime at a very young age. Orphanages receive little government assistance and many have to rely on donations from abroad. Rustic Volunteer is partnering with local orphanages by sending volunteers to help provide food, shelter, education and love. Through our volunteers, Tanzanian orphanages can stay afloat and properly raise these children, provide proper education and help them lead decent lives. Volunteer in the orphanage project in Tanzania and provide orphans with love while teaching them the needed skills for a productive future. This is a humanitarian project that will not only benefit and enrich the lives of orphans, but also your own.
Project/Volunteer's Life
As a volunteer/traveler in Tanzania working in an orphanage, responsibilities will vary depending on individual skills and interests and the needs of the orphanage, but may include:
- Tutoring (mostly teaching English, but may include other subjects such as math, science, health, etc.)
- Helping home-schooled children in the orphanage
- Assisting/educating children in areas of personal hygiene (i.e. brushing, flossing their teeth)
- In the afternoons/evenings, organizing activities, games, sing-a-longs and dances as well as other creativity-based activities to teach the children
- Helping children with homework
- Observing academic progress
- Playing with children
- Helping orphanage staff with administrative tasks
- Cleaning and helping children with daily chores
- Helping to maintain orphanage garden
- Cooking and helping local staff during meal times
- Assisting local staff with fundraising and grant proposals
Skills and Qualification
There are no specific skills or qualifications needed to volunteer in the orphanage project in Tanzania. Volunteers are expected to be passionate about working with children. You should also be flexible and open minded.
Teaching English (Moshi)
English is one of the two national languages of Tanzania since it was formerly a British colony. In recent years with the growth of international trade and tourism, English has gained even more prominence. As the result, it has become very important for young Tanzanians to learn English for a more prosperous future and successful career. Unfortunately, many Tanzanians attend schools which lack funding, resources and qualified teachers. This results in young children not being able to learn English effectively. Rustic Volunteer is attempting to help schools and children by sending fluent English-speaking volunteers to teach English. Volunteer teaching English in Tanzania and help ordinary Tanzanians have better futures. You can truly make a difference in the lives of your students, opening doors for them personally and professionally.
School will remain closed in Tanzania in June and December. The project is not available then but volunteers can enroll in other children projects.
Project/Volunteer's Life
As a volunteer teaching English in Tanzania, you will work 2-3 hours a day (six days a week) at the primary, secondary and or high school level. Volunteers work mostly as an assistant to the main English teacher. In Tanzania, most schools have at least one permanent English teacher and a set curriculum. Daily activities may include:
- Teaching basic English to the children
- Teaching other subjects such as math or science
- Playing with the children
- Organizing extracurricular activities such as music, dancing, sports, art, games, etc.
- Teaching life skills such as painting, sewing, cooking, etc
- Promoting nutrition and health
- Helping to fundraise for schools
- Working on curriculum development
- Assisting school administrations with daily tasks
- Helping with basic maintenance of schools
- Aiding local school staff in any way possible
Most Tanzanian schools are closed in between semesters, during midterm evaluations, during new enrolment and on public and national holidays.
- June 15th - July 27th (End of first semester and start of second semester)
- Sep 19th - Oct 10th (Midterm evaluation)
- Dec 15th - Jan 1st - (New enrolment)
- President Day
*Dates may change
Skills and Qualification
There are no specific skills or requirements necessary to volunteer teaching English in Tanzania. You do not need previous teaching experience or a degree in teaching to enroll in the project. However, you should be a fluent English speaker (if you’re not a native English speaker) and be flexible, as working in Tanzania will be very different from working back home.
HIV/AIDS Project (Moshi)
Tanzania, like many African countries, has not escaped the devastation of HIV/AIDS. The government has spent money and started campaigns to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, but the rate of infection continues to rise and thousands continue to perish. Illiteracy, poverty and malnutrition compound the misery and halt any attempt at stopping the rate of infection. However, many local organizations are now applying a new holistic measure to terminate the relentless advance of the disease. Rustic Volunteer has partnered with some of these local efforts and are offering volunteers a chance to contribute to this noble and effective way of eradicating HIV/AIDS from Tanzania. We invite you to volunteer in the HIV/AIDS project in Tanzania to be a part of something important, meaningful and rewarding. You will work alongside local staff on a variety of projects such as counseling, caring for the patients and promoting campaigns to raise awareness. Join the campaign and help Tanzania prevent the disease, care for those who are already affected and educate communities.
