Trip Details

Environmental Conservation Volunteer Tanzania

Deep in the heart of Monduli’s rural landscape is a conservation programme that seeks to preserve the natural environment for all who live there. And, if you’re someone who wants to make a difference in the world, this Conservation Volunteer Programme is for you! Here, you can explore the beauty of Tanzania and its people, whilst working on this incredibly rewarding project!

Play an Active Part in preserving Tanzania’s Wildlife and Communities

During your stay, you will be hands-on with reforestation work, planting seedlings, learning about conservation techniques, and also teaching these skills to schools.  In fact, teaching is vital; the rainforest area is crucial for the survival of the wildlife and the people here  – so with little rainfall, we must protect it!  And by teaching the local community, the programme has a better chance of conserving the forests. In addition, this project supports the women who run this project, whilst connecting with local schools and the wider community.

Explore Tanzania and its Vibrant and Colourful Culture!

After a day of volunteering, you’ll want to do a little exploring – and Tanzania offers no end of adventures! For example, you might visit the bustling markets of Moduli, or travel further afield to Tanzania’s diverse terrain of mountains, forests and lakes. You will also find plenty of experiences, from safaris to Maasai cultural activities and educational excursions. However, if you prefer to chill, you can also hang back at our centre, with plenty of communal areas to mix with fellow volunteers! In fact, many of our volunteers make life-long friends here!

Why be an Environmental Conservation Volunteer in Tanzania?

  • Help raise awareness of conservation on a local level
  • Deepen your own understanding of the impact that we have on our planet
  • Get to know Maasai and wider Tanzanian customs and culture
  • Explore Tanzania’s mountains, cities and wildlife – with new-found friends!
  • Stay in safe and comfortable accommodation, with meals and beverages* included

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

You will arrive on Sunday and have plenty of time to relax and be refreshed ahead of your exciting week as an Environmental Conservation Volunteer in Tanzania!

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day to get accustomed to your surroundings. Your Conservation Volunteer programme will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Orientation Day Schedule (Monday)

  • Welcome, introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
  • Tanzanian Do’s and Don’ts, Culture introduction and country history and Intensive Swahili Language Lessons.
  • Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
  • Lunch
  • Hike up the beautiful Monduli mountains
  • Dinner

Weekly Schedule

Tuesday to Friday

  • 7.00 am-8.00 am: Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation
  • 8.00 am: Leave the volunteer accommodation and travel to placement. Conservation Volunteer work at the tree nursery, tree planting, and/or environmental club
  • 12.00 pm: Lunch
  • 13.00-15.00 pm: Conservation volunteering at the tree nursery, tree planting, and/or environmental club
  • 16.00 pm: Evaluation
  • 17.00-18.00 pm: Dinner

Please note:

Cost of transport to locations is not included, but will usually be around £1.50 per day.

This schedule can be changed depending on weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Evenings and Weekends

After a day as a Conservation Volunteer, you can choose to explore the area or simply relax with new friends back at your accommodation. Many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new volunteer friends during the week and plan their weekend adventures as they go!

Places to Visit

Tanzania is a truly incredible place to visit, and you will need to plan ahead to fit in as much as you can! Here are our favourite areas …

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Expanding over plains, forests, and savannahs, you will find the world’s largest crater here, where incredible wildlife coexists with the Maasai. This area is a must-see when in Tanzania.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is famous for its population of elephants and the symbolic Baobab tree. During the dry season, you will find zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, wildebeests and more! While not as common, you might be able to find a lion here as well if you are lucky!

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti is probably the most worldwide known National Park in the world. It is believed to hold the largest population of lions in the world! Aside from that, cheetahs, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, hippos live here. Make sure you allow yourself at least two days to visit and stay overnight in either a campsite or a lodge. Serengeti cannot be done in just one day!

Arusha National Park and Mount Meru

This is the home of Mount Meru, the second largest peak in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro. While it is not the best place to spot wildlife compared to Ngorongoro or Serengeti, it is still the home of many species including giraffes, warthogs, Cape buffaloes, lions, elephants, flamingos and more! However, the main attractions here are the landscapes that line the park including the Momelia Lakes, which vary in color due to algae and are made even brighter by many different species of birds who love to swim in the water!

Lake Manyara National Park

During the wet season, pink flamingos brighten up the lake, which make it the go-to place for bird watchers. They do leave during the wet season, but Maasai Lions, Leopards, hippos, giraffes, zebras, elephants, blue monkeys, gazelles and cheetahs are here year-round!

Moshi and Mount Kilimanjaro

Moshi is about two and a half hours away from Monduli, easily reached from Monduli by taking a “dala dala” to Arusha and then another one to Moshi from there. This is a sleepy town with a Western vibe as it is the starting point of the Mount Kilimanjaro climb! On a clear day, you can get excellent views of the highest mountain in Africa (tip: head over to Moshi Train Station for a top-notch view.

