Discover Volunteering in Tanzania with IVHQ

I participated in the Marine and coastal conservation program in Zanzibar. I had the best time ever but before I even left Australia IVHQ helped make the process of application and preparation seamless and efficient. They provided all the information I could have possibly needed to prepare me for what I would arrive to once I got to Zanzibar. The program itself was incredible. So many activities to choose from to keep you busy. The staff were incredible. So friendly, super organised and welcoming. Not only did we participate in activities to help the local community but the staff also ensured we had time to socialise and get to know all the other volunteers. I absolutely loved my time and would 100% go back.

IVHQ are extremely supportive and trustworthy. They provide a very informative program guide and checklist which ensures you have everything you need! They do constant check ins and always provide support. The information shared is very real and it tells you exactly what to expect- there are no surprises! A member of the team collects you from the airport and ensures you are settled in- you also have an orientation day where you get to meet all of the managers and you know exactly who to go to for different enquires! The accommodation & food provided is of very good standard for the price. There is always someone available for help at night. I did my program in Tanzania- I did teaching. It was amazing! I learned so much from it. There was so much to do including the Safari, sunset hike, women’s outreach, waterfall, Moshi weekend, etc. all of these excursions were organised through IVHQ and I felt extremely supported on them all. If you are considering volunteering with IVHQ, do it! Don't hold back- you won’t regret it✨

A wonderful experience in Matemwe Zanzibar, with numerous activities focused on environmental and marine conservation; all the activities were very engaging and interesting, including projects on dolphins, sea turtles, coral cultivation, the coral reef, and its biodiversity... In addition to these projects, the camp in Matemwe offers many other activities that bring you into direct contact with the villagers, allowing you to learn about the local culture, as well as Swahili lessons. I got along very well with all the volunteers and staff—they were welcoming, warm, and super helpful!

An amazing and rewarding experience. Working in childcare and going into the local school was so special and eye-opening. Everything was well organised and the connections made with the children, staff and community made the trip truly unforgettable.

Volunteering in Zanzibar was a truly transformative experience. Beyond contributing to educational and community projects, I had the chance to connect closely with the local culture, learn from the warmth of its people, and experience a simple and authentic way of life. Working with children and families allowed me to feel that, even in a small way, I could make a meaningful impact. Zanzibar offered not only breathtaking landscapes, but also deep human connections and a renewed perspective on solidarity and the power of small actions.

This was my first time traveling out of the country and my first time traveling by myself. Throughout the whole experience I knew what to expect, knew how to prepare for my trip and was connected to wonderful people who made the experience stress free. Everyone was able to answer questions I had like when to book my flight, what documents I needed for my travel, who I should contact if I needed anything, and overall everyone was happy to help! When I arrived to my destination, everything exceeded my expectations! Everyone was so welcoming and everything was organized perfectly. We were able to get to know everyone who we were staying with, we got to walk around different markets and places and the best part of my trip was going to the daycare I was volunteering at. I had the best time spending the day with all the kids, playing, learning to read and write, and I also enjoyed spending time with the daycares director. She was very sweet and help, shared her story and we truly got to bond. Overall, the whole process starting with the application, traveling there and arriving there was a smooth process and all the information I needed was given to me!

Before going, I was a little sceptical about whether I’d enjoy this experience or not, and I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make any friends. But little did I know that just one week later, I’d be calling it the best week of my life! I met so many incredible people from all around the world, people I never imagined I’d have the chance to connect with. We shared unforgettable experiences, supported each other, and created memories that I’ll carry with me forever. Beyond meeting amazing people, I also learnt so much about myself. Being in a completely new environment pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in confidence, independence, and understanding. I discovered how rewarding it can be to give back and to be part of something bigger than myself. The IVHQ application process was super straightforward, and I really appreciated how easy it was to communicate with the team. The support I received before and during the trip was incredible. They were always quick to respond, and I was regularly checked up on to make sure everything was going smoothly. It made me feel safe and cared for throughout the whole journey. Overall, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It truly changed my perspective, introduced me to lifelong friends, and left me wanting to do even more. I’m already planning my next trip with IVHQ and am 100% doing this again

My volunteer placement in Arusha, Tanzania exceeded all my expectations for sure! The childcare program was eye opening and gave me the chance to contribute in a meaningful way while building real connections with the children, the locals, and other volunteers. The local team was incredibly supportive and always available to help with anything I needed. There was always very good in person contact with the team, but also through WhatsApp groups. They also offer many excursions outside of volunteering, so you will never be bored, and also got other ways of supporting and donating to other places and other people, outside of your main placement. This experience has given me new skills, lifelong memories, and a fresh perspective on what it means to give back. I can’t wait to join another program in the future and would highly recommend it to anyone considering volunteering abroad :)

This was such a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience that truly expanded our students' perspectives and worldview. The program was safe, well-structured, and rewarding. I always felt like we were in good hands and had a team we could rely on should any challenging situations arise. For folks who are feeling hesitant, I would simply tell them that they are in good hands and they will be fully supported in their experience.

If you get the opportunity to do this, DO IT! I had no expectations and that helped me have a better time there. You will meet so many people and are bound to make friends and amazing memories. You deserve to travel the world, so why not do it and make a difference at the same time!!

I’ve traveled throughout the world and Africa, and living/volunteering (for 2 weeks) with the Maasai tribal community in Tanzania was life changing. I have volunteered 3x with IVHQ in India, Argentina, and now Tanzania — and I’ve already begun to organize my next volunteer trip. They are an excellent organization and have made all my trips profoundly rewarding. Each volunteer day was unique and extremely hands-on from building chicken coops to creating lesson plans for the school children. Every experience was unique and living in traditional bomas was such a highlight. The Maasai people were welcoming, engaging, thoughtful, and educational. Their nomadic culture, ways of life, connection to the land/wildlife, and culture are all so vital to Tanzania, Africa as a whole and the world at large. Tanzania is a beautiful country with immense natural beauty. I went on a 4 day safari in the Serengeti and hiked Mt Kilimanjaro. Being so close to African wildlife and historical locations were also such a highlight of my adventure! Thank you IVHQ! It was certainly a trip to remember!

Volunteering with IVHQ in the construction program in Tanzania was such a special experience. The local team was so kind and supportive, and always made sure we felt safe and comfortable. We worked closely with the local community which made it feel really meaningful. I stayed in a house with volunteers from all over the world, we became super close and I met friends for life. On weekends, the team helped us plan trips and we got to do everything from safaris to tours. I’d do it all over again in a second.

I had the most amazing time volunteering in Tanzania with IVHQ. It was a life changing experience that I will be forever grateful for. Working with alongside locals in the daycare that I volunteered at was a truly amazing experience. It’s an exchange of mutual gain in which everyone learns from each other which was very inspiring and insightful. Volunteering through an organisation like IVHQ made the process much less daunting as there is a program guide which assisted me with each step of the process, as well as support from the local team and coordinators. I will definitely be back again in the future!

Pay your fees, get your shots, and IVHQ will take care of all the stressful stuff so you can focus on fully immersing yourself into one of the most beautiful experiences of your life! I volunteered on the construction project in Tanzania and couldn't be happier! The volunteering was worthwhile, essential, and allowed me to truly dive into the local scene and culture and associate with the people of the country. I helped finish the construction of a home that will serve a family for generations to come! While renovating a school bathroom I was able to associate with the kids as well. Those were the most genuine smiles I've ever seen and shared! I was also able to take advantage of a safari and create unforgettable memories! I was also able to spend time with the kids at a local orphanage. The fellow volunteers and local organization coordinators of Tanzanian Host Experience were incredibly caring and thoughtful of my wellbeing. They were some of the most heart-filled people I have ever met! As a solo traveler they quickly became like family. Initially, it was nerve racking to embark on this journey but then SO sad to leave when my time was up. This experience was a true reminder of what actually matters in life and where real happiness is found. It was transformative. I am forever grateful! Overall, if you are reading this and questioning whether or not to go and volunteer, take it from me, this was the best few weeks of my life! So take courage and go for it! You will not regret it for a moment. Asante!

IVHQ's support was timely, regular and extremely comprehensive . The local team were always present and extremely helpful. The placement exceeded my expectations and, as a (much) older volunteer, it was easier to participate than expected. The accommodation was well kept and the food was always sufficient and available. And the bonus of cheerful kitchen staff! I gained the satisfaction of a meaningful contribution, and the cultural immersion through the opportunity of a very wide range of extra curricular activities.

I'm glad I could help paint a classroom and build a cinder block house. And I'm glad I met the people whose lives these projects would impact. When the work was difficult, knowing who it was for inspired me to go the extra mile. Volunteering was also an opportunity to meet people from around the world. The other volunteers were definitely a part of the program experience for me. Most of them were great to get to know. I fell in love with Tanzania. The people I met will live in my heart for years to come. There are countless challenges involved in travel and volunteering of this kind. Being ready to improvise is essential. But mostly, I would say, just give yourself over to the experience. Let go of expectations and just go with it. If you do you will be rewarded.

I was amazed to see all the progress during the month I was there on the project with IVHQ in Tanzania. And I loved meeting people from all over the world. Don't be hesitant, it’s easier then it might seem.

I really enjoyed making friends for life, seeing the kids smiles everyday and the gratitude from the teachers and the builders. Finding the equivalent of a family in a country that I wasn’t familiar with was a good surprise! The memories will last a lifetime. Take the opportunity whilst you have it, you will not regret it.

I love the children saying "Hi: to me everyday when I arrive at the placement, and seeing the children happy and excited. The impact was more on me than the ones I’ve helped. Now I know I can do more.

It is very important, that the older volunteers are provided with the possibility of homestay. It was one of the things that help us to get a deeper understanding of the local customs and culture. In terms of food, it was very interesting and enjoyable to get home cooked meals. Days at work were very interesting, learning to know the country and its culture would have been much more superficial without the placement. I could understand how people are basically so similar everywhere, after all, even if the circumstances and culture are very different. Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone.

I've enjoyed coming home from placement everyday to exchange stories with other volunteers about how their day had been, what they had experienced and which difference they had made. Seeing happiness of the school children and the headmaster over my contribution to the placement project was very impactful. I still keep contact with the headmaster and he shows me the progress of the project while I am gone. You only live once. Oh and if placement isn’t necessarily satisfying with your specific demands, you will still benefit of the social and cultural exposure, thus increasing your people skills tremendously.

What can I say about my volunteering? One of the best experiences I have ever lived, and I have to say that my experience did not begin the day I arrived to Tanzania, but much earlier when I created my IVHQ account and began to investigate what I could do and where. From that day on, the desire to give myself to other began to grow, and with them, the thrill of going to the continent I had always dreamed of: Africa. I have to say that this dream probably wouldn't have been fulfilled if it hadn't been for the excellent service and help of IVHQ, how complete its website is, the reasonable prices, the help of the staff, it all added to make it easy and exciting to prepare this trip, instead of encountering obstacles at every step that would have resulted in the decrease of my motivation that would have ended up in leaving this crazy idea aside. Once in Arusha everything was amazing, the support of the coordinators for every new thing you faced, the placements´ organization, the school I was helping at, everything was taken care of to make it the best of the best. The house where you live is super well placed, the “mamas” cook delicious and varied, everything is clean and the environment of volunteers…wow! Now I have friends all over the world: Greece, Scotland, England, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Peru, Colombia...I can say that I built a family, my “Simba Family”, that I will never forget for the fun, the support and lessons they gave me. My students, so much to learn from them: the simplicity to play with anything, the joy to laugh at anything, the commitment to learn; It was a challenge to teach English to children who barely know their language because of their age, but I am sure the little help I could give will make a big change in their lives. Thank you IVHQ, thank you TVE.

The Animal Welfare program in Tanzania is amazing! The hands on work and experience with the local veterinarian was priceless! 12 Weeks was almost not long enough! IVHQ volunteers come from all over the world so I met so many people around the world which was such an added bonus! The hostel that I stayed at was amazing! the beds are so comfy and the showers are always hot! I will forever hold my experience with IVHQ close to my heart!

