Football (Soccer) and Athletics Coach in Zanzibar

In Zanzibar, you can be a volunteer football (soccer) coach or track and field athletics coach. You don't have to be a professional trainer, but you should have good knowledge in the particular sport you want to train.

Football (soccer) coach in Zanzibar

The organization "Zanzibar Football Standard and Talents Advancement“ has set itself the goal to discover football talent and to promote and bring football in the island to a higher level. In addition, it aims to offer meaningful and healthy recreational activities to children and young people through football, to keep them away from the dangers of drug abuse or crime.

Work is organised through 15 local volunteers who regularly scout for talent on the island, watching games that are held in various locations. Currently, 45 talents have been identified and they meet every Saturday and Sunday at the "Samulizi Ground" behind the big Amani Stadium in Zanzibar to train.

Volunteers are welcome, both for talent searching, as well as football training. Since the organization is unable to offer a full-time placement for foreign volunteers, an activity in Zanzibar Football Standard and Talents Advancement can be combined with inserts in other sports clubs. You can also offer sports activities in youth clubs. Some of our former football volunteers in Zanzibar have also organized tournaments where various village and district clubs participated. Details are available in the slider "More Info" below.

Track and field athlectics coach in Zanzibar

The "Zanzibar Amateur Athletics Association" conducts Athletic Training for all ages, for both male and female athletes. Participants train the athletes in sprinting, mid and long distance running, as well as for jumping and throwing events. Some athletes take part in international competitions and achieve benefits that help them qualify to participate in world championships and the Olympic Games. The women in Zanzibar especially, have been successful sprinters. Mr. Gulaam, the head of the Association has participated several times at the World Championships in the 400-meter hurdles.

Because of the high temperatures in the afternoons, training usually takes place early in the morning from about 6:30 a.m. in the Amani Stadium, the great stadium of Zanzibar. There are electronic measuring systems used here. In addition, from about 4.30 p.m., the parks of Maisara are frequented by the sports clubs here, and training for athletics and soccer are held daily.

Info Box

Location: Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar
Availability: All year, Start date flexible
Minimum Duration: 2 Weeks
Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Further Languages Of Advantage: Swahili
Accommodation:
House, Host Family, Hotel

Internship Possible: No
Minimum Qualification Of Intern:
-
Further Contribution To Project: -

Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Good knowledge in the concerned sport
Further Contribution To Project: None
Expectations:
Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude?

More Infos

Pictures of football volunteer David in Zanzibar
Pictures of the "Urafiki Cup" in Zanzibar, arranged by volunteer Art
Pictures of "Urafiki Cup" in Moshi, arranged by volunteer Olaf
Flyer "Urafiki Cup" Moshi (PDF, 256kb)

Football coaching in Zanzibar (by Art Stavenko):

I had two teams to coach - in Zanzibar City and in Uzi Island. I had had some coaching experience before, but this time was absolutely unique and breathtaking.

The first team consisted of 15-18 years old kids. We learned a lot of exercises and combinations, trying to pick up how to think on football pitch, as physically they are all very gifted. I brought with me many souvenirs from the famous English clubs which the kids adore, and awarded one prize for the best player of the day. It was a real solemn ceremony when all the players and people from the nearby areas gathered in the centre of the football field to find out who was a hero today. I am also very grateful that the members of ZAFSA organization escorted me back home after every single training. After two weeks all the players passed through various tests, and I provided the results of it with my recommendations to the head of ZAFSA.

I had just six trainings in Uzi with a local team. Despite the age of the players varied from 18 to 35, it was a real pleasure to coach them as they tried to absorb every feint or advice. The team participated in some Zanzibar championship, and after the games we were analyzing their mistakes on the improvised pitch-hardware on the ground with baobab seeds instead of players.

The culmination of our trainings was an inter-island tournament (named Zanzibarian Urafiki Cup) organized with the kind help of World Unite! and ZAFSA members. We expected about 80 young players coming from Stone Town and Uzi island to the stadium to play for the big Cup. I ordered the cup from the US, but, ironically, it was not delivered in time leaving me in the awkward situation. Finally, after hectic searches and with priceless help of Mr. Aliy and Mr.Freddy of World Unite!, I managed to find a large decent cup in one of the Zanzibar shops. I felt like I have bought the last cup left in this world.

