The animal shelter was launched in 2013. The need for more adequate animal care and education of the population in and around Arusha is huge!
Some of the dogs are puppies, another large number (over 10 dogs) only have two legs, are paralyzed or have other special needs. The shelter consists of a cat kennel, four dog kennels and two quarantine kennels where injured dogs and/or newcomers receive care. In addition to the two German founders (Sandra and Jens), an animal keeper from Austria and three Tanzanian employees take care of the animals. Their plans for the future are to keep expanding by renting an additional site in order to continue providing care for even more dogs as well the ability to perform spaying and neutering in-house.
Besides caring, educating, playing and walking the dogs the creativity of the volunteers is not limited. You can become active in the area of marketing and fundraising. Sometimes there is an education program running in which interested participants can teach “animal welfare” in various schools in the area of the shelter. The organisation works together closely with the World Wide Veterinary Service and Mission Rabies and in irregular intervals vaccination and spaying and neutering campaigns are carried out, in which every helping hand is useful.
Volunteers do not need any prior experience, nevertheless basic English knowledge, openness and love of animals are required. In addition, you should not be afraid of dogs and dirt because for sure, you will become dirty!
IMPORTANT
The volunteers need to have a rabies vaccination.
The project requires a donation of 100USD for up to four weeks and 25USD for every additional week to support different expenses of the dog shelter like food, veterinary bills, staff etc.
Your work hours will be discussed individually.
You will start your day early by taking the public transport and a typically Tanzanian motobike taxi to the project's site, with a stunning view of Mt. Meru. Please note that the shelter is located approximately 30km from the volunteer house on the outskirts of Arusha National Park. All together the travel will take about an hour and a half one way. Due to the distance and transport costs (around €3 a day) it is possible to combine this project with another one. Then, after you arrive, you discuss with your supervisor the daily tasks.
You will check on the dogs/cats, look after the sick ones, take the dogs on their morning walk and play with all animals.
Depending on the days plan, you might escort dogs/cats to the veterinary in town, help with adoptions, do fundraising and marketing.
On some special days, usually weekends, a few times per year, the shelter conducts spay and neuter clinics as well as vaccination campaigns. During those days all helping hands are needed and you will be asked to support the work.
We offer a wide range of activities at affordable volunteer rates, such as:
1. Hiking/Walking tours to waterfalls, through forests and around a lake.
2. Swimming in paradise-like hot springs with a glimpse of the Mt. Kilimanjaro.
3. Cultural tours to Maasai markets and the possibility to visit different ethnic groups.
4. Coffee plantation tour to learn about the process from the bean to the finished product, including delicious tasting sessions!
5. Safaris to the National Parks of the Northern Circuit (Arusha NP, Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Conservation Area).
6. Climbing Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro.
7. FREE town tour for all our volunteers!
pre-arrival support through email, WhatsApp, telephone and video calls
advice and guidance about the projects
pick up at the airport or bus station on your arrival
drop off at the airport or a bus station when you leave
an orientation tour in Arusha personalized to your individual needs, including help buying a local sim card, guidance on how to use public transport and lunch
on the first day of your project our volunteer coordinator will come with you to show you which public transport to take, and make sure you settle in well at your project
50 Euro project donation*
Accommodation in our hostel
breakfast and dinner seven days a week (lunch is included in some projects – see the project description for more information)
24/7 support from our volunteer coordinators who speak English and German
*We donate a quarter of the registration fee to our Viva Tanzania Volunteer’s fund. This fund is used to help the projects we work with when they have extra expenses they cannot afford. For example, medical and veterinary costs, utility bills, salaries and paint, etc.
THIS DONATION IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE PROGRAM FEE.
Accomondation
Our hostel where volunteers, interns
and travelers stay together is located in Arusha close to the city
center. It takes 25 minutes to walk to the city center. To get to the
city quickly, there are motorcycle cabs and dala dalas (minibuses)
everywhere.
In our hostel we have enough space to relax, a pool, a
roof terrace with bar, a shop with products from our projects and a
small spa.
A wall more than two meters high and our night watchmen
ensure a safe stay.
In our hostel we have 6 and 4 person dormitories as well as double and single rooms. Each room has its own bathroom with hot shower. There are closets in the room, in addition, each guest has a safe that can be secured with a lock. The rooms are separated by gender. Single and double rooms are available for a surcharge of 50 Euro per person per week.
Board
Our cook prepares vegetables, fruit, pancakes and daily changing breakfast highlights. Tea, coffee, margarine, honey, peanut butter, jam are also available.
For dinner there are different dishes from Tanzanian and Western cuisine. If you are vegetarian, vegan or have allergies/intolerances, it is no problem at all.
If you would like to buy food, there is a refrigerator and shelves where you can store your groceries.
Animal Shelter Supporter
This shelter for cats and dogs was established in order to meet the great need of more adequate animal care & education of the population.
$268/week
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