Overview
Being a volunteer for the Sea Turtle Program in Zanzibar, you'll be working with a local NGO that's actively engaged in the protection of sea turtles and also does educational work through raising awareness among the population of the island. There are about 180 turtles who are currently growing in a safe environment at the project site, and around 150 sea turtles that live close to the site. There are 30 bigger turtles living in a nearby lagoon.
Every year in February, the turtles are released into the ocean. Since the project does not receive any state funding, it depends on the help of volunteers.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded, and have a passion for working with animals. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
As a volunteer, your main tasks would be:
- Checking the water quality of the pools
- Replacement of water in the pools and Sea Turtle Hospital
- General cleaning work
- Collecting seaweed in the Indian Ocean
- Cleaning the adult turtles
- Treatment of sick turtles (depending on previous knowledge)
- Cleaning the lagoon (removal of leaves and plastic)
- Measurement of hatched turtles
- Measurement of the young
- Control of the nets
- Repair work on the networks
- Beach cleanup
Volunteer Work Schedule
Volunteers usually work from Mondays to Fridays, for about 4 to 6 hours daily, depending on the work requirements. After breakfast, you will meet up with your colleagues to exchange the water in the pools, collect seaweed and clean up the sea turtles. On other days you will help with maintenance work, turtle measurements, and cleaning work. At lunchtime, you will eat with the other volunteers. Once a week you create a weekly menu together. On the weekends, you can chill by the picturesque beaches, go for a dive or explore Zanzibar's gorgeous locations.
Living




At Volunteering Solutions we try to provide best of the living arrangements to our international volunteers. So when in Tanzania, you do not have to worry about a single thing in the world and simply focus on your volunteer work.
Arrival & Orientation
You'll be arriving in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar airport. No matter where you arrive, our team members will receive you at the airport. If you take a flight to Dar es Salaam, then you'll be taken to the local stay in the outskirts of the city where you'll spend a night and an Orientation Session will happen there. The next day you'll take a ferry to reach North Zanzibar, where you'll be volunteering (Ferry cost to be paid by the participant). In case you fly to Zanzibar directly, we'll directly take you to the volunteer house..
Accommodation & Meals
There are two different accommodations available in Nungwi for your Sea Turtle project. The first accommodation is located directly on the project site in Nungwi where the house has several 4-bed rooms with private bathrooms. The outdoor dining area is under a large coconut canopy right on the turtle project. You can also use an open fitness room, which is located directly on the property. About 30 volunteers can be accommodated here.
The second accommodation is about a 5-minute walk from the project site, and about 8 volunteers can be accommodated here. The volunteers are accommodated in 2-bed rooms with bathrooms. There is a kitchen, a living room, and an outdoor area with a garden and terrace. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the volunteers have the opportunity to eat with all the other participants under the large coconut roof and sit together comfortably.
During your Free Time
Volunteers will have a lot of free time during the weekend. During weekdays too, your evenings would be free. Some of the activities that you can get involved in during your free time in Zanzibar.All free time activities and tours are at the participant’s own extra expense.
- Visit the old forts, museums and beautiful streets of Stone Town
- Eat all the seafood you can at Forodhani Gardens in the evening
- Go on a spice tour to see how cloves, nutmeg and much more are grown
- Go swimming in crystal clear water
- Snorkel or dive to some of the most beautiful reefs of the world.
- Relax and live the island lifestyle!
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of $199 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 4% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up at Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar Airport
- Accommodation & Meals in Volunteer House
- Drinks only included for breakfast (juice & coffee)
- Orientation
- Completion Certificate
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- International Airfare
- Ferry from Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar (about 35 USD)
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa Fees
- Personal items
- Vaccinations
Program Dates
Months | 2022 | 2023 |
January | 020509121619232630 | 0108152229 |
February | 0206091316202327 | 05121926 |
March | 0206091316202327 | 05121926 |
April | 0306101317 | 0209162330 |
May | 010408111518222529 | 07142128 |
June | 010508121519222629 | 04111825 |
July | 030610131720242731 | 0209162330 |
August | 030710141721242831 | 06132027 |
September | 0407111418212528 | 03101724 |
October | 020509121619232630 | 0108152229 |
November | 020609131620232730 | 05121926 |
December | 0407111418212528 | 03101724 |
FAQ's
FAQ's Application and Program Details
As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee .You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments, however, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior the start of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.
