Tanzania Gap Year, Volunteering & Tours

Tanzania is a spectacular country, home to Africa’s highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as vast nature reserves, a beautiful coastline and bustling cities. From seeing exotic wildlife up close at a National Park to volunteering helping communities, Tanzania will leave a big impression.

Best Tanzania Volunteer Programs, Trips & Safaris

Travel to Tanzania

Here are some of the most popular destinations to add to your itinerary:

• Serengeti National Park, one of the best safari locations in the world populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino)
• Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain.
• The tropical island of Zanzibar which has some of the best beaches in Africa

Tanzania Gap Year & Backpacking Ideas

To get the most out of a trip to Tanzania, you should spend at least a few weeks or more as part of a gap year in Africa.

Here are some of the top rated things to do on a gap year in Tanzania:

• Join an adventure tour exploring the highlights of Tanzania
• Take a safari and get close to animals like lions and elephants
• Go in search of the best beach in Zanzibar
• Volunteer helping communities, one of the most rewarding experiences
• Teaching English, sports or other subjects and help local children learn
• Help marine animals and nature including whale sharks and coral reefs
• Go overland and see more of Africa, some trips visit multiple destinations

Gap Year in Zanzibar

With miles of palm-fringed shores, powder soft coral sands and gin-clear seas, Zanzibar lives up to the Indian Ocean island idyll.

The atmosphere is compounded by a colourful Swahili culture where traditional wooden dhows sail beneath billowing lanteen sails on each far horizon. A great location for exploring, diving and snorkelling and with a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets

There are several small islands off the coast of Zanzibar, which offer an even more exclusive experience than the main island. Some of these islands can be stayed on and others are visited only as a day trip from Zanzibar. Zanzibar’s most famous island is Mnemba which is simply mind-blowing.

There are a host of options if you want to work abroad while discovering all Tanzania has to offer and, in fact, helping out in local communities is the best way to get a real understanding of daily life in the nation.

By getting involved in voluntary work, you’ll be presented with a unique opportunity to get to know more about the culture of this vibrant country. So, what exactly can you do if you decide to volunteer in Tanzania?

Tanzania Small Group Tours & Safaris

Perfect for animal lovers, the Big Five are a highlight of any trip to Africa. The Serengeti National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife, from the elegant giraffe to mighty lion. It’s perfect for spotting the Big Five – the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino.

You could look for leopards in Tarangire National Park, or visit the Serengeti National Park, home to lions, zebras, gazelles, impala, buffalos and many more animals.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the world, with over 30,000 animals and you may even see black rhinos. The Manyara National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, so keep your eyes peeled! 

Volunteer in Tanzania

If you wish to make a difference in Africa and gain practical experience there are lots of rewarding gap year volunteering programs available to join all year round in Tanzania.

You could choose to help communities, children, animals or the environment. Tanzania does have extreme poverty and a lot of local and international organisations work on the ground to improve living standards, education, healthcare and housing.

Tanzania has some of the safest, flexible, quality, and the most affordable programs in Africa. Whether you are a student or professional looking to gain valuable experiences, you can find projects for you! Choose to work for duration of 1 week to 6 months or more.

There are a variety of programs, including teaching, medical placements, orphanage work, construction work, sports education and and childcare in a wide range of destinations, including Arusha, Kilimanjaro (Moshi) and Iringa.

Childcare

Due to the poverty in many African nations, as well as the devastating effect HIV and Aids has on local communities, there are many young children who don’t have parents to look after them during the day. To help ensure these little ones get the best possible start in life, you can volunteer at one of the childcare centres in Tanzania, where you’ll play games with the kids and help prepare them for primary school.

Children as young as six months old will be coming to these centres, and as resources are often scarce in the nation, any help you can offer will be much appreciated. With that in mind, it’s worth packing exercise books, colouring pencils, reading books, craft materials and other stationery as these things can be hard to come by in the country’s more remote regions.

Community Projects

There is also the option to go out into the wider communities once the kindergarten finishes for the day to work with local women’s groups, for example, giving you a unique insight into the Masai culture – something you certainly won’t get on a week-long safari!

You can get involved with projects being run by local people, or simply chat to the adults as they go about their work, something that’s sure to be appreciated as it will give them the opportunity to practice and improve their English.

Playing sports with local children once they finish school for the day is another option if you’re feeling active – and a great way for them to practice their English in an informal setting.

There are a host of ways in which you can help on a gap year in Tanzania, while the country is home to some stunning natural landscapes and vibrant cities that are well worth exploring as part of your travels.

Teach in Tanzania

One of the most popular options for people heading off on a gap year is to teach English – and as the language is so widely spoken around the world, it’s a useful tool for many people to have, particularly if they want to work in the tourism industry.

A popular way to spend a rewarding time in Tanzania is to teach. There are lots of positions available at schools and community centres throughout the country. Popular options include teaching English, maths, science, music and sports.

As you would expect, there are numerous opportunities to teach children of all ages, from kids just starting primary school to those with a better grasp of the subject at a secondary level. Generally, you’ll be working as a teaching assistant alongside a fully-qualified teacher, helping the children get up to speed with the language.

You won’t only be participating in English lessons, though, as there is the chance to get involved in sports coaching and other extra-curricular activities like arts and crafts, dance and music. You can even assist in science, maths or geography lessons if you have a passion for a particular subject, allowing you to get as much out of the experience as the children do!

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