Kikuletwa Hot Springs

A lesser-known but still amazing attraction! Located between Arusha and Moshi are Kikuletwa Hot Springs. The water isn’t actually hot, but its temperature is perfect for swimming and relaxing. Known as an oasis, the water here is so blue that you have to see it to believe it! It is a favorite go-to place for locals and expats alike, and there is even a rope you can use to dive into the water with style!

Arusha

Arusha is one of the main cities of Tanzania and is easy to reach from Monduli in less than an hour and a half. From here, most safari companies depart to many of the national parks surrounding it, so it is your go-to place for wildlife! In Arusha, you find a myriad of things to do – from Maasai markets selling crafts to bring back home, to cinemas, shopping malls, Western food, and more!

Hiking Around Monduli

Monduli is set amidst lush mountains that are a great opportunity for hiking off-the-beaten-path. There are numerous trails, one of which leads to a gorgeous waterfall. Speak to our coordinator to arrange, as the government needs to grant you permission (for a fee) to visit beyond certain spots in order to conserve the area.

Iringa and Ruaha National Park

An great place to visit if you have the time after finishing our programme! Ruaha National Park is the largest National Park in Tanzania and boasts cheetahs, the second largest population of Leopards in Africa, buffalos, hippos, and more!

Zanzibar

Whilst a bit of a journey, it is possible to fly to Zanzibar for a weekend from Arusha airstrip, a small airport that operates domestic flights and is not too far from our centre! While here, don’t miss Stone Town, a place that is emblematic for its mazes and spices (take a spice tour for sure!). Another must is a visit to Prison Island, where you can spot dolphins and marine life. Travel north or east of the island for some of the best and cleanest beaches in the world and enjoy the Indian Ocean at its best!

Trip Accommodation

You will be staying in the district of Monduli located within the Arusha region, in northeastern Tanzania. The Monduli district is an extremely popular spot for tourists to learn how the local Maasai people live as well as observe the natural environment. Numerous attractions such as Lake Manyara, Mount Meru, Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro are nearby and are the natural wonders of this incredible region. We really recommend adding our Cultural Week to fully explore this amazing territory!

About the Accommodation

You will stay in our local volunteer centre or with a host family. The volunteer centre has male and female dorm rooms with shared bathrooms, a communal living room and a dining room. There may be western-style toilets, but the traditional squat-style flush toilet is more common. Also, the accommodation is on a local school campus and there are lots of green spaces to enjoy, including a large garden where you can relax and socialise. Importantly, we suggest that all participants get a local SIM card and buy a bundle to maintain personal internet access.

Food 

Meals consist of local cuisine which includes a lot of corn, rice, potatoes, and bananas. Some beef, goat meat, beans, and a few green leafy vegetables will help to add nutrients to your daily meals. There are very few western dishes, so please be prepared for a food adventure as well! Please note: The programme includes 3 meals per day throughout the week and two meals per day at the weekend.

Facilities

There are many shops located close to the accommodation, as well as small local restaurants, salons, pharmacy, an ATM and local markets). The hospital is also easily reached on foot and is well equipped.

Transportation

There is a local “dala-dala” (minibus) area that can take you to Arusha, which is a major city in Tanzania where you can find numerous markets, shops, malls, restaurants and supermarkets.
Please note that the programme does not include transport, and extra provision must be made for your excursions.

Trip Country Info

Tanzania

Population: 55 million
Capital: Dodoma
Language: Swahili, English
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Time zone: EAT (UTC +3)

Parts of the country are in Southern Africa and it is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west; Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south; and by the Indian Ocean to the east. It is home to Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, in its northeastern region and is considered the Safari capital of the world!

Tanzania is a presidential constitutional republic, and since 1996, its official capital city has been Dodoma, where the President’s Office, the National Assembly, and some government ministries are located. Dar es Salaam, the former capital and its largest city, retains most government offices and is the country’s principal port and leading commercial centre.

Volunteer holidays to Tanzania are enjoyed in a land of spectacular beauty, and one of the largest countries in Africa. It lies on the east coast of Africa and is bordered to the north by Kenya and Uganda, to the west is Zaire, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia and to the south are Malawi and Mozambique. Tanzania comprises of coastal lowland, volcanic highlands, the Great Rift Valley and the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. We have a selection of volunteering programs in Tanzania with placements at orphanages, teaching & medical placements.

Tanzania is the only country in the world which has allocated at least 25 per cent of its total area to wildlife national parks and protected areas, including the world famous Serengeti National Park. We provide exciting gap adventures to Tanzania, backpacking holidays and volunteering work experience programs.  If you are interested in volunteering in Tanzania or trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro have a look at our latest programs below or give us a call for more information.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Under 18, Parental Consent
Travel Insurance

Additional Requirements

Recommended Vaccinations
Rain Coat
Work Gloves
Sturdy Boots/Shoes

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa