Volunteer in Tanzania!
A land vibrant in cultural diversity, world-renowned for wide-open savannahs, lush tropical mountain forests, the Great Rift Valley at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Northern Tanzania is best known for its abundant natural resources, wildlife safaris, and home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Volunteer for reforestation and trail restoration projects near Lake Manyara National Park, part of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, and the Rau Forest Reserve, in Moshi Town at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. By supporting reforestation projects, you are not only planting trees, but you are also helping to mitigate global warming and climate change.
Join us as we gain an appreciation for the people, local cultural heritage, and the forest environments they call home while working to help protect, preserve and restore these incredible ecosystems and landscapes.
Tanzania Volunteer Trip Details
Look through the tabs below or click on the links to learn more
project activities | itinerary | price | trip reviews | prior trip reports | safety
Desertification is one of Tanzania’s biggest challenges due to climate change and deforestation caused by population growth. This project focuses on reforestation and trail restoration in the northern part of the country.
Planting trees helps mitigate climate change, protects water sources, improves water quality, helps to control erosion, provides shelter for wildlife to sustain biodiversity and provides space for the local community’s well-being.
Working in collaboration with local community organizations, our projects will support developing a sustainable environment for future generations. You will participate in various activities to help re-forest the foothills around the great African Rift Valley Wall near Lake Manyara National Park and the Rau Forest Reserve near Mount Kilimanjaro.
Activities may include building a fence to protect and preserve natural resource land, removing non-native species, planting indigenous trees, growing rare trees in a nursery, collecting seeds, and carrying out essential surveys to monitor forest regeneration. You will also help restore trails in the Rau Forest Reserve and learn about local forest restoration from an expert land manager.
Volunteer work trips offer the opportunity to experience the land in a unique way not available to the average tourist.
No prior experience is required! We will provide project training. You should be able to hike with a day pack, climb hills, move soil or rock with a shovel, pull unwanted vegetation, or carry stones. As always, our priority is your health and safety.
Look through the tabs on the left for more details about the itinerary, price, and gear list
Introduction: The description below outlines the activities you can expect on the trip. Please note however that because local conditions and the project needs continually evolve, detailed project plans may be finalized or revised after the group arrives and the trip leaders review the conditions at the site and consider the volunteers’ capabilities and special interests.
Day 1: “Karibu Tanzania Rafiki” Introductions, Dinner & Orientation
Welcome to Tanzania, friend! Our volunteer trip begins at 4:30 p.m. at our lodge in Arusha. We will have an orientation and briefing where you will get acquainted with your ConservationVIP® Trip Leaders, fellow volunteers, and local guide and get an overview of the exciting time ahead, including the history of Tanzania and its people after British Colonialism, thru independence to modern times. We will have an introductory lesson to the languages of Swahili and Iraqw (a Cushitic language) for an engaging exchange! (Dinner and lodging included)
Day 2: Head East to Karatu and Gekrum Village. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way!
After breakfast, we depart the lodge in Arusha for the 2 ½ hour drive to our lodge in Karatu, with rest stops along the way. After check-in at Karatu, we will make the 30-minute drive to our project site at Gekrum Village, which borders Lake Manyara National Park. Here we will be met by Gekrum Village members, a Cushitic community near our project site, with whom we will be working. We will enjoy a community welcome lunch, orientation and volunteer project overview. The Iraqw people are one of Tanzania’s many ethnic groups.
Then we will begin preparations for and work on our reforestation project. After our initial work is complete, we will return to the lodge for dinner. (All meals and lodging provided)
Day 3: Reforestation Project with the Gekrum Community
After breakfast, we depart for the project site, a short drive away to Gekrum Village. Our projects will vary throughout the week and may include removing non-native species, preparing the soil for planting, planting native plants, collecting water and watering, and mixing fertilizer. This may involve hiking 1 – 3 miles round trip per day. After our projects end for the day, generally around 4:30 p.m., you will have a little time to relax before dinner. After dinner is your free time to relax and unwind. (All meals and lodging included)
Day 4: Rest Day – Lake Manyara National Park
Our volunteer project helps to create a natural buffer zone between the village and Lake Manyara National Park which abuts Gekrum Village.
Today we visit Lake Manyara National Park where you will see how our project work helps to conserve the Great Rift Valley. Lake Manyara is one of the smallest safari parks in Tanzania but encloses, within its numerous microclimates, a diverse range of landscapes and animal populations that mirror those of many different parts of Tanzania in miniature. We return to the lodge to freshen up before dinner. (All meals and lodging included)
Day 5: Reforestation Project Work with the Gekrum Community
Today, we return to the project site for tree planting work and have a closing celebration with our Gekrum Community Partners before saying goodbye. (All meals and lodging included)
Day 6: “Kwaheri Karatu, Habari Moshi” (Goodbye Karatu, Hello Moshi)
After an early breakfast, there will be an introduction to the next partner on our journey and a briefing on our upcoming activities at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro! Then, we will depart the lodge for the day-long journey northeast to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro towards our next project site. We will stop along the way for lunch and refreshments, then continue to our hotel in Moshi. (All meals and lodging included)
Days 7-9: Moshi and Rau Forest Reserve Reforestation and Trail Maintenance.
We will begin our Rau Forest Reserve project with an expert land manager’s orientation about the Rau Forest Reserve, including visiting the community adjacent to the forest and learning about the local culture.
During these volunteer project days, the group will engage in various activities that could include forest clean-up, preparing the tree planting site, working in the tree nursery, planting trees, and cleaning and maintaining trails.
This work may involve hiking 1- 3 miles round trip per day. After our projects end for the day, generally around 4:30 p.m., return to the lodge before dinner. After dinner is your free time to relax and unwind. (All meals and lodging provided).
Day 10: Opportunity to Explore the Lower Foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro at Materuni Village!
Today is a rest day. You can rest on your own at the hotel grounds or explore the lower foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro at Materuni Village where we can hike to the waterfalls, explore caves, enjoy the local culture and food, and cap it off with a community Coffee Plantation tour that is a social enterprise you won’t forget. (All meals and lodging included)
Day 11: Kiviwama Day & Celebration Dinner
Today we will head back to the Rau Forest Reserve and meet up with our partners from Kiviwama, who will lead us in planting trees in the Njoro Juu Water Spring’s natural springs. Kiviwama (Young Activists in Environment affiliate in Moshi) was formed in 1999 during the national water week when the nation motivated the citizens to plant and care for these indigenous trees that are water friendly. After our work is complete, we return to the hotel to refresh and relax before dinner.
Before we say goodbye to our Rafiki (friends) in Tanzania, we will come together for dinner to celebrate our work together. (All meals and lodging provided)
Day 12: Kwaheri Rafiki! Day of Departure.
Our trip ends after breakfast this morning. You may join the transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or opt to extend your stay in Tanzania with a safari in one of the many national parks and reserves.
Note: Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including changes in the local project needs, weather, and terrain conditions.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AIR TRAVEL: Before purchasing your airline tickets, please check with us to ensure the trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.
$5,985 for 12 days: single supplement is an additional $600 (subject to availability)
(Note: Your trip expense may be tax-deductible. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page and consult your tax advisor for details.)
Price includes:
- Trip Leadership and support staff for volunteer activities
- Local Guide leadership on activities
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 12
- Hotel accommodations
- All transportation as noted on the itinerary
- Project tools and supplies, including purchase of trees and planting supplies
- All orientation and training excursions as noted on the itinerary
- Park entrance fees
Price does not include:
- International airfare to/from Tanzania
- Visa fees
- Breakfast or Lunch on Day 1
- Meals, after breakfast on the day of departure
- Medical immunizations
- COVID – 19 testing (if necessary)
- Insurance (emergency medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory)
- Excess baggage charges
- Airport taxes
- Snacks not noted in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages or soft drinks
- Personal items
Deposit and Cancellation
A deposit of $800 per person for a shared room ($900 for a single room) is required at the time of signup; final payment is due at 90 days prior to departure. The payment and refund policy can be found here.
Group Size: 8-10 plus trip leaders
Submit your review | |
The opportunity to work closely with local individuals who care about their world was particularly rewarding. The hard work and commitment of local people was inspiring and I was touched by the gratitude displayed for the small contribution we made. I am impressed with the work that Maggie from Maggie's Tours is doing with local villagers near Gekrom (sp?) out of Arusha. The young women she is mentoring will benefit from her gentle guidance and leadership. I would recommend persons interested in a trip to Tanzania to consider this CVIP opportunity.
Great camaraderie developed quickly amongst a small group of like-minded individuals. The projects provided a great opportunity to work side by side with our Tanzanian partners and to observe and participate in cultural exchanges that typical tourist trips don't allow. The tree planting and trail clearing were physically demanding but not excessively so. While many of the volunteers felt we could have done more, it was gratifying to observe how appreciative our hosts were. The project location was very well situated to allow for independent safari travel preceding or following the volunteer trip. The weather was more comfortable than anticipated in terms of temperature, humidity, and rainfall, and there were surprisingly few bothersome insects. All in all this was an excellent first-for-the-region trip.
This was definitely a trip of a lifetime for us. We were able to give back to a community that was dedicated in addressing deforestation and climate change. The village members were so appreciative of Conservation VIP volunteers who were there to help them and showed their appreciation with a celebration on our last day with them. So thoughtful of them to do so. We planted a lot of trees between the village and at the RAU National Forest, including the unique Baobob tree. For the inaugural trip to Tanzania we felt everything was run smoothly for us volunteers. We are looking forward to future trips with Conservation VIP.
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation, and weather protection. The gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. View the Tanzania Gear List pdf.
Please click the link below to view Trip Report.
ConservationVIP has always focused on our volunteers’ safety. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened that focus. Traveling with COVID safety concerns requires some extra planning and flexibility both for trip leaders and trip participants!
While on the trip, participants may have to follow procedures such as mask-wearing and social distancing as instructed by the trip leader. More specific safety instructions will be provided to those registered for the trip.
Participants will also have to comply with any restrictions imposed by Tanzania and their country of origin at the time of travel. While we know that the restrictions may change between now and the time of travel, we cannot predict what those changes will be. Here is a link to the COVID information page on the U.S. Embassy website in Tanzania.
