Situated in East Africa, TANZANIA possesses some of the most interesting natural highlights of the region: Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, is situated in the mountainous North-East; Tanzania shares Lake Victoria with Uganda and Kenya; there are the exotic spice islands of Zanzibar; and the world famous Serengeti National Park. The population consists of more than 120 ethnic groups, from the red-clad Masai tribes on the Serengeti plains to the Muslims in Zanzibar‘s Stone Town. Both Swahili and English are widely used.
In the cities Arusha and Dar es Salaam there are numerous understaffed orphanages. You can teach English at local schools, or support local HIV/AIDS initiatives, either by caring for patients or assisting in raising awareness.
Masai women’s groups need your help to raise their position in society. It’s a great way to get to know their culture and rural life. You can also volunteer at the tree nursery in the town of Moshi on the slopes of the Kilimajaro.
PLEASE NOTE: While most AmeriSpan programs are designed to be able to be done on a tourist visa, Tanzanian law is very strict on visa categories. A recurring problem encountered by Americans is that volunteer activity – even if the traveler is paying for the volunteer opportunity – is prohibited on a tourist visa. Americans who are traveling to Tanzania for short or long term volunteer projects should review their status with the sponsoring organization before entering the country.
