Cultural Arts Center, Zanzibar

The Cultural Arts Centre in Stone Town gives artists and local groups the encouragement and opportunity to sell their products to tourists. As a volunteer or intern, you can contribute in creative tasks, e.g. product and packaging design, and/or the managerial and economic field, and hence support the centre.

What is your placement organization doing?

Due to its history of various occupants and the economic focus on trade, Zanzibar has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. This is evident in the range of traditional crafts that are still being produced today, which are now popular tourist souvenirs. Tourism is an important source of revenue for Zanzibari locals. However, women and those in rural areas tend to miss out on ‘the tourist dollar’.

The Zanzibar based non-governmental organisation, FAZACH, established The Cultural Arts Centre, Zanzibar (CACZ) in Stone Town in 2008, with the goal to promote Zanzibari culture. Through CACZ, local artists and artisans from all over the island can receive training and sell products; the focus is on locally produced artwork and souvenirs made from sustainable materials, by groups such as women’s cooperatives – hence even artists and artisans from remote areas can profit from the centre and ‘the tourist dollar’. CACZ hence plays a leading role in community development and environmental responsibility.

Products include baskets, cushion covers, soaps, carvings, items made from recycled products, sustainably-farmed pearls, jewelry and so forth. In due course, the Cultural Arts Centre in Stone Town looks to become a wholesale vendor, supplying sustainable souvenirs to local hotels.

How can you get involved?

Previous volunteers have helped the CACZ by sharing their creative ideas, setting up workshops for locals and tourists, and supporting improvements in visual merchandising to optimize the exhibition of the art products. The workshops are offered to both tourists (to raise funds) and to local groups (for outreach) and include bookmaking, candle making, papermaking, painting, making accessories from paper beads, screen-printing and soap making.

Volunteers at the Cultural Art Centre can assist in:

Identifying innovative ways to use sustainable materials to create arts, crafts and other products 
Conducting research about the tourist souvenir market, to understand the types of products tourists want and how much they are willing to pay 
Product and packaging design 
Developing promotional materials and raising awareness on the Cultural Arts Centre 
Financial management and retail planning
Working with local artists in the Cultural Art Centre to help them improve their English and internet skills 
Cataloguing the current artists presented in the CACZ and developing profiles of them to share their stories with visitors to the Art Centre 
Strengthening the contact with communities and artists, and setting up new connections

All volunteers and interns will work under the supervision of our team member Nell Hamilton of Sustainable East Africa.  

Volunteers interested in working for the CACZ should ideally possess a creative mind or retail skills (as financial management is also needed). The workplace offers many opportunities to develop and pursue one’s own ideas. Self-management skills are necessary.

Info Box

Location: Stone Town Zanzibar
Availability: All year
Minimum Duration: 1 Month

Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Further Languages Of Advantage: Swahili
Accommodation:
Shared Accommodation, Host Family, Hotel

Supervision Possible: Yes

Qualification Of Supervisor: Artist, Marine Biologist
Minimum Qualification Of Intern:
Either professionally appropriate experience and/or appropriate studies
Further Contribution To Project: One-time additional contribution of 50 USD

Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Matching skills that are useful for CACZ
Further Contribution To Project: One-time additional contribution of 50 USD
Expectations:
Motivation, Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude?

More Infos

In our general video about Zanzibar (in the slider "Zanzibar" further down on this page) we feature the Cultural Arts Centre.

Report by Elke, volunteer at the Cultural Arts Centre

I stumbled upon World Unite in a report written by a women’s magazine and I was happy to have finally found a volunteer organization that also offered creative and textiles related projects. For several years I have worked as a designer in the textile industry and wanted to do something in this area. Unfortunately however, many volunteer projects are only related to the medical, social, educational or environmental sectors.

I decided to work with World Unite for 4 weeks in Zanzibar at the Art Centre in Stone Town, in collaboration with Sustainable East Africa. My tasks were not clear initially but I was prepared to be flexible with this.

You have to arrange the flights for yourself but everything else was organized. I found it very pleasant to be picked up at the airport and to get an overview of Zanzibar, including a tour of Stone Town. Volunteers are accommodated in shared houses with other volunteers. Those who expect European comforts might be disappointed but those who have travelled a little or had backpacker experience will be right at home. Power cuts, no hot water and cockroaches are all problems that may occur when living in some countries.

As I was housed just outside of Stone Town, my daily commute was a short drive with the Dala Dala (a very tight squeeze) and a walk through the winding streets of the old town (after a few days I was able to get there on time).

On the first day I was accompanied by a member of World Unite!; and presented at the placement for the start of my new "job". My volunteering placement time overlapped a little with my predecessor’s so I had the good fortune to benefit from their experiences. Otherwise it is also helpful for you to learn from previous volunteers by contacting them from home before you travel; in order to get some good information.

I got a professional handover of completed/upcoming projects from the manager of Sustainable East Africa and the manager of the Art Centre.

In the first week I got an overview of the tasks and also helped in the production of products. At the annual Sauti za Busara music festival, we had a booth to showcase the projects and products for sale. There was a lot to be done for this and I was fully occupied in advance of the festival. But this was a great introduction and the music festival was a great event.

From the second week on I focused on the development of existing products and new developments. As most of the customers are tourists from Europe and America we had to adapt this to meet the Western tastes and trends.

In between I redecorated the shop and tried to improve the presentation of the products. The director of the Art Centre is very open-minded and was always open and grateful for my ideas and suggestions, and made my job a lot of fun.

I particularly liked the workshops with different groups: We showed teenagers how to make jewellery from recycled materials; women how to make posters/magazines into paper beads/chains; others how to make soaps and other organic cosmetics; and much more. Most of the communication was done in Swahili but I was still able to show many things and help a lot.

I also designed a small collection of textiles; unfortunately I didn’t see them made as my time at the placement was already up.

A few more words now, about "leisure". The accommodation was in shared apartments with other volunteers. If you are unlucky and end up with roommates who are not so open-minded then you have to take more care to create a social connection. But World Unite! also offers excursions and day trips too and there are always opportunities to visit the projects and placement areas and you can also help with these. At the weekend you also have time to enjoy and visit the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar.

Many of the volunteers have just graduated or are currently doing their studies; unfortunately there were few "older" professionals, whereas World Unite also likes to have more participants with work experience.

I had a great time, I gained a lot and even though I wanted to pass on a lot more I found that this sharing was the beauty of it all.

Elke

Report by Laura, volunteer at the Cultural Arts Centre

Habari zenu? Jina lako ni Laura na nimejitolea kufanya kazi na kitengo cha mazingira katika Zanzibar. How are you all? My name is Laura and I am volunteering with an environmental organization in Zanzibar, Sustainable East Africa (SEA), that supports the work of several local initiatives. The main partners I currently work with are the Cultural Arts Centre Zanzibar (CACZ), Prospective Learning and Charitable Institution (PLCI) and Manispaa ya Vikokotoni. At CACZ we support local artists that make products and souvenirs from local, sustainable and recycled materials. I have been assisting in making paper bracelets, natural spice soap, paper, and beautifully decorated books. At CACZ I can use my experience in handcraft works and jewelry-making to assist with new ideas and products. PLCI is a wonderful place that is basically a learning centre for disadvantaged people, mostly youth. They have many classes. The German language group (right now consisting of three students) was happy to hear that I am here now, helping them and talking with them. They started learning German with a previous volunteer and are very eager to improve their skills, which can also help them to find a job in the tourism industry. At PLCI we also have a Girls Club and an Environmental Club. Right now they are working on making jewelry from recycled materials and Christmas decoration under my supervision. The Environmental club has done some backyard planting which they unfortunately had to stop as the backyard was taking back by the owner..., but they just got a new, virgin piece of land that they can do anything they want with. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to facilitate a Permaculture planning process and spread the word about Permaculture and sustainable agriculture. With the assistance of Rotary ZNZ we are also able to send two very eager students to Morogoro to a training center called Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania to attend a one week training in no-tillage farming! Manispaa ya Vikokotoni collect takataka (waste) from houses and public squares in Stone Town that they separate and recycle/sell. They also have a community garden where they grow different vegetables and fruits. They are not doing compost yet, but are very eager to learn about it. I hope to teach them about it within the next days, and also about other sustainable farming techniques like mulching which are not yet very well known here. I am very happy to work with such wonderful, open-minded and responsive partners here!

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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