The tournament seemed to be a success. There were prizes for the two best players and some free coconut juice for the the rest. In the end, I used Coca-Cola crates to construct a podium, and the captain of the winning team lifted up the cup to the battle-cries accompaniment of the players.

The tournament was planned as an annual challenge cup, and I hope the Second Urafiki Cup will be held again in March 2012. Once again I enjoyed my every minute in Zanzibar. I want to thank so much everybody in Zanzibar who were so friendly, helpful and absolutely brilliant.

I will be glad to come back one day, but cannot guarantee I will have enough spare time. But what I can guarantee is that I will allocate some advertisements in the UK for volunteers to go to Zanzibar as football coaches. I will answer all their questions and meet them with pleasure in London for further instructions.

Athletics Training in Zanzibar (by Kathrin Wöhlken):

First I flew to the beautiful island of Zanzibar, where I could enjoy the beach to its fullest, because I traveled a lot on the island with a volunteer organization, World Unite! However, my activity on site was athletics coaching at the local club "Zanzibar Amateur Athletics Association ( ZAAA )”. I coached athletes in various disciplines of athletics, for about two to three hours, morning or afternoon. The club was relatively well equipped with a new stadium, but gear such as disks, spears, balls, etc. were rare. I designed a new training plan every day and worked with two other coaches. The athletes were very nice, but there were complications with the coaches sometimes ....

After four weeks on the beautiful island, we went by plane via Dar-es-Salaam to Moshi in Kilimanjaro. There, I opted for Voluntourism with World Unite! This offer consisted of a combination of volunteer work and excursions. I worked there in the veterinary practice "Mawenzi Vet”, where I went with four vets to various homes and treated animals. It was very interesting and I saw many new things.

Athletics Coaching in Zanzibar

For the first time on a scooter to work!

At 10.30 a.m. on my first day, Freddy, an employee of World Unite! picked me up from my residence and we took the “daladala” to the office. There, we met two men on scooters. I had never sat on a scooter and now I did, for the first time in Africa. I was terrified of falling off as we drove to the Amaani Stadium. After a few minutes I got used to it and it was really cool! The Amaani Stadium was a newly built stadium almost of international standards with tartan track, ball, discus, hammer ring, spear, a long jump system, a device for pole vault and an obstacle course. Class! I was thrilled! The first thing they showed me in the stadium was the room with the computers that are used by newspaper journalists and the pictures of the presidents of Tanzania and Zanzibar. That was it for the moment, because the athletes had already finished their training in the morning. I was asked to return in the afternoon to pick up the timetable for my work.

At 3.30 p.m., I arrived at the stadium and got to know the athletes and Paralympics. I was amazed and happy that people with disability are promoted in an African country and were so sporty! Well, I got my schedule and looked at the athletes I was going to train. Then I had to give a little speech. Man, I was taken by surprise! Without much time to think, I introduced myself and told the first things that came to my mind. So sweet – they all applauded! After I had discussed the schedule with the coaches, a younger trainer named Abdallah drive me to my flat at Mombasa. Of course, he wanted to drop me off right in front of my front door, so he knew where I lived, but I saw through his game. I got off 400 meters from my place. As he waited, I stood at a stand in the line to buy something. Luckily, it took forever and as he did not want to wait, he left.

My first real working day began at 5.40 a.m. I drove to the stadium on the daladala, since the training was to start at 6.30 a.m. It was still dark at the time. After a few stations I asked a fellow passenger for Amaani stadium, because I was not sure where I had to get off. Unfortunately I got out at a station too early and had to walk. I immediately met one of the Paralympics who went to the stadium with me. We arrived 15 minutes late, but it did not matter.

After a few greetings, my group gathered around and started with the "warm-up”. The senior manager told me about some of the "Tanzania Competitions" in Dar-es-Salaam in late July. I understood that they wanted to take me there, but I did not want to go. Let's see! After the "warm-up" came "activities" and the "stretching”. Then, we started with the main program. I started with spear - showed the technique, made a line-up and corrected the athletes. Professionally, I have no athletics disciplines and have only knowledge of workouts. So I was glad that our coaching team consisted of three coaches. As I realized later, mine was a group of beginners, but also very good athletes who started at high Championships. I also wondered why these athletes wanted to be coached by me. At 8:15a.m., the first event coaching was over and we went to the long jump pit. Thereafter sprinting, where we took the times of the individual athletes. The races were started by a shot with a pistol. But one of the girls always started too early, always with the command "On your marks". Six failed attempts later, I decided, somewhat annoyed and melting in the sun, to give the go without the gun. Then it worked. At 9:30 a.m., we finished the training and discussed the units to follow in the next couple of days . Many of the athletes gave me a handshake or thanked me.

When everyone had left the stadium, I was taken by surprise. There was a guy among the athletes who worked at the radio station and wanted to interview me!. As with the training, my English skills failed due to the excitement. I managed to somehow answer his questions and he recorded my answers on his mobile phone.

Overall, I enjoyed my work as a coach very well so far!

On my second working day we started again with the javelin. Thereafter 400 meters sprinting. Even children came to me and asked if they could sprint 200 meters. But of course! Three young men appraised me for long distance running coaching, who seemed best fit in my opinion for medium distance running. Unfortunately, the older coach was against it because he did not want to train medium distance runners, only long distance. In the discussion after the training, an athlete spoke again on the subject of medium/long haul. Now the coach agreed, and the training was scheduled for the next day. In my little speech I encouraged the group to participate in ideas for training so that we had fun together while training.

As planned, during my third work day, they were running for 3 and 5 kilometers. The times were fine. After the runs, a journalist came up to me, this time from television. He made recordings of training, and even though I did not want it, I had to give an interview. I thought it was horrible, but all loved it! Then he invited me to a TV show. I was very skeptical and said, thanks, but I had already planned a trip with other volunteers.

On the last day of my work we took group photos and I got a homemade boat, typical of Zanzibar, from an athlete. Totally sweet! I was extremely happy and wanted to give him and his friends also a little something. Unfortunately, I did not see them again, and I regret not getting them something! Nevertheless, the boat has a place of honor in my cabinet at home.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Zanzibar Town

In Zanzibar Town, there are accommodation options of various standards:

Most popular! - This is the preference of most of our participants. You share an apartment with other participants (where you can choose between dorm room, twin/double room, and single room) or live in a house of middle standards with a host family.

Comfort+ - For those with a need for comfort: Accommodation at a hotel or at a house of higher standards with host family.

Adventurer - For simplest and cheapest deals: Homestays of simple standards.

Shared Accommodation:

Shared Accommodation in Zanzibar Town

There are several World Unite! shared accommodations throughout the city of Zanzibar Town - we choose them according to availability and proximity to your placement site. These are houses or apartments that are shared by our participants. All apartments are of comparable standard. We currently have such shared accommodations in the districts Shangani, Malindi, Baghani, Kigwajuni, Migombani and Mombasa.

Here are some examples of shared accommodation options:

World Unite! House in Zanzibar Town

The house is located in Zanzibar Town at a preferred residential area at walking distance to a beach. You can even see the blue ocean from the upper floor! The building has two floors, each with its own entrance, kitchen, toilets, bathrooms and shared living rooms. Furthermore, there is a large garden.

You can choose between 4-share dorm, twin/double room and single room (subject to availability). The 4-share dorm rooms are self-contained. The twin/double and single rooms share toilet and bathroom with other residents. All bed/rooms have mosquito nets, a wardrobe or chest of drawers, and a fan. Bed linen is provided; you have to bring your own towels however. The bathrooms have western flush toilets and cold showers, which is anyway more refreshing for the temperatures of Zanzibar. The kitchens are shared with other residents and have an electric or gas hob and a basic set of kitchen utensils that you need for cooking and eating.

There are communal living rooms with sofas and a dining table on each floor. The house also features a shared washing machine. The windows are barred for security reasons and at night, a night porter is on duty at the house. There are several small shops and supermarkets in the area, as well as restaurants.

Apartment in Stone Town

The apartment is located on the first floor of a historic building in the Baghani Area of Stone Town. It has four fully furnished bedrooms, suitable for single and double occupancy. In the kitchen, there is a gas and electric stove, refrigerator and functional kitchen equipment. There are two bathrooms with cold shower and western toilets. Bed linen is provided; you have to bring your own towels however. Each room has a ceiling fan and mosquito nets. There are plenty of restaurant options in Stone Town.

Host Families:

Rooms of middle standards with Host Families

Staying with a host family provides you with the opportunity to get a more intensive insight into the Tanzanian culture and society. We work with many host families in the city of Moshi. For boarding of middle standards, families are of the upper middle class of Tanzania. Their houses are of quality construction, equipment and furnishing for most of our participants. Often the houses have two bathrooms (which are also tiled), one for parents and one for the children and you. The shower is often cold, since a water heater consumes too much power. There is usually a western toilet in the house. There is Tanzanian and Western food like toast with jam, omelette and tea for breakfast; Meat/fish with vegetables and rice/ugali and chapati for dinner and to drink, tea, boiled water or homemade fruit juice. Vegetarian dishes are available on request. There is a fridge; food is usually cooked on gas. Most such families have one or two domestic workers who cook, clean and wash clothes by hand. Often, in the living room you'll find decorative curtains and doilies, stereo, television and an older laptop. The family also often, has a motorcycle or a thirty year old used Japanese car. Most of these things are, however, saved up over many years and the family still has financial difficulties to finance a college education for their children and use the car only for absolutely necessary journeys.

Hotel Accommodation and Accommodation of High Standards with Host Family:

Al Minar Hotel

Al Minar is a tastefully in Arabic and African style designed hotel with 22 rooms, located in a historic building at a central location of Stone Town, the historic part of Zanzibar Town, at walking distance to the Old Fort and the Forodhani Gardens. The rooms are all equipped with AC, minibar, traditional Zanzibari beds and tasteful furniture, free wifi, coffee and tea making facilities and a flat TV. From the large rooftop terrace you have a good view over the old town. The hotel is professionally managed and has attentive and friendly staff.

Accommodation of High Standards with Host Family

Staying with a host family provides you with the opportunity to get a more intensive insight into the Tanzanian culture and society. The food is usually very generous and cooked by maids who serve this for you and the family. Our participants have always been extremely pleased with boarding with host mother Rahma, who runs a catering company. Often, there are also drivers, nannies, gardeners and security guards as domestic staff who live in a separate house on the property. Such families usually have a power generator that is turned on in case of frequent power outages. Older children are often in boarding schools abroad like Malaysia, Emirates and England and you live in their nursery. Younger children are often at home and want to play with you.

Host Family of simple standards

Accommodation of Simple Standards with Host Family

For accommodations of simple standards, we cooperate with the NGO "ZASO"(Zanzibar AIDS and Orphans Support), with whom we also carry out the program "Social Reality Tour". Some employees of ZASO, who are social workers or teachers, and belong to the middle class of Zanzibar, offer the accommodation to our participants with their families. The rents of our participants contribute to an improvement in the average income of the families.

Simple standard here, means that the house is built simply. The floors are mostly of bare concrete, the roof is of corrugated iron with no ceiling; there is often only an Arab Squat toilet (but with flush) and we shower with a bucket or a simple water pipe. The furniture is minimalistic and purely functional. In the living room, there are some slightly more representative pieces of furniture made of Chinese wood. The family usually has an old, used fridge; a radio and an old tube television are also often present. Your room has a bed with a mattress and mosquito net and probably some hangers on the wall and a small shelf or the like. The houses have electricity. Food is usually cooked outdoors over an open fire or gas cooker. The food is usually without options - for breakfast, there is tea with chapati; for lunch, ugali or rice with beans and vegetables, for dinner, the same. Meat is only taken for special occasions, and if so, in small quantities. The families usually consist of mother, father and some children; many more children from the neighborhood visit the house and are around the house. As transportation, the family has bicycles and sometimes, a motorcycle. Income from the rent you pay are often the only way for the family to finance the education of their children.

