WHY we need you in Tanzania
- Rates for completing school are very low- around one third of the population complete primary education, and less than one in ten finish secondary school.
- According to UNICEF, 88% of all Tanzanian children live in multi-dimensional poverty in Tanzanzia (affected in at least 3 areas).
- In 2015, over 600,000 Tanzanian children were suffering from acute malnutrition.
- 49.1% of Tanzanians lived below the poverty line in 2011, thats just $1.90 USD per day.
HOW can you help?
- Help increase local awareness of enviornmental issues through education.
- Teach classes on environmental conservation to local communities on Monduli.
- It is important to keep going with enviornmental efforts in the local area, as many areas do not have enough trees, impacting the atmosphere quality.
- Works alongside an environmental club via a local school and inspire the children to learn more about environmental conservation.
WHAT you can do?
- Teach the local children and citizens on the importance of enviormental conservation, through education on the effects and causes of enviornmental issues
- Get hands on with forest conservation and tree planting
- Get hands on with forest conservation and tree planting
- Work in community spaces, as well as assisting in the tree nursery
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
Ā PROJECT NAME:Ā ENVIORNMENTAL CONSERVATION
LOCATION:Ā MONDULI, TANZANIA
Ā START DATES:Ā WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
Ā ACCOMMODATION:Ā VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS) OR HOMESTAY
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
Make a meaningful contribution to environmental conservation while immersing yourself in the rich culture of Tanzania. This unique opportunity allows you to reconnect with nature and help safeguard its future.
Tanzaniaās natural rainforests are limited, affected by seasonal weather patterns and the unique landscape. Local forestry departments work hard to preserve these vital ecosystems, but their efforts alone are not enough. Communities must also play a role in protecting forested areas and the animals that depend on them.
In Monduli, one inspiring women-led organization is doing just thatāprotecting the environment while empowering the local community. Their work addresses the critical need for reforestation, which improves air quality and helps families adapt to a changing landscape.
Your Role in the Conservation Program
As a participant, youāll take on diverse tasks that vary based on the season and weather, including:
Tree Planting: Expand green spaces by planting trees in the rainforest and community areas, creating habitats for wildlife and promoting ecological balance.
Tree Nursery Support: Help nurture seedlings and ensure their healthy growth, providing a sustainable supply for future planting.
Educational Engagement: Work with local schoolsā environmental clubs to teach students about conservation. Through interactive classes and activities, youāll equip them with the knowledge and tools to protect their environment.
By participating, youāll plant the seedsāboth literally and figurativelyāfor a greener, more sustainable future. This program is your chance to make a lasting difference in Tanzaniaās environment and its communities.Ā
Location
You will be staying in the mountain district of Monduli, which is situated within the Arusha region, in North-Eastern Tanzania. The Monduli district is a great place for visitors to learn how the traditional Maasai people live and to experience an authentic local village. The region is situated between the famous Mt Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti- making it a perfect place to go on a safari or trek in the mountains.Ā Lake Manyara and Mount Meru are also popular attractions to explore in this beautiful region of Tanzania.
Project Tasks
- Educate the community and future generations about sustainable practices and conservation.
- Contribute to reforestation efforts and preserve vital green spaces.
- Support women-led initiatives and foster local development.
- Promote practices like waste management and water conservation.
- Cultivate a commitment to environmental care in Monduli and beyond.
Food & Accommodation
You will stay in one of our volunteer houses in Monduli, with 2-6 people sharing a room. There may be modern western-style toilets, but it’s possible that traditional squat-style flush toilets may also be available. Additionally, showers may require water to be heated, often using a bucket-style method. However, we assure you that, despite these differences, the facilities are designed to meet your needs.
The program centre is situated on a vibrant local school campus, surrounded by ample green spaces for you to enjoy and unwind. A spacious garden area provides the perfect spot to relax during the daytime, while clear nights offer a magnificent opportunity for stargazing, with the dazzling Milky Way visible right from this very location.
We highly recommend obtaining a local āHalotelā or āAirtelā SIM card and purchasing a data bundle, ensuring you maintain personal internet access during your stay.Ā
Electricity
Tanzania uses both āType Gā (British Standard) and āType Dā electrical sockets and operates on a voltage of 230 volts at 50 hertz (Hz) rated at 13 amps. Itās essential to bring the appropriate plug adapters or universal travel adapters that support Type D and Type G sockets to ensure you can plug in and use your electronic devices without any issues.
The accommodation is close to shops, small local restaurants, salons, pharmacies, an ATM, and local markets, all within walking distance. In case of medical needs, the well-equipped hospital is also easily accessible on foot. For those seeking a broader range of amenities and activities, the local “dala-dala” area offers minibus services to Arusha, a major city in Tanzania, located just an hour away. Arusha serves as a bustling hub with numerous markets, shops, malls, restaurants, and supermarkets, catering to all your requirements.
