Tanzania is a prime example of what most people expect of Africa. The endless wilderness of the national parks with wild animals roaming their natural surroundings, the colorful Maasai people, and mountaintops from where you can spot the end of the world. Although these endless landscapes and wild animals are a reality, there is so much more to experience and discover when you volunteer in Tanzania. Another reality is that local communities need your support. Volunteer for education, women empowerment, or healthcare and make a meaningful difference while you volunteer and travel.

Besides being the safari destination, home to the Mount Kilimanjaro, and idyllic beaches, Tanzania also offers plenty of volunteer opportunities. Here a few interesting facts about Tanzania that may inspire you to pack your bags and volunteer abroad in Tanzania:

• Mount Kilimanjaro has almost every type of ecosystem: This includes cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic summit.
• The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the oldest ecosystems on the planet and has barely changed in 1 million years.
• Zanzibar has its own leopard population, the Zanzibar Leopard, and is endemic to the island. It’s assumed to be extinct or very nearly so.
• Tanzania plays a vital role in helping us understand our own evolution. The earliest human skull in the world, dating back 2 million years, was discovered in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania by the famous archaeologist, Dr. Leakey.

There are plenty of advantages to being a volunteer rather than a tourist in Tanzania. There is no better way to get to know the culture and the people of a country than to become part of its society and offer a helping hand.

Whether you’re doing a medical mission trip, joining a women empowerment project, or building houses, your contribution counts. Benefit from exceptional encounters with locals and other volunteers and experience Tanzania as an insider.

If you’re excited about volunteering in Tanzania but don’t know where to volunteer yet, the following overview will uncover everything about the different volunteer opportunities in Tanzania. Our live chat team is also by your side to help you find the right volunteer abroad opportunity for you.

🩺 How to do a Medical Mission Trip in Tanzania

Medical volunteers in Tanzania are always welcomed with open arms. Whether you’re a medical student or want to do volunteer nursing in Tanzania, there are plenty of healthcare projects that need extra support. Especially in rural areas! Volunteer for a medical mission trip and support local doctors and hospitals facing problems like:

• outdated equipment
• medication shortages
• insufficient staff
• growing numbers of patients

Usual tasks in a healthcare volunteer job depend on the knowledge of the volunteers. As a medical volunteer in Tanzania, you will:

• help local nurses on their rounds,
• hand out medication
• work in the maternity ward
• work in the psychotherapy department
• Give hygiene and illness prevention talks in local community centers or schools as part of health education and medical outreach program.

A medical mission trip is a perfect way to gain practical experience and do something for the community. Medical volunteers who are studying healthcare can gain university credits during their volunteer experience. You may need to check with your university what the requirements are.

🦒 How to Volunteer with Animals in Tanzania

Tanzania is home to spectacular wildlife and safaris but most volunteer programs with animals focus on helping street animals.

All social or community service programs will offer volunteers the opportunity to do a safari and admire Tanzania’s wildlife during your free time. No better way to unwind from the hard work.

Wildlife conservation volunteering in Tanzania will undoubtedly draw passionate divers. Volunteer for marine conservation and help protect the waters and it’s precious marine life.

🐕 How to Volunteer with Street Animals in Tanzania

Volunteer in Arusha and rescue street dogs. Care for the dogs and cats at the shelter by:

• Walking the dogs
• Feeding the animals in the shelter
• Giving them the attention they need
• Increasing awareness around the importance of vaccinations, spaying, and neutering
• Helping the local community understand what they can do to protect their pets and decrease the number of street animals roaming the streets.

This is also a great opportunity for volunteers who are studying to be a veterinary. Gain hands-on experience and learn what it’s like to work at a shelter.

Volunteering with street animals will take you to Arusha, one of the larger cities in the North East of Tanzania.

🐬 How to Volunteer for Marine Life Conservation in Tanzania

Tanzania's coast is home to some of the most spectacular diving sites in the world. Its waters are home to plenty of marine wildlife such as:

• dolphins
• whale sharks
• sea turtles
• humpback whales

This diver’s paradise is facing many threats and needs the help of passionate volunteers. Unsustainable fishing methods and pollution are just a few of the threats to these animals and their habitat.

Volunteers in marine conservation projects will help with:

• the research and mapping of the different coastal areas
• exploring the mangroves, seagrass beds, and stunning coral reefs
• observing hundreds of colorful fish and seahorses
• scuba diving, snorkeling,
• educating locals and raising awareness

These tasks among many others will be on your list as a conservation volunteer in Tanzania. If you are looking for interesting volunteer experience and you’re a passionate diver, look no further!

👩🏽‍🏫 How to Teach in Tanzania

Education is one of the most meaningful ways to contribute to a community and one of the best ways to increase their future opportunities. There are many teaching programs in Tanzania because schools are understaffed and resources are limited.

Volunteer in Tanzania at a school and support the local teachers. Brighten up the days for students in Arusha, Moshi, or Zanzibar and take this chance to explore your surroundings.