The families from ZASO are particularly hospitable to World Unite participants; however, please note that some are conservative Muslims, who do not have as much experience in dealing with Western foreigners. Please conduct yourself accordingly. Female and male participants can only share a room if they are married.

Rates

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

		up to 31 Days	32-60 Days	61-90 Days	91-120 Days	5 Months or longer
	1 Person	450 EUR	600 EUR	700 EUR	750 EUR	850 EUR
	2-4 Persons (Rate per Person)	400 EUR	500 EUR	600 EUR	650 EUR	700 EUR

Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
Preparation Session via Skype; together with further participants
Arrangements for your Residence Permit, Work Permit or similar permit and other official permits (if required), but not the official government fees for it/them (See costs below)
Pick-up and Transfers from/to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) on arrival and departure
Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
Orientation and Introduction in Zanzibar
Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
24 Hours emergency support by local support team
50 USD Contribution to your project (except for electives/internships at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital)
CO2 compensation of your long-haul flights: Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Local SIM Card with 10.000 TSH air time
Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
15% Discount for Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Excursions and Watersports Activities offered by "Budget Safari Tanzania"

The environmental conservation programs in Nungwi and Jozani also include:

Our own World Unite! full-time program instructors
In Jozani/Muungoni: Once per week half-day cultural activity in Muungoni Village
In Jozani/Muungoni: Use of a Mountain Bike

The Rates do NOT include:

Accommodation and Meals (see below)
Travel to/from Zanzibar (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
Official fees for Visa and Residence Permit (see below)
Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
Personal Expenses
Vaccinations
Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.

II. Accommodation Costs

You can choose between the following options:

All rates in US-Dollar. Convert Currency		All durations of stay (1-365 Days)
Shared House/Apartment or Hotel
Shared House/Apartment	1 Person (Single Room)	14 USD/Night
	2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	9 USD/Night
	4- or 6-share dorm room p.p.	6 USD/Night

Host Family
Host Family on full board	1 Person (Single Room)	26 USD/Night
Host Family on full board	2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	26 USD/Night

*You pay incomplete months (exceeding the first month) proportionally per day

In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.

Overview of other costs:

If meals are not included: around 150-250 USD/Month for self-catering (eating out at affordable yet good restaurants and/or cooking by yourself; you are much more flexible in this way compared to if we would serve food at your accommodation)
Official Permits: For placement duration of up to 90 days: Visa 250 USD (for most nationals; to buy on arrival at the airport in Tanzania) + Work Permit 200 USD (we arrange through Zanzibar Labour Office); For placement of 91-180 days: twice the costs as in case of up to 90 days. Only for placements at public hospitals of up to 90 days: Visa 50 USD (for EU Citizens, Australians, New Zealand Citizens; 100 USD for US and Canadian Citizens) + Exemption Certificate 100 USD (no further permits needed)
Small local expenses (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month

How do I pay?

Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.

The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.

Extras

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.

Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Day Trips, Watersports

As "Budget Safari Tanzania" we are arranging cost-effective yet high-quality safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs, excursions, and watersports activities in Tanzania and Zanzibar. You will group with other World Unite! participants and further travellers.

As a World Unite! participant, you get a 15% discount on all offers of Budget Safari Tanzania. We will share a Discount Code with you that you can use with the online booking of your safari, Kilimanjaro climb, excursion or watersports activity.

This is the Website of Budget Safari Tanzania.

Learning Swahili in Sansibar!

It is always helpful to know Swahili while doing your project here. Swahili is a relatively easy language to learn. With our one-to-one teacher, after a short time, most learners are able to do basic conversation. You can choose the intensity of the lesson. If you are volunteering or doing an internship, we recommend a maximum of ten hours per week.

The cost for Swahili lessons: 1 Student - 10 EUR

Groups of 2 or more people can join language lessons with an NGO at a rate which is a little cheaper per person!

Please check "Language Training Required" in the registration form, specifying the desired duration (minimum 20 hours).