The minimum age requirement for the programs in Zanzibar is 18 years.
Volunteers joining the medical volunteer project must be either Pre-Medical, Medical or Nursing students or possess other qualifications related to medical and nursing field such as CNA or EMT. Medical professionals such as doctors and nurses are also welcome to join this program.
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.
The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
The participant must be in good health.
We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.
In our experience of more than 12+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for student groups- college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next Vol Sol program.
Flights and Visa
Recommended airlines to fly into Zanzibar are Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and KLM. There are good connections from European and Middle Eastern countries to fly into Zanzibar.
Health and Safety
Some pointers for the project:
Ensure that you are modestly dressed.
If you are diving or snorkeling, you may be tempted to collect some shells from Zanzibar's many coral reefs. Please do not, as this kills entire reefs, the devastating effects of which can be seen in the well-trodden areas of the East African coast. Although there are shell sellers, you are asked not to buy shells from them, as it simply encourages this harmful industry.
Zanzibar is an amazingly photogenic place but if you want to take photographs of people, please ask for their permission first, out of respect for them.
If you are not Muslim, do not enter any of Zanzibar's mosques.
Keep in mind that your safety comes with your own behavior and looking for your personal items. Lock your room if possible, give valuables to the coordinators to keep for you and be aware of your surroundings.
Zanzibar is alluring to many different tourists and many women from the west will find their African lovers here. Be aware of the smooth talking beach boys that you will encounter and can organize everything for ‘free’ for you or very cheap, there usually is a price to pay somewhere down the line.
We recommend these basic vaccinations for your safety:
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Accommodation and Living
Your program coordinator will take you to your placement and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program, city, culture etc.You will be briefed about the local transportation and also about your transfers to the project every day from the accommodation.
Volunteers in the medical and teaching project are provided accommodation with host families in the safe area of Mbwemi just outside Stone Town and close to the airport. You can expect to share a room with other volunteers. We typically use 3-4 host families in the area for our volunteers to stay.Meals are provided 3 times a day by your host
For volunteers in the turtle project, there are two different accommodations available in Nungwi for your Sea Turtle project. The first accommodation is located directly on the project site in Nungwi where the house has several 4-bed rooms with private bathrooms. The outdoor dining area is under a large coconut canopy right on the turtle project. You can also use an open fitness room, which is located directly on the property. About 30 volunteers can be accommodated here.
The second accommodation is about a 5-minute walk from the project site, and about 8 volunteers can be accommodated here. The volunteers are accommodated in 2-bed rooms with bathrooms. There is a kitchen, a living room, and an outdoor area with a garden and terrace. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the volunteers have the opportunity to eat with all the other participants under the large coconut roof and sit together comfortably.
Volunteers in the Football project stay in volunteer house accommodations in Kwerekwe district of Zanzibar Town or in Chuini.
Visit the old forts, museums and beautiful streets of Stone Town.
Eat the seafood you can at Forodhani Gardens in the evening.
Go on a spice tour to see how cloves, nutmeg and much more are grown.
Go swimming in crystal clear water.
Snorkel or dive in some of the beautiful reefs of the world.
Relax and enjoy the island!
Your program fee covers your accommodation, airport pick-up, orientation, pre-departure information, and in-country staff support. You will need to cover your personal expenses, such as traveling, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing, return airport drop, weekend tours etc. However, you should carry around $50 - $60 per week for your basic personal expenses, such as water, local transport, phone etc.You will also need to pay for Work Permit as it is mandatory to take while volunteering in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Connect with Past Volunteers
To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer section on our website.