Tanzania & Zanzibar: Safari, Construction, Education, & Swimming with Dolphins

Tanzania & Zanzibar: Safari, Construction, Education, & Swimming with Dolphins

Location
  • Tanzania
    • Zanzibar
    • Kilimanjaro
    • Dar es Salaam
Length
2 to 3 weeks
Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Short Term Summer Winter
Housing
Guesthouse Lodge
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Solo Women

Pricing

$2,795
Price Details
What's included:
-All accommodations
-Group and ground transportation, including airport pick up and drop off
-All meals and drinking water
-Epic adventures and cultural immersion activities
-Funding toward volunteer projects
-24/7 guide support
-Park fees (Nyerere & Kilimanjaro National Parks)
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Dec 31, 2025
Jul 13, 2026
34 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

GIVE’s East Africa Programs take you from the tropical paradise of Zanzibar Island to the wild plains of mainland Tanzania. Work with the community to build additional classrooms for the first school ever in the community of Kairo, teach English lessons to students of all ages, support Women’s Co-ops, and volunteer on marine conservation! Experience ultimate adventures such as a Blue Safari, swimming with wild dolphins in the Indian Ocean, sailing over turquoise waters, snorkeling above coral reefs, and experiencing a 2-day safari through the African savannah!

If you want the ultimate adventure, extend your trips, Zanzibar or Tanzania, and climb Mount Kilimanjaro with our fellow group members!

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Volunteers form deep connections with locals while teaching English and building community projects in Zanzibar and Tanzania.

Program Highlights

  • Build a primary and secondary school for community of Kairo
  • See wild lions, elephants, giraffes and more on safari
  • English education
  • Swim with wild dolphins in the Indian Ocean
  • Empower local women and learn about their co-ops

Video and Photos

Impact 🌎

GIVE's mission is to inspire growth, empower global citizens, and ignite sustainable change worldwide. To truly inspire growth and achieve sustainable travel internationally, GIVE has adopted the Asset-based community development (ABCD) model, a set of proven best practices in sustainable development that mobilizes a community’s assets and resources as the basis for development. Furthermore, through providing hands-on and eye-opening learning experiences that foster authentic connections between participants and host community members, we can empower global citizens who will continue to spread GIVE’s values and ignite sustainable change worldwide.
Exploring the world with GIVE is all about responsible travel, but what does that really mean?
Mindful Tourism + Community Partnership = Economic Growth & Community Empowerment.

Part of what makes GIVE trips so special is being fully immersed in the cultures and communities we visit. However, we take extra steps to ensure we minimize our influence and always respect local cultures. We prepare all participants before travel and ensure they understand the culture and how to dress appropriately.

Program Reviews

4.99 Rating
based on 121 reviews
  • 5 rating 99.17%
  • 4 rating 0.83%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Value 4.85
  • Safety 5
Showing 25 - 32 of 121 reviews
Georgia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Trip of a Lifetime

This was the experience of a lifetime with GIVE. The guides are so amazing, literally giving the volunteers the shoes off their feet and the shirts of their back. GIVE staff put their full effort into truly making this experience the best it possibly can for volunteers and the locals. Would go again!!! More specifically, my trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar was a blast. It was a great mix of culture, volunteering, education, and fun! The people I met will be friends for a lifetime and I will never forget this experience. Highly recommend!

104 people found this review helpful.
Response from GIVE Volunteers

Asante sana from all of us at GIVE! We loved having you join us this summer :) Sending you all the good vibes as you settle in back home!

Naylah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Naylah Hartley

My experience on this volunteer trip was nothing like I expected in the best way possible. It was fun, interesting, exciting, in an amazing welcoming community getting to do things I would have never dreamed of and being able to help others while I did. The things that you never knew you never knew will baffle you and leave you searching to learn everything more that you can. It put an entirely new lease on traveling and being a tourist and showed me how you can see the world without damaging the communities you want to learn about. I would recommend this trip to anyone I know who’s ready to work hard and learn something new!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would tell myself that there is nothing to be scared about and that I have and amazing guide that does everything she can to make sure our trip runs smoothly so that we don’t have to worry about the details and we can just enjoy what we went there to do.
Pros
  • Getting to spend so much time with some amazing new people
  • Getting to try all locally made and prepared foods
  • Seeing so many things for the first time ever
Cons
  • Getting food poisoning
  • Some amazing people weren’t able to join until days after the trip had started
  • Not getting to pet all the cats in stone town
102 people found this review helpful.
McKenna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Book the trip!!!

This was my second trip with GIVE and as always, I felt so safe the entire time during the trip and the community itself was so welcoming! This trip is definitely life changing and I have made the best friends during my time there. I got to teach locals English and work on building walkable pathways for the students to get to their classrooms more efficiently. It was so hard saying goodbye to the village of Kairo because it changed who I am as a person and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I will definitely be booking another trip!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Embrace the trip fully. Become present with yourself and the community while you are there. There are so many stereotypes in different countries around the world but don’t let them cloud your judgement and your time there because I promise you, these places are not the stereotypes that you have been presented. They are so much more! Also, don’t be afraid to be yourself because you will be loved and accepted just as you are!!
Pros
  • Community
  • Adventure
  • Cultural immersion
Cons
  • The fact that my trip came to an end! I wanted it to last forever!
108 people found this review helpful.
Mia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Transformation trip

My recent GIVE trip to Zanzibar was nothing short of extraordinary—an experience that transcended mere travel and delved deep into cultural immersion and global citizenship. From the moment we set foot on this mesmerizing island, every aspect of our journey was meticulously crafted to blend learning, community impact, and personal growth.