Travel Health Insurance

We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a liability and travel cancellation insurance.

Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get an immediate booking confirmation.

Zanzibar

Check out our video on Zanzibar Town!

This video shows a day in Zanzibar Town with the volunteers Sabrina and Uwe from Hamburg. They show their placements at the Cultural Arts Centre and Vikokotoni environmental group, their accommodation, visit their host family and explain various interesting aspects of their daily life in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar - Spice Island in the Indian Ocean

Zanzibar is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar is about 2 hours away from the Tanzanian mainland by boat or 20 minutes by plane. When you research “Zanzibar”, it usually means the main island of Unguja. Unguja was very rich in the past, because the island was a major trading port along the sea routes between Africa, Arabia, India, East Asia and Europe. This can be seen today in the mixing of cultures, the Arab- Islamic influence, but is relatively liberal in Zanzibar. Today, tourism is the main source of income of Zanzibar, besides the cultivation of spices and tropical fruits.

Stone Town, the historic core of Zanzibar Town is the only intact historic coastal trading town in East Africa. Within the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets full of small shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels and hectic smaller places, it feels like one is in a dream of the "Thousand and One Nights”. Fantastically, there are also the heavenly white beaches and crystal clear waters with colorful coral reefs, which compete with the Caribbean or the Maldives in catering to wealthy tourists. Zanzibar Town, in addition to Stone Town have plenty of other neighborhoods like Kiembe Samaki, Mwanakwerekwe, Mbweni and others, in which many organizations have their offices and are active.

In addition, there are many villages along the beaches and in the interior of the island.

The biggest problem of the island is the overwhelming poverty of the population, whose only employment consists of cultivation and fishing for their own and thus, have no money, cannot afford education for their children, medical care, etc. A lack of education means that the following generations can hardly escape the vicious circle of poverty. Population growth, which is mainly due to immigration of people from mainland Tanzania, results in the exploitation of nature.

Things to do in Zanzibar

In Zanzibar, there is a wide range of excursions: day and half day trips include a visit to a spice plantation, the Jozani Forest National Park, the mangroves of Mungooni and Uzi, beach resorts such as Nungwi, Paje and Jambiani, a "Safari Blue”, sailing through the Menai Bay Conservation Area, Prison Island, the Island Chumbe Coral Park and a city tour of Stone Town, where there are lots of interesting souvenir shops, bars, cafes, regular concerts and even a handful of "clubs" and events.

In your spare time, you can also take music and dance lessons, yoga classes and interesting workshops by the Cultural Arts Centres participants in Zanzibar.

Many participants also travel to the mainland of Tanzania to do a safari or to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. You use our accommodation Moshi, Kilimanjaro at affordable prices to stay as a base for activities in northern Tanzania.

Getting There

Getting To Zanzibar

Several airlines fly directly or with an intermediate stop at Zanzibar (ZNZ). Remember to book your flight and share with us your flight details. From Zanzibar airport, we will pick you up and bring you to your accommodation in Zanzibar.

If the flights to Dar-es-Salaam (DAR) are much cheaper, you can also fly there. From Dar-es-Salaam, you can travel to Zanzibar by a connecting flight or take the ferry. We can arrange a transfer for you from the airport to the ferry for 30 EUR/35 USD. The ferry ticket costs 35 USD and the ferry takes about 2 hours. We will take you in this case from the airport to the seaport. In Zanzibar, you will be picked up at the ferry terminal and taken to your accommodation. A connecting flight from DAR to ZNZ only takes 20 minutes and costs 50-80 USD.

If your placement is on Pemba Island, you can either take a daily flight from Zanzibar to Pemba, or you can take a ferry (Azam Marine), which however doesn't have daily departures. In Pemba you will be picked up from the airport or ferry port and brough to your accommodation.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?

No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the airport even at night.

Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?

Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.

During my stay, can I travel around the country?

Zanzibar is a relatively small island, and you can use public transport during the weekends to travel throughout the island; such as to the beaches of the north and east. In Moshi and Zanzibar, we ourselves often offer day trips, such as to Kilimanjaro or the national parks, for which you can join other volunteers and interns when you travel there. We share these trips with you in our monthly subscriber list and you can book them. Participants often organize on-site travel together. In Moshi and Zanzibar, you can stay at the same low rates as our Zanzibar or Moshi participants in accommodations provided by us. If you plan to travel during your volunteering/internship period, you should seek permission in advance. We recommend that you plan your travel after your volunteering/internship. For this, you can also stay longer in your accommodation at affordable rates.

Is it safe to travel in Zanzibar alone as a single female traveller?

Approximately 80% of our participants are female and many of them, only about 20 years old. Not a single instance of a serious security breach has occurred. Our coordinator will advise you on how you should conduct yourself in order to avoid problems - your dressing style, valuables, and in dealing with local men. Our preparation materials elaborate on this matter. If you follow these basic rules that apply equally to many other places, the risk in Zanzibar is not great.

Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Zanzibar?

The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Zanzibar, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so. Zanzibar Town is a small town, where you walk around quite a bit. In addition, there are well-known places such as the Forodhani Gardens, where you actually meet other participants. If you are in a different place (Nungwi, Mungooni, etc.), the probability is higher that there are more participants from us. You can access these places relatively quickly by public transport from Zanzibar Town, if you want to meet other participants of your country over the weekend. We also have regular meetings with all participants and you will get a list of participants who are in the country, with their contact information. You need not be concerned that you are "alone" in Zanzibar, nor must you stay away from the locals because you spend all your time with other foreign participants.

What vaccinations do I need?

Our Info-PDF that you get as a participant, gives detailed information on health care. Also refer to Recommended Vaccinations

Where do I live?

Please find details in the tab "Accommodation".

Can I choose my accommodation?

We give you choices (Most popular!, Comfort +, Adventurer) and you can tell us if you prefer a shared accommodation or homestay; we will then seek an accommodation for you. We organise accommodation, taking into consideration the distance from your work site. However, since Zanzibar is not a very big town, is relatively easy to reach locations in other parts of the city by public transport ("Daladala") or by bike.

How free or bound am I in my accommodation with the host family?

With the host family, you can have your freedom, and do not need to join them during meal times or have any other obligations. If you will return late in the evening, you need to let them know in advance, so that they can unlock the doors for you (which are locked at night for security reasons). Bringing home casual acquaintances is taboo. They look to integrate our participants into their family life, but you can determine to what extent you want to be part of it.

Does my accommodation have internet facilities?

In Tanzania, Internet is accessed via the mobile phone networks. With smartphones, you can use the Internet. For laptops, there are USB modem sticks for about 10 EUR. There are no flat rates; you use data packets, depending on your needs. You might consume 2 GB of data in a week, which costs about 4.50 EUR. In the centers of cities (Moshi Town, Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar Town, Karatu, etc.), the connection is good, the speed is satisfactory and sufficient for Skype phone calls. In the suburbs and in the country, there is connection, but usually almost impossible or very slow and unreliable. We will provide you information on the use of mobile Internet in Tanzania.

How can I do my laundry?

In general, laundry is washed by hand in Tanzania. You can ask your landlord or host family if they have someone who can wash your clothes. Usually, someone offers that to you for a small fee. Please ask your local supervisor, what the appropriate thing to do is.

I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?

Host families are familiar with participants who are vegetarians and prepare appropriate food. In some restaurants in Zanzibar Town, there are vegetarian options. In the market, there are a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. Special dietary needs (e.g. Vegan, allergies to certain foods) can be specified to the host families.

What language skills do I need?

You should be able to make yourself understood in English. The national language of Tanzania is Swahili, but knowledge of English is widespread, especially among people who have a better education or work in tourism. In everyday life, there is usually no problem to be able to communicate in English; if you should come across someone who can not speak English, you can almost immediately find someone who offers to translate in English. If you are in a social project for a longer duration, you will have to deal with people who have little or no education. For this, it is useful to acquire at least a basic knowledge of Swahili before your arrival through any book (or audio CD). You can also take basic Swahili lessons while on site. We also have vocabulary lists with useful words that can help you.

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