Project/Volunteer's Life
As a volunteer in the HIV/AIDS project in Tanzania, your responsibilities will vary with your education, skills, experience and qualifications. While partnering with local clinics and organizations, daily volunteer activities may include:
- Counseling
- Promoting support groups
- Helping with the feeding program (if the center has one)
- Visiting patients and their families
- Participating in public awareness
- Teaching patients about health, nutrition and sanitation
- Keeping records of patients
- Providing educational trainings to increase and generate awareness on HIV/AIDS and stop it from spreading
- Assisting organizations establish various community outreach programs
- Fundraising
- Helping local organizations and clinics with administrative tasks
- Teaching English, business skills and life-skills to affected families
Skills and Qualification
There are no specific skills or qualifications needed to join the HIV/AIDS awareness project. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible, patient and have passion and love for people. You should also be open-minded and flexible during the project.
Tanzania Health Project (Moshi)
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a majority of the population living without adequate healthcare, sanitation and other facilities that people in the Western world take for granted. Tanzania does not have sound primary healthcare and the doctor to patient ratio is one of the lowest in the world. The poor are suffering the most, as private clinics cater exclusively to the rich and government run hospitals and clinics offer substandard treatment and care. To help low-income Tanzanians, Rustic Volunteer has collaborated with local initiatives and invites you to volunteer in the health/medical project in Tanzania. Participating in the healthcare project opens tremendous opportunities for volunteers to experience new opportunities in their lives and careers. You have the opportunity to immerse yourself into another culture, increase the quality of life for Tanzanians and provide a positive contribution to poor communities.
Project/Volunteer's Life
Each volunteer in Tanzania working in the community health/medical project will have varying responsibilities and tasks and volunteer projects will depend on one’s qualifications and certifications as a medical professional. Duties may include:
- Helping with routine check-ups
- Assisting in the lab
- Helping patients with physical therapy
- Working in rehabilitation centers
- Providing basic first aid and care
- Shadowing health workers, therapists, nurses or doctors
- Working with organization administrations
- Helping in the pharmacy
- Recording patient details
- Measuring vital signs such as blood pressure, height, weight
- Distributing medicines
- Assisting with medical procedures
- Helping incoming patients
- Performing and assist in the in-day emergency room
- Partnering with local doctors
- Qualified doctors can diagnose and treat patients
Skills and Qualification
A certification or an ID stating you’re a medical professional must be furnished prior to volunteering as this is strictly a volunteer project for medical professionals. Medical students can also participate by producing an ID or a letter stating they are in the process of acquiring a medical degree. If you are flexible while volunteering and remain open minded about most things, you’ll have a highly successful time.
Women's Empowerment Project (Moshi)
Tourists from all parts of the world travel from thousands of miles to witness the Masai culture and their heritage. They pay large sums of money for the journey and are fascinated with how the Masai tribe is still living. Unfortunately, the Masai tribe is economically very weak and has not seen the benefits of tourism. The women in the tribe have especially suffered. Rustic Volunteer is partnering with a local NGO so that the Masai women are now taught to read, write and market their traditional products like beads, clothes and handicrafts. Rustic Volunteer invites you to volunteer in the women’s empowerment project in Tanzania and contribute to the enrichment of the lives of Masai women. It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with a unique tribe. Don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime and enroll now.
Project/Volunteer's Life
Most Masai women are uneducated, lack direction and do not know the finer skills of marketing their own products. As a volunteer in the women’s empowerment project in Tanzania, your responsibilities will vary with your education, skills, experience and qualifications. While partnering with local organizations, daily volunteer activities may include:
- If you know some arts and techniques to make handicrafts and other materials, teaching the Masai women
- Learning about their art
- Teaching the women English
- Teaching them techniques to set up their own shops and sell their products
- Assisting the women with marketing, networking and promotions
- Running English language classes for Masai children and youth
- Teaching basic business skills
- Helping organizations and women’s groups with administrative and organizational tasks
- Fundraising
- Helping the organization with tourism and guided tours
- Promoting women’s health and sanitation
Skills and Qualification
No specific skills or qualifications are required to join this project. However, volunteers must have enthusiasm to change the lives of Masai women for the better. You must also be patient, flexible and open-minded, as working conditions and people’s mentality in Tanzania will vary from what you’re used to back home.
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Meals/Accommodations
Rustic Volunteer arranges volunteer meals, accommodations and strong field supervision for the duration of projects and optional travel packages. In Tanzania, most volunteers stay in our home base, a permanent home established for our volunteers in Moshi/Arusha located about 30km from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Our home base in Tanzania is located in a very safe and clean neighborhood. There are internet cafés, restaurants, local bus stations, a police station and supermarkets near our home base. The home base provides a comfortable place to relax after a long day. There are several bedrooms (which may be shared with a same-gender volunteer) and community areas. There is a shared kitchen, television and shared bathrooms, which have running water and "western-style" toilets.
Depending on the influx of volunteers, accommodations could be with a host family or a hostel. Host family accommodations are simple and clean homes in safe neighborhoods. Volunteers usually have a private bedroom, but occasionally rooms will be shared with a same-gender volunteer. Our host families are well screened and are respected members of their communities who live in affluent neighborhoods. Most of our host families have experience with hosting international volunteers. Host family stays are a great chance for cultural immersion and exchange. Hostels are located in safe and secure neighborhoods and are chosen for their proximity to projects.
Volunteers receive three local meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We can provide vegetarian meal options, but needs must be detailed in a volunteer's application. Snacks and beverages outside of mealtimes are not provided; however, there are local restaurants and grocery stores near the residences in which we place volunteers.
Rustic offers unparalleled field support to volunteers to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. There are many layers of support for you. The most important support comes from our country coordinator/field staff. The secondary support comes from the host project staff and members of host families and/or a home base staff. Volunteers will have access to our country coordinator's mobile number and they are available 24/7. Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. Our field staff will visit regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to make sure things are going well and as planned. However, if placement is far from our local offices, staff members will stay in touch via email/ phone. Volunteers are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time.
Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation prior to arrival.
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Project Locations:
Orphanage projects are available in Moshi (home to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park) and Arusha (close to Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro and Great Rift Valley). Tanzania is renowned for its beautiful natural landscapes and its fused African culture with more than 120 different ethnic groups. Tanzania is full of distinction from it rural traditional culture and history to its modern infrastructure and amenities you would expect from any city.
Major FAQs - Tanzania
- Application Process
Please read Rustic Volunteer's 5-step application
- There are two options for applying to volunteer/travel in Tanzania through our program. You can apply online or you can download the application form, fill it out and mail it in to us. You will need to submit your application with a $200 application fee. Without the fee, your application won't be considered valid.
- Once we get your application, we will immediately send it to Tanzania for processing. Our country coordinator will go over your application carefully and find the best project possible for you. The decisions for room and food will also be made at this time. Your accommodation and meal depends on the location of the project. Vast majority of our volunteers will stay in full immersion home stays, though some orphanage projects are residential.
- Once we get the details of your placements, we pass it on to you with a final invoice. Your final payment is due six weeks before your start date, and in expedited cases, as soon as possible. The placement details have local contact information that you can use to fill up contact information on your Visa application.
- Preparation for trips should include reading about Tanzania, immunizations, the required travel visa (entry permit) and booking airfare. If you face any problems our country coordinator will always be available for assistance.
- Arrival Information
Arrival Point:
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Airport Pick-up
Upon the receipt of your flight information, our in-country coordinator or other project staff will greet the volunteers in the airport and take you to your orientation and project site. The address and telephone number of the local contact hotel will be given before departure just in case volunteers miss our representative in the airport. Please make sure to e-mail your flight information to both the USA office and the local in-country coordinator's office.
Departure Point:
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Airport Drop:
Rarely, a few do request an escort back to the airport; this is an extra expense of about $75. Most are very familiar and comfortable with their stay and have great ease taking their own taxi or bus back to the airport.
Internal Transportation:
Rustic Volunteer manages one-way transportation to project. Volunteers will be responsible for their own personal and return travel. We do not cover daily transportation from host family/hotel to the project. Our program is designed to save you the volunteer as much as possible.
Start Dates:
1st and 3rd Monday of each month
Arrival Before Start Date:
Rustic Volunteers coming to Tanzania are advised to arrive one day before their program start date. If you arrive more than one day early or stay after the program, you will be responsible for your room and food expenses.
Working Hours:
30- 40 hours per week
Once you have purchased your ticket, please send your flight information to our US office by fax or by email. Your flight information will be forwarded to the Tanzania, where our country coordinator will arrange an airport pickup for you.
- Visa
Rustic strongly suggests that all volunteers apply for a tourist visa in a timely manner before departing for Tanzania. Please call our office or contact the local Tanzania embassy to learn more about visas, visa fees and visa extensions. Getting your tourist visa is your responsibility.
- Health & Safety
Being informed is your first defense against disease and safety risks. We recommend visiting some of the following websites for health and safety information:
- Vaccination
Rustic Volunteer closely follows the Center for Disease Control's traveler's health recommendations ( www.cdc.gov ). Discuss your travel plans and personal health with your health-care provider to determine which vaccines are necessary.
The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to East Africa - including Tanzania
The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to Thailand. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.
- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
- Hepatitis B , especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
- Malaria: your risk of malaria may be high in all countries in East Africa, including cities. See your health care provider for a prescription anti-malarial drug. For details concerning risk and preventive medications, see Malaria Information for Travelers to East Africa.
- Meningococcal (meningitis) if you plan to visit countries in this region that experience epidemics of meningococcal disease during December through June, (see Map 4-9 on the Meningococcal Disease page ).
- Rabies: pre-exposure vaccination if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as camping, hiking, bicycling or engaging in certain occupational activities.
- Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors
- As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria,measles , and a one-time dose of the polio vaccine for adults.
Required Vaccinations
- A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain countries in East Africa. For detailed information, see Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements and Information on Malaria Risk and Prophylaxis, by Country. Also, find the nearest authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccine center.
- Money Matter
You might need $5-20 per day for your personal expenses like water or soft drinks, taxis and shopping. The best way is to carry a debit card, as ATM machines are available in Dar Es Salam, Moshi and Arusha (in airport and major hotels) where you can withdraw local currency. Another alternative is traveler's checks which are secure and can be cashed in local banks during business hours.
In Tanzania, people from the Western world are considered rich, no matter your true circumstances. This will make you a target for pick pockets and scam artists ('fly catchers'). Volunteers are required to be smart about their money matters when traveling around Tanzania. Please be advised to pay attention to these suggestions.
The local currency is the Thai Baht. You can change your money upon arrival to Bangkok International Airport (BKK). There are many bank counters at the airport. We suggest you change $400 in the beginning as you can change money in any bank (some banks are near to our office).
- Avoid external money pouches, dangling backpacks and camera bags
- Limit jewelry
- Don't flash money or your wallet
- Travel in pairs or groups to the ATM
- Remain aware of the exchange rate and cost of items
- Take requests for 'donations' with a grain of salt
- Store money in a secure, well-hidden place or safe
- Carry money in different pockets and places
Budget
You can get by with $15 a day provided you don't spend much. Accommodation and meal during your project comes with the program fee but if you want to explore Tanzania and shop, budget accordingly.
- Field Support and Supervision
How does Rustic Volunteer help me when I am in the field? How can I maintain communication? Does Rustic Volunteer visit volunteers?
Once the volunteer program starts, our local staff will stay in touch with volunteers. In Tanzania, our projects are approximately 10-25 km from our office (and usually located in rural settings).
Our coordinators stay in touch with volunteers via personal visits, telephone calls or emails. The director of each project will serve as the participants' immediate supervisor. Rustic Volunteer's Tanzania coordinator has a mobile phone so volunteers are able to reach him with questions and concerns.
- Communication
How do I communicate with my family? Is there internet?
Internet Cafes are widely-available in most areas of Moshi and Arusha. These services and the costs associated are the responsibility of the volunteers. You won't have to pay more than $1-2 per hour for the internet service.
You can bring your mobile phone with you and insert local sim-card in your phone. You'll then be able to receive phone calls from anywhere in the world. Make sure your phone is compatible beforehand.
- Climate of Tanzania
Tanzania is hot almost year round due to its proximity to the equator. You will experience milder weather from July to September. Arusha has a sub-tropical climate and you'll surprisingly experience cooler weather in Moshi.
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- Materials to Bring
- Camera
- Mobile phone (you can use mobile phones after changing sim cards)
- Sleeping bag
- Mosquito repellents
- Insect repellents
- Sunscreen
- Some books of Tanzania
- Map of Tanzania
- Toiletries
- First-aid kits
- Flash light
- Electricity adapter/converter
- Sunglasses
- Walking shoes (for work and travel)
- Towel
- Gift for Host Family and Project
It is a common courtesy to bring a small gift for the staff that will be hosting you. You are not required to do so, but if you choose to bring something it can be pretty simple. We suggest a box of chocolates, a t-shirt with a hometown/country logo, or pictures of your family and local post cards.
If you want to bring gifts for your project and if you are working for an orphanage or a school, please bring pencils, pens and paper, art supplies like markers and construction paper pads, as well as games for the children to enjoy. Remember that every child will need these items so you may wish to bring enough for a number of children.
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