You will recieve 3 meals on weekdays and 2 on weekends. The meals are primarily inspired by the delicious flavors of the local cuisine, offering a true taste of the region’s culinary traditions.
Expect the daily meals to feature a delightful array of locally sourced ingredients, such as corn, rice, potatoes, and bananas. There will be some dishes that incorporate beef, goat meat, beans, and nutritious green leafy vegetables.
If you have any specific dietary needs and/or allergies, kindly inform us in advance, and we will ensure that appropriate meals are prepared for you.
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.
FAQ
If you have a passion for protecting the enviornment, or are looking for a project where you can get stuck and and get your hands dirty, then this projects for you!Ā Anyone who is interested in environmental issues and who would like to learn more about what can be done, could be of great value to this community.Ā
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
- Introduction meeting, General rules, Setting Expectations, Advice on Health and Safety and insuring you have all your documents.
- Tanzanian Doās and Donāts, Cultural introduction, learning about Tanzaniaās history and Intensive Swahili Language classes.
- Tour around the accommodation and local area. We will show you where to find local amenities and where you can buy a sim-card.
- Lunch
- Hike up to nearby Monduli mountains
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport, between 6am to 6pm on Saturday or Sunday. If arriving on Saturday, an extra night is charged.Ā
If arriving outside of the pickup times, we charge an additional fee for any extra nightās accommodation before your program, and another fee for a private transfer.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrivalās terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From Kilimanjaro airport to the Monduli accommodation, it takes 2-2.5 hours by car. From Arusha airport to the Monduli accommodation, it takes 40-50 mins by car.Ā Ā Ā
Monday: Orientation
After breakfast, you get through the introduction of the team, projects, familiarization of the center, Dos and Donāts, Code of Conduct, Child Protection policy, and Media Consent guidelines. A presentation on culture in Tanzania and a basic Swahili lesson thereafter After lunch, you will visit Monduli Town for mobile phone connections, currency exchange, and ATM facilities.
Tuesday to Friday
- Following a delicious breakfast, you’ll venture to the vibrant plant nursery to immerse yourself in various engaging tasks such as seedbed preparation, bagging, Seeding, weeding, watering, and other related activities in the nursery.
- Lunch at center
- Engage in tree planting activities and/or Educational
- Engagement at community schools
- Evaluation of the day’s work/preparation for the next dayās educational engagement activates
- Dinner
***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***
*Schedule possible to change due to the project and community needs at the time. Volunteer flexibility and adaptability is important to a positive volunteering experience.
There are many exciting places to explore in the surrounding areas, here are just a few!
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Home to theĀ Ngorongoro Crater, this stunning area of vast plains, green forests and wild savannahs, sits next to the Serengeti National Park. You will see the highest concentration of animals here from lions, zebra, wildebeest and elephants. The views from the crater are absolutely stunning, with an atmospheric mountain backdrop. This should be at the top of your bucket list for Tanzania!
Serengeti National Park
Another one for your bucket list and a perfect way to spend your weekend off. The Serengeti is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the big 5 (lion, rhino, leopard, buffalo & elephant). You will also find zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, baboons, hyenas,Ā ostriches and many more incredible animals. The best way to explore is by camping out in the open or in one of the many lodges. The area is huge, and we recommend at least 2 days here.
Tarangire National Park
A quieter park in Northern Tanzania,Ā Tarangire is known for its large population ofĀ elephants and the incredible Baobab tree. In dry season you can spot all kinds of amazing animals that congregate to theĀ Tarangire river. Spot anything from zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, wildebeests and even lions of youāre lucky.
Moshi and Mount Kilimanjaro
Moshi is about a two and half hour drive from Monduli and can be easily reached using a ādala dalaā or taxi to Arusha and then changing again onto Moshi from there.
Moshi is a quiet town with several Western cafes and coffee shops. It is also the closest town to the starting point of the Mount Kilimanjaro trek. On a clear day, you can get excellent views of Kilimanjaro right from the roadside (Tip: Moshi Train Station, which is no longer is use, has fantastic views of Africaās highest mountain, with locals selling drinks and snacks up the top).
Arusha National Park and Mount Meru
Mount Meru is located in Arusha National Park and is the second largest mountain in Tanzania. If youāre looking to Climb Kilimanjaro ,then Mt Meru can be a great acclimatisation trek, taking you through various types of vegetation. There are also scenic trails around the mountain at ground level. Other attractions includeĀ Meru Crater, the Jekukumia River, Ngurdoto Crater and the Momelia Lakes which are known to change colour! You might even find wildlife hereĀ including giraffes, warthogs, cape buffaloes, lions, elephants, flamingos and more.
Lake Manyara National Park
If you love bird watching, then head to Lake Manyara during the dry season where pink flamingos flock to the vast lake. During wet season see if you can spot the lions, leopards, hippos, giraffes, zebras, elephants, blue monkeys, gazelles and cheetahs roaming the park.