Depending on your own strengths and interests, you can educate children in different subjects. Primary school teachers are always in demand but you can also focus on teaching subjects you’re particularly interested in, like:

• English teaching
• Business and financials
• IT skills
• Mathematics
• Sports

Create after-school classes for children and engage them is enriching games. These activities are a great way to teach children team skills, fairness, and deal with conflict. It also gives them a fun activity and a safe place to be in their free time. This is so valuable, especially in critical neighborhoods and poor areas.

👨🏽‍🏫 How to Teach English in Tanzania

Joining an English teaching project is a great chance for volunteers who want to become teachers and are looking for experience in teaching English abroad. English skills can greatly impact someone’s future because it will offer more job opportunities. Volunteer at a school in Tanzania and get ready to transform lives!

👩🏾‍🤝‍👩🏻 How to Support Community Programs in Tanzania

There are many different ways to be active in community development as a volunteer in Tanzania. Many NGO volunteer jobs in Tanzania need helping hands.

Community centers in remote villages support schools, families, and elderly people where needed. If you enjoy juggling various tasks during your volunteer program in Tanzania, this might be the right project for you. Here are some examples of tasks:

• Helping out in local schools
• Caring for younger children whilst their parents are at work
• Visiting families at home
• Planning and maintaining communal areas like vegetable gardens or playgrounds
• Setting up after-school programs or educational activities for adults

Do you like volunteering with people and are you a strong communicator? Use these skills to lead environmental awareness workshops abroad. They help educate locals on sustainability, recycling, and renewable energy which are fairly new techniques in many parts of Africa.

🔨 How to Volunteer for Construction Programs

Construction programs are great if you like physical work where you see the outcome of your effort straight away. Building homes or renovating local schools for the community is a great way to contribute and provide locals with a better future.

💪🏽 How to Volunteer for Women Empowerment

Even though the perception is slowly starting to change, women in Tanzania and in many other parts of Africa are not considered equal to men. They don’t have free will and depend on male relatives like fathers and brothers or husbands. They’re generally not allowed to inherit and are more affected by poverty than men.

These circumstances lead to many homeless girls and women who do not have any support from families and are exposed to violence, abuse, and human trafficking. Many of them are forced into crime or prostitution because they lack education and have no means to improve their situation.

There are a variety of tasks in women empowerment projects. If you don’t think you are equipped to work one on one with the women, you could help out with other things like:

• raising funds for the projects
• caring for the women's young children while they work or study
• giving business or English classes
• teaching basic skills like cooking and sewing
• working in the kitchen of women and girls shelter's

If you want to help disadvantaged women, then a volunteer job in a women empowerment project is a great idea. Please be aware that most of these women have been victims of inhuman treatment, have been drug addicts, or experienced other traumas.

Working on these projects as a counselor, social worker, or therapist is definitely not for everybody. Experience in working with vulnerable and traumatized people is necessary in some cases.

Please note that most women empowerment projects abroad ONLY accept female volunteers to make sure that the women feel safe and at ease and trust the people around them. As a volunteer in Tanzania, some shelters will also ask you to sign codes of conduct and confidentiality to protect their clients.

Tanzania is a large country. Because most volunteer projects are centered around community work, you’ll most likely be volunteering in one of the major cities. Dar Es Salaam, the previous capital, Moshi, and Arusha are the main destinations.

Volunteer in Dar Es Salaam

What used to be a fishing village is now a metropolis by the coast and one of East Africa’s busiest coasts. Volunteer opportunities in Dar Es Salaam focus on education and healthcare. Volunteers who are eager to teach or those who have a medical background will find plenty to do in this former capital of Tanzania.

Volunteer in Moshi

Situated close to the Kenyan border and also known as the gateway to Kilimanjaro national park, Moshi is also one of Tanzania’s coffee hubs. Volunteer and support a plethora of volunteer opportunities in Moshi, Tanzania. From educational projects, community work, and medical volunteer jobs to environmental conservation efforts. Choose one of the volunteer categories and get ready for your volunteer adventure abroad!

Volunteer in Arusha

Arusha is a hotspot for volunteering. Volunteer in Arusha Tanzania and help the local community. Whether it’s in the medical field or as a teacher, your help is absolutely necessary. Arusha is a large city in the North East of Tanzania but also the gateway to Tanzania’s national parks and safaris - excellent for a weekend getaway!

The suggested daily budget for volunteers in Tanzania is between US$ 20 and US$ 30. This is an estimate made considering the average price of some of the goods and services you may need during your time abroad. It gives you a general overview of how much things cost so you can prepare and save the money you’ll need.

You will need a Visa or MasterCard for accessing money from ATMs and paying entry fees at national parks. For hotel payment, credit cards are usually not accepted or are charged with high fees.

Additional costs you should consider as a volunteer in Tanzania:

• program fees
• flight tickets (find cheap flights to Tanzania)
• travel insurance (we recommend World Nomads)
• fees for your visa
• personal expenses

This is an overview of living costs in Tanzania (in US$, for one person):

💲 Can I Volunteer in Tanzania for Free?

Most volunteer programs require a fee to be paid to cover your accommodation and in some cases, to support the organization. Tanzania has some budget-friendly volunteer opportunities. You can easily search for volunteer programs within your budget by using the budget filter.

If you experience any difficulties, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our live chat team. We are very happy to help you find the right volunteer opportunity!

Traveling abroad always requires some preparation. The following tips may be good to know:

Culture and Religion

When volunteering abroad in a foreign country, it is important to understand a little about the culture. The following facts about Tanzania might be helpful for you:

• Home to over 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, Tanzania is an inherently peaceful place that embraces its multicultural heritage.
• It is estimated that a third of the population each follows Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions.
• In Zanzibar, 99% of the population is Muslim. You may want to keep this in mind when traveling there.

🦺 Is it Safe to Volunteer in Tanzania?

The safety standards in Tanzania and in Africa, in general, differ a lot from western countries. Be sure to follow these tips and keep safe:

• Walk as far from the road as possible and walk toward traffic. Most bag snatching happens by passing cars or motorbikes.
• Don’t carry large amounts of money with you if you don’t have to. Leave important documents, cash, and jewelry in the hotel safe.
• Make sure you only travel with licensed taxis and be mindful of whether your transportation seems safe.

Health Advice

To minimize the risk of falling ill while volunteering abroad, take into account the following health advice:

• Make sure that your routine vaccinations of MMR, Diphtheria- Tetanus-Pertussis, Chickenpox, and Polio are valid.
• Other recommended vaccinations for travelers, according to CDC, are against Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Yellow Fever. Discuss with your doctor which vaccinations make sense for you.
• Inform yourself about the medical care on-site and make sure you have health insurance.
• Use insect repellent and cover your skin to prevent mosquito bites. Zika, Malaria, and Yellow Fever are health risks in Tanzania.
• When traveling to national parks and remote areas, only use official sites for camping because emergency access and evacuation can be difficult.
• When hiking or climbing, make sure you’re well equipped and prepared for low temperatures. The extreme altitude on Mount Kilimanjaro can cause altitude sickness.

Packing Essentials

Depending on what kind of volunteer work you will do, you should adjust your packing list accordingly. Here are some essentials you should definitely bring with you:

• Bring a copy of your passport and all important documents and carry them with you instead of the originals.
• Make sure to pack sun protection, a sun hat, and strong insect repellent.
• If you are planning on working outdoors or trekking in your free time, bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring any medical supplements you may need.

All projects abroad expect different skills from their international volunteers. While you can find the specific requirements for each project on their program page, here are some general requirements that apply to most volunteer opportunities in Tanzania:

• You need to be at least 18 years old for most of the volunteer projects, especially when working with children. Some projects will accept volunteers from the age of 16 but you need to get in touch with the project coordinator to confirm this.
• You need to have basic English skills to do volunteer work in Tanzania. Volunteers working at a teaching project may even need advanced English skills.
• Depending on the project, you may need to provide a criminal background check and a health declaration in order to volunteer abroad.

The following information is based on a best practice approach, which has been made in cooperation with several volunteer organizations. Be sure to discuss your visa requirements with your project coordinator at Volunteer World. If in doubt, we also recommend getting in touch with the embassy or consulate of Tanzania in your country.

General Immigration Information

There are some general requirements you need to comply with upon arrival in Tanzania:

• Please check the current validity of your passport. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Tanzania.
• Make sure your passport has at least two blank visa pages. Tanzania requires you to have adequate unused pages in your passport.
• Please check if a transit visa is required for any connections.
• You will need a valid return ticket.

Best Practice for Short-Term Volunteers

If you are planning to volunteer in Tanzania for 90 days or less, you can easily get a Visa on Arrival. As the name suggests, this visa can be obtained at the airport where you arrive and costs between US$ 50 and US$ 100. You should get in touch with your closest Embassy or Consulate of Tanzania to discuss whether or not you will need a work permit.

Best Practice for Long-Term Volunteers

If you are planning to volunteer in Tanzania for more than 90 days, you should also get the above-mentioned Visa on Arrival. Once in Tanzania, you will need to apply for a long-term Residence Permit “C“. You can apply for the permit at the Immigration Bureau in Dar Es Salaam or Arusha. Please note that you will need to factor in additional fees that change frequently. We advise you to inform yourself about the exact fees of the permit before starting your trip.

If you’ve always dreamt of volunteering in Africa, why not start in Tanzania? Home to Mount Kilimanjaro, endless national parks, and amazing wildlife. Volunteer in Tanzania and take this chance to discover its national treasures. Help Tanzania by dedicating some of your time to volunteering at one of the programs. Volunteer and travel to Tanzania and change someone else’s life too.