Country Spotlight: Tanzania

At United Planet, we offer volunteer abroad trips to over 40 countries – but we know it can be difficult to decide where you want to travel! The following article provides some handy information about Tanzania, one of our most popular destinations in Africa. You can learn about other United Planet destination countries by viewing more of our country spotlights!

From Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, down to the Serengeti, where lions, wildebeests, and elephants roam, and east to the beautiful oceans of Zanzibar, Tanzania is known for its striking natural landscapes and habitats. In addition to the mountainous northeastern region and the plateau and arid region that comprises the rest of the country, Tanzania borders Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria, and Africa’s deepest lake, Lake Tanganyika. Tanzania’s climate is mostly tropical, but the country experiences cooler temperatures in the highland and mountainous regions.

Tanzania is a diverse country and has a rich history and culture. Throughout the centuries, Tanzania’s ports have attracted traders from Arabia, Persia, India, Greece, China, and Europe. Many traders, especially from Arabia and Persia, settled in Zanzibar and along the coast. The country’s 130 tribes and adherents of Islam, Christianity, and other indigenous beliefs coexist peacefully. Most Tanzanians speak the national language of Swahili, along with many other local languages. Our volunteers describe the people they meet in Tanzania as friendly, welcoming, and down to earth, and most willing to help them acclimate to the culture shock upon arriving. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to participate in Swahili lessons and a weekend excursion to Zanzibar, as well as explore your local community and make countless new friends.

Despite a steadily growing GDP due to solid gold and tourism industries, Tanzania is still one of the poorest countries in the world.  Many Tanzanians struggle with a lack of educational opportunities, a high HIV rate, and water shortages. The high HIV rate has led to many children being orphaned by AIDS.  While volunteering in Tanzania, you will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children in a school, orphanage, hospital, or community center in either the bustling coastal city of Dar es Salaam or the countryside of Iringa. Below we highlight two quests through which you can help Tanzania’s children.

Orphanage Quest: For this project, volunteers work at an orphanage center in Ilula Ward, located 40 minutes by car outside of the provincial capital of Iringa. The center runs many programs to support AIDS orphans and facilitates development projects in the local community. The center includes over 100 acres of farmland, and is currently focused on building a new secondary school. As a volunteer, you will support the center’s operations by assisting with the farm, helping out with the orphans, and more. With rotating schedules, volunteers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of projects.

Teaching Quest: As Tanzania has recently changed its primary language of instruction to English, volunteers are needed to assist teachers with English instruction for grades 1-4. As a volunteer, you will help children improve their spoken English skills, conduct teacher-training for English-teaching staff, and teach remedial classes. This is a perfect Quest if you are interested in education, but teaching experience is not required! Students in Tanzania are very eager to learn and having a teacher who is from another country is a great experience for them and you alike!

Depending on your interests, there are many more opportunities to volunteer in Tanzania. If you are ready to make a difference, consider a trip to this beautiful and vibrant country. Many volunteers, like Julia Dellwo, have told us how their time in Tanzania changed their perspectives. Says Julia, “My trip to Tanzania was a life-changing experience. I have never been so affected by anything else in my life. I would recommend volunteering abroad to everyone. I made life-long friendships with people around the world, who I shared remarkable experiences with. I want to go back and visit all of my friends and family in Africa right now.”

There are plenty more ways you can get involved! If you are interested in volunteering in Tanzania, visit our Tanzania homepage to read more about each volunteer project. If you would like to volunteer in another country, check out our interactive map to see where we offer volunteer trips!