Kikuletwa Hot Springs
A somewhat āsecretā pool of clear blue water, situated in betweenĀ Arusha and Moshi is the Kikuletwa Hot Springs. The water isnāt actually hot but totally refreshing after the dusty drive getting there. Enjoyed by tourists and locals, this is a beautiful spot for relaxing and swimming in the crystal clear water, surrounded by jungle. Thereās even a rope swing into the water for more fun and games. If this wasnāt on your list before, it should be now.
Arusha
Just over an hourās drive from Monduli, Arusha is a large city in Tanzania which has many Western style eateries, a cinema, Maasai markets, shopping malls, supermarkets and a cultural centre. There are a lot of things to do here and a great way to spend your weekend. Close to the Serengeti, Arusha is a popular starting destination for wildlife safari tours.
Hiking Around Monduli
If youāre looking for off the beaten path trails then thereās no better place to look then inĀ Monduli. There are numerous treks, one even takes you to a beautiful waterfall. You will need to ask your local coordinator to arrange certain visits, as the government needs to grant you permission (for a fee) to visit beyond certain spots, this is to conserve the area.
Iringa and Ruaha National Park
If you have the time after finishing your project, Ruaha National Park is a quieter and much less visited place for wildlife viewing. Itās located in Central Tanzania, near the small and quiet town of Iringa (which is a great stop off for visiting Ruaha). The park is actually the largest in Tanzania but less frequently visited by tourists, although visitors are rarely disappointed by its natural beauty. Itās home to cheetahs, the second largest population of Leopards in Africa, buffalos, hippos, and more!
Zanzibar
A little further afield, it is still possible to fly to Zanzibar for a weekend from Arusha (although several days here would be ideal). Zanzibar is known for its sandy white beaches, turquoise water and unique culture. Stone Town is an interesting town, known for its mazes and spices. Other things to do is a visit to Prison Island, where prisoners were once held but is now home to giant tortoises. You can also spot dolphins and try snorkelling off the island. The North and East of Zanzibar have some of the best and cleanest beaches in the world.
Modest clothing, covering the knees and shoulders is prefered- plus it needs to be something you don’t mind getting dirty!
For information on holidays and any programs affected, please see the following link:Ā TZ – Holidays – All Programs
Tanzania is a large country in Eastern Africa within the African Great Lakes region. Tanzania is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. It also sits alongside the beautiful Indian Ocean. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africaās highest mountain, in its north-eastern region. The trek to the top is challenging but provides stunning mountain views. The country is also considered the Safari capital of the world, with incredible wildlife viewing throughout Tanzania, in particular, the Serengeti.
Tanzania is a presidential constitutional republic, andĀ its official capital city has been Dodoma (since 1996). Here you will find the Presidentās Office, the National Assembly, and other government buildings. Dar es Salaam, the former capital is still the largest city and holds most ofĀ the government offices, as well as being the countryās principal port and leading commercial hub.
Climate can vary greatly within Tanzania. Up in the highlands, temperatures range between 10 and 20Ā°C during cold and hot seasons.
The rest of the country is usually pretty consistent, with temperatures rarely falling lower than 20Ā°C. The hottest period months are between November and February (25ā31Ā°C) while the cooler months occur between May and August (15ā20Ā°C). Tanania can recieve some cooler evenings and mornings, so be sure to bring along something warm to wear.Ā
Tanzania has two major wet seasons: one is uni-modal (October to April) which isĀ experienced in southern, central, and western parts of the country, and the other is bi-modal (October to December and March to May), found in the north from Lake Victoria and up along the east coast.
The Serengeti can be visited throughout the year but is most popular during March to May, due to very little rain. For the wildebeest migration, travel from June to September. And for Zanzibar, this is best visited from June to October, which is dry season.
Tanzania has a large and diverse population, consisting of many different tribles, ethnic communities and religous groups.
Christians and Muslims make up the majority and 2% still practice Traditional African Religion.
incredibly, there are over 100 different languages are spoken in Tanzania, making it the most diverse country in East Africa for language. All four of Africaās language families are spoken (Bantu, Cushitic, Nilotic, and Khoisan), with Swahili and English being the official languages. Although some locals speak great English, Swahili is predominantly spoken throughout the county.Ā
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IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
Affordable Volunteer Travel
Safe & Responsible Projects
Work Experience & University Credits
FEES
Standard
Projects (Monduli)
- *Cultural Orientation Week
- English Teaching
- Environmental Conservation
- Maasai Mara Woman's Empowerment
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1 Week - $395
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2 Weeks - $445
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3 Weeks - $650
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1 Month - $875
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2 Months - $1775
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3 Months - $2700
- Private rooms cost additional $250 p/week
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! š