Volunteering in Tanzania was my first real experience travelling for long term and it was unforgettable. I spent one month in Arusha from June to July (high season) and worked at a school/daycare. While I signed up for childcare, I ended up teaching and met such incredible children and local teachers! Going in, I had some qualms about volunteering abroad, but IVHQ (at least with this program) seemed great at working with and involving locals instead of just planting themselves in another country. Their are over 50 Tanzanians employed by IVHQ's Tanzanian partner TVE and you get to work closely with many of the coordinators. They'll show you how to get the best prices, teach you how to get to placement, or even just bring you to market to get your dress tailored by a woman they know! Having these local connections right-off-the-bat really helped with getting involved and immersed. The amenities provided were also stellar. I went during high season, so there were a lot of people in the house, but the house itself was great! My room, which I shared with 6 people had a full bathroom (including a shower with hot water) as well as a common room and porch for the many volunteers to hang out in. The social life (beyond working at placement, which was the crux of the experience), was probably the best part of the whole time! I made unforgettable friends, and we got to go to incredible places. The hotsprings in Moshi, Safari in the Serengeti, and more every-day trips into the square or market were all quite the adventures. Transportation is cheap and easy, with a dala-dala ride costing only 500 TZN (about $0.20 us) or the more luxurious indriver (basically Tanzania's uber) being an easy and safe way to travel when the daladala can't provide. All-in-all, the country was incredible, and my experience with IVHQ was an important part about it. While there were some flaws in communication, the country itself is incredible with kind and open-hearted people.

I spent three weeks volunteering in Tanzania at Imara, a non-profit foundation that supports anyone affected by HIV and AIDS. The trip will be something I cherish for the rest of my life. I traveled by myself which wasn't difficult for me at all thanks to the help and communication from IVHQ. If I had any questions during my trip, there was always someone to help me. The people I met at my volunteer house will be people I keep in contact with for many years because we had such an amazing time together. I am continuing to help out my foundation all the way from home back in New York after creating a GoFundMe page for Imara so that I can send them donations for small things that they desperately need and cannot afford. IVHQ was a great value for the money. I do suggest booking flights on your own. I was able to be placed in a volunteer house that was safe, and provided meals, water, showers and beds. If I needed to get around the town, I was able to either use the local transportation or pay to have a volunteer driver which was nice to have for nighttime activities. I would definitely book a volunteering trip through IVHQ again in the future.

Arriving Europe just now, I really missing the days spent in Arusha Tanzania! I was assigned to Testimony School in Arusha, which is the 3rd largest city in Tanzania. I would like to give three key wordshere: love, friendship, nature. Love I spread in the school, love Ifeltfrom other vonlunteers, lovefrom director of theschool, love from all officers of IVHQ and TVE. I felt that the kids there are eagerly to learn and dream for the future. The director who funded the school in extremely difficult situations and spent all what he has to maintain the school. Friendship: we had about 50 vonlunteers during my stay, from Canada, USA, Ireland, China, Columbia, South Africa, UK etc. I love the guys so much that I am missing themnow already. We helped each other, we love each other. Also, we had great friendship established with all the TVE organizers, e.g. house manager, communication manager, etc. Beautiful nature, kindly people. Although Africa is still a little bitdangerous compared to Europe, once you take good care of yourself, everything gonna be ok. Once you are safe, you could explore the beautiful people and nature. Wild animals, vast african prairie are definitely something you should experience in a safari. Sleeping in the tents, with lions walking around nearby, is so amazing that you dare not to get out of tent in night. Haha, just wonderful and fantastic! I just love the time there, whenever I have time again, I will not hesitate to vonlunteer there again!

I first went to Tanzania through IVHQ in August 2013 and was there for 4 months in total. In all honesty it was the best thing I have ever done. So worthwhile. I'd previously done quite a bit of travelling but had never set foot in Africa and I was desperate to explore a country whilst also giving back. All the volunteer programs I looked at online were really expensive and it was clear they were 'taking their cut'. When I found IVHQ I thought the prices made sense and it looked fully comprehensive. I was placed at Women's Christian Orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania, genuinely 'the poorest of the poor' - to cut a long story short I fell in love with the kids and myself and other volunteers have now committed ourselves to improving their lives (namely we've helped make improvements to the building (electricity and safety) and the well being of the children). I stayed at a volunteer house and have found myself a new family who are based all over the world, we all grew very close and I love them all to bits. I had such a great time in Arusha that I decided to return there this year to visit friends who have since moved there after loving it so much, and to check in on the children, who are all doing great. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Do it!! :)

What an unbelievable experience! Loved my home stay and volunteer placement. A little more dangerous to walk the streets than I had expected, had to learn very quickly to be extra cautious. So sad to leave, can't wait to go back!