Zanzibar welcomed us with open arms, offering a tapestry of cultures that enriched our understanding of diversity. Through interactions with locals, we not only embraced Swahili traditions but also shared our own cultural heritage. This exchange fostered mutual respect and appreciation, reminding us of the beauty in our differences.

Exploring the intersection of economic policies and tourism was eye-opening. We saw firsthand how sustainable tourism practices can uplift communities while preserving natural resources. Engaging with local entrepreneurs and learning about their challenges underscored the importance of responsible travel—a lesson that will resonate long after our journey.

What started as a group of 20 strangers quickly evolved into a tight-knit family. Together, we tackled challenges, celebrated victories, and forged bonds that transcended borders. Sharing meals, stories, and laughter created memories that will forever unite us as global citizens.

Our journey extended beyond personal growth to making a meaningful impact. Through community projects and volunteer work, we contributed to initiatives that empower locals and promote sustainable development. The warmth and hospitality of the Zanzibari people, who welcomed us into their homes and hearts, reinforced the transformative power of human connection.

Zanzibar taught us what it means to be a global citizen—to embrace cultural diversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and share knowledge with humility and respect. Each encounter, whether with a fellow traveler or a local artisan, reaffirmed our commitment to fostering positive change in the world.

My GIVE trip to Zanzibar was more than just a journey; it was a profound exploration of culture, community, and compassion. It highlighted the transformative impact of stepping outside our comfort zones and embracing new perspectives. As I return home, I carry with me not only memories of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures but also a renewed sense of purpose—to continue learning, sharing, and advocating for a more interconnected world.

In essence, Zanzibar has left an indelible mark on my heart, reminding me of the power of travel to inspire, educate, and unite.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Creamed pumpkin with raisins
Pros
  • Learned how to be a global citizen
  • Immersion in culuture
  • Support
Cons
  • 3x meals a day with no snacks
  • Simplistic living
  • Homesick
79 people found this review helpful.
andie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Give Tanzania Trip

During my time a broad with Give Volunteers I was immersed into the culture of a village in Zanzibar called Kairo. During my time spent her I partook in two main volunteering sections, these included Contruction and teaching. During Contruction we made cement as a group, shoveled our newly made cement into wheelbarrows, where we then dumped the cement onto a surface to create a foundation that will soon be a new computer classroom for the locals. During school I taught one of the local tribes, this group of men we the Maasai. During teaching we were divided into separate levels and we taught them English. This experience was very eye opening as well as inspiring for my future. This program is incredible and very reliable. I cannot wait to hopefully continue my travels with Give!

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was celebrating birthdays of volunteers with the locals. Together we would sing, dance, and they have their own birthday traditions (which I will not spoil) but are such an amazing and goofy time!
Pros
  • Meeting New People
  • Immersing into a new culture
  • Traveling experience
Cons
  • Flight arrangements
  • None
  • None
75 people found this review helpful.
Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GIVE Tanzania Trip

I can say with full confidence that this trip was the best thing I have been a part of. I was not really sure what to expect when I signed up for this trip, but by the end of it I left with a feeling of fulfillment. I now have a greater understanding of other cultures and what really is important in life. Not a moment went by when I was not genuinely happy to be able to experience the things I did. The guides, volunteers, Maasai, and locals are all wonderful people who made my time even better. If I was able to I would 100% go back in an instant.

72 people found this review helpful.
Response from GIVE Volunteers

Thank you so much for sharing! We love our GIVErs and absolutely love to hear how your trips have impacted you. Hopefully we see you again in the future! Sending all the good vibes <3

Kaitlyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Absolutely life changing

Such a life changing experience. The people and communities within Zanzibar and Kairo were absolutely amazing. I am so thankful I got to experience this trip with GIVE, and wouldn’t change it for the world. I would HIGHLY recommend this trip and this organization. There is so much to see and the culture that you are in is such an amazing experience that I feel like many don’t get to see. It was so cool to see new animals, scenery, people and meet so many new friends on this trip. I loved every minute of it and hope that other people can have the same experiences as I did. It was very special to me and so so amazing.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Keep an open mind and let yourself live in the moment and embrace the culture around you!
79 people found this review helpful.
Madelyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

First Give trip in Zanzibar, Tanzania

This is was my first volunteer trip with GIVE and I absolutely loved it. I just got back from my trip and it was fantastic. The guides were always there to answer our questions and if we had any issues with anything they were there to help us out. Never did I feel unsafe in the environment. my fellow volunteers were a constant encouragement during construction, education, and my additional trip to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The locals were always happy and excited to see us and they understood that me and my group were not tourist. We were there to make change in the small town of Kairo. One of the best highlights of the trip was just seeing how free and happy the locals were and how inviting they were to include us in their daily lives.

GIVE was excellent in response time before the trip even started and I had no flight troubles going and coming home. I honestly would do this trip again in the future because of how organized and safe it was.

One thing I would recommend to any going to Tanzania would be to bring electrolytes and all the cash that you plan on spending in USD so your not constantly looking for an ATM when you run out of money. (There’s only a few opportunities to get cash) if you choose to do this trip have fun and embrace everyday with an open mind, you won’t regret it.

What was your funniest moment?
Taking funny pictures of our guides on the final night and just having a really fun time on the beach after the sunset.
Pros
  • Helping the locals/people
  • Traveling to historic places
  • Amazing people
Cons
  • Living with a bunch of people in one room
  • Food restrictions hard to provide for at times
  • The hostel in Tanzania wasn’t the best.
75 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers