21 Days Voluntourism in Zanzibar - including mainland safari, arts and music

 

The following volunteer options are available for this short-time stay:

 

• Public hospitals (Clinical elective, nursing, physiotherapy/occupational therapy, acupuncture, psychiatric hospital)
• Tropical farm
• St. Monica Kindergarten
• Uzi Island Kindergarten and Sea turtle sanctuary

 

It is possible to be at different organizations on the first and third week of volunteering.

 
Day 1
Pick-up from Zanzibar airport or seaport and transfer to your accommodation either with a host family or house shared with other foreign volunteers/interns.

Days 2-6

Volunteering at your organisation. On day 2 site orientation in Stone Town, the historic city centre of Zanzibar town.

 

Days 7-8
Transfer to Jambiani at the East Coast of Zanzibar. Jambiani is a relaxing location with wide open beaches. Accommodation at the Casa del Mar Hotel. In the late evening of day 8 return to Zanzibar town.

Day 9
The following three days you will stay in Zanzibar Town as the following activities are more easily reachable from there.

Day 9 starts with a visit of the Jozani Forest National Park which is famous for its endemic Red Colobus Monkeys. Besides some colonies of monkeys you can see the impressive plants and trees of this tropical rainforest and you can have a stroll through the mangrove area. After this, we will drive to the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre, East Africa’s largest covered space for butterflies, which is a project of sustainable tourism. As the butterflies only live for a few weeks, the centre is in constant need of new butterflies. These are being  breeded by the villagers of the nearby village Pete under the guidance of a biologist and being sold to the butterfly centre. Afterwards we will visit the handcraft project “MOTO” where we will first have lunch. Then we will see how a women’s cooperative is producing wickerwork and braided objects. They are also weaving Kikoi fabrics that they tint making use of solar technology. You can even try out everything yourself! In the late afternoon return to your accommodation. 

 

Tag 10

Full-day trip „Safari Blue“. From Fumba in the South of Zanzibar, on a dhow, the traditional sailing ship of the Indian Ocean, you will explore the natural wonders of Menau Bay. There will be a fruit snack on a sandbank, you can snorkel at a coral reef and swim in a lagoon. On an island there will be a beach barbecue with fish, lobster, chicken, vegetables and a tropical fruit tasting. You can also learn how to navigate a “Ngalawa”, the outrigger canoe of the local fishermen. In Menai Bay it is often possible to see dolphins. In the late afternoon we will sail back to Fumba. Alcoholic beverages are inclusive.
 
Day 11
Swahili Cooking session! In the morning you join a local housewife to the local market buying the ingredients she needs for lunch. Afterwards she will cook the dish with you at her house and will give you an introduction to the world of Swahili cooking. The Swahili cuisine combines African, Indian, Arabic and European influences. Late afternoon at leisure in Stone Town.

Day 12

In the early morning you will fly to Dar-es-Salaam. From there we will immediately proceed to Mikumi National Park for a one-day safari. The savanna landscape of Mikumi is often compared to the Serengeti. As there is a relatively high number of weekend visitors coming from Dar-es-Salaam, which is at a distance of around 280 km, the animals are accustomed to vehicles and are easy to spot. Animals to be seen include giraffes, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes and many other species. Two lakes are home to hippos and many waterfowls. In the late afternoon return to Dar-es-Salaam, accommodation at a guest house.

 

Day 13

The following day we will go by bus to the historical town of Bagamoyo which has been capital of „German-East Africa“ in the 19th century. Today, in Tanzania Bagamoyo is a synonym for arts, because the city is not only home to the renown “Bagamoyo Art College”, but also many of the college's graduates have stayed at the town opening their own art studios. We will visit several buildings from the city’s colonial past, some art galleries and the sculpture school. Accommodation at a guest house in Bagamoyo.

 

Day 14

From Bagamoyo, in the morning, we will drive back to Dar-es-Salaam, the busy megacity. In the afternoon we will visit a record studio where "Bongo Flava" sounds are being produced, the music which is popular all over East Africa. It is a kind of hip hop in Swahili language, which also includes influences of R'n'B, African melodies and reggae. A producer will explain us about the music which is popular in cities such as Dar, Kampala, Nairobi and Mombasa. At night, we will go out to a club where we can dance and appreciate the turntable skills of Dar's best Bongo Flava DJs. Overnight at a guest house in Dar-es-Salaam. 

 

Day 15

We will return to Zanzibar with the fast ferry.

 

Days 16-20

Volunteering at your organization.

 

Day 21

Last chance for some sun bathing on Prison Island. On the island you can see Giant Galapagos tortoises which have been brought there by seafarers some 200 years ago. On the island you can take a bath and do snorkeling. 

 
Day 22
Return transfer to Zanzibar airport or seaport.

 

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