Tanzania & Zanzibar Island: African Safari, School Construction & Education, and Swimming with Dolphins

I had never traveled internationally before I went on this GIVE trip. I felt so safe, supported, and had so much fun! The lead guides were always there to help you and answer questions, while also being the most fun and cool people. I grew close with fellow volunteers as we experience this incredible time together. Finally, being immersed in the local village was indescribable. The locals are so warm and welcoming; I was genuinely sad to leave the village, my friends, and my guides. Go on this trip!

I also did the Kilimanjaro add-on, which was amazing. The Kili guides were also so supportive and fun. How often can you say you summitted Kilimanjaro??

This trip met and exceeded all the expectations that I had going into it! The connections that were made will last a lifetime and everyone I met are the most genuine people I’ve ever stayed with. The work and teaching that I did changed my life for the better and everyday was amazing. You really are able to form connections with all your students and see how fast they learn. Their motivation motivated me in my life coming back home. This was the happiest I have ever been in my life was when I was on this trip!

This trip was absolutely incredible!!!!!! This was my third time traveling with GIVE and each trip just gets better and better. You are truly immersed in the culture and get to form long-lasting relationships with community members and other volunteers. It was an adventure of a lifetime that everyone should take. If you are considering it at all, just take the chance and go!

During volunteering, we got to teach English to local members of the community of Kairo. We also worked in construction and helped build the new school hall building. After volunteering, we were immersed in the community even more with extra activities like learning how to weave from the local women and getting to support the local economy. There were many adventure aspects to this trip as well like snorkeling with dolphins and exploring Stone Town. Many nights we had group discussions to talk about our impact in Kairo and Zanzibar and how we can take the knowledge we learned and the love we have felt back home with us. It truly is incredible how much you are able to do in just a couple of weeks and the amazing discussions you can have with volunteers, community members, and local guides.

GIVE is an amazing organization that cares about each volunteer experience and places everyone with a welcoming community! Tanzania was a great opportunity to learn from local men and women in remote villages of Tanzania. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and excited to share what they know about the community and culture there. It was so hard to leave the beautiful town of Cairo. It feels as though we made a great impact on the community, and I know that they made a huge impact on us as well. I’m so grateful for this experience!

If you didn’t know already, I went to Tanzania 🇹🇿

I was planning on writing a lengthy post about how this trip has impacted me but no words are going to do my experience any justice.

I loved every single second of my time spent in Tanzania, whether it was taking dance breaks from mixing concrete, doing sunrise yoga, laughing with my students as they tried to teach me Swahili, jamming out to music in the dolla dolla (car/bus), swimming with dolphins, or having nightly group discussions about how to be more socially aware.

I’m so thankful to have been able to experience this beautiful culture and to be accepted into the local village of Kairo with open arms and warm hearts. So, asante sana (thank you very much) to all of the guides, volunteers, and locals. I love you all and I’m so blessed to have been able to meet each and every one of you ❤️

If I wrote out everything I want to say about my recent trip to Africa, you would be reading this review for hours. So here is my short(er) and sweet version. Going to Zanzibar for 2 weeks with Give Volunteers was easily one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The Zanzibar locals i’ve gotten to form relationships with have stressed the importance of sharing what Africa is really like and everything I have experienced with as many people as possible. There are a lot of negative stereotypes and misinformation spread about Africa, and I encourage you to check your privilege and where you are receiving information that you are using to form opinions and generalizations about a continent and the people in it. The people of Zanzibar want you to know that they are happy, CHIZI CHIZI people who are genuinely so excited about life. These individuals, and the culture they shared, have shown me what it’s truly like to live fully in the present in every moment. I have learned so much from the souls i’ve gotten the chance to know, and I am forever thankful. GIVE is a fantastic program because the locals are so involved with the program and improving and shaping it in all aspects that it needs. I have learned so much about sustainable travel, GIVE, Zanzibar, myself, and the world in general. I am so blessed to have experienced something that has opened my mind so far beyond what i thought i already knew. I left a piece of my heart in Zanzibar, and I am so thankful to have experienced something that makes me feel that way. So much love to this island and all the beautiful people i’ve gotten to know and love and treasure. I highly recommend this trip, it is something you will never understand until you experience it for yourself.

I'm writing as a parent of a student. My wife and I were a bit wary of sending our son to Africa, but these concerns were quickly dismissed after conversations with John at the Give organization. Since I elected to meet my son in Africa after the volunteer experience and join the group for Safari and climbing Kilimanjaro, I got a more up close and personal experience with this amazing organization. They are committed not only to improving the lives of the people they work with in Tanzania, but to improving the lives of the students they are trusted with. As a parent, I would not hesitate to recommend this group!!!

GIVE is such an amazing company that volunteers in a truly sustainable way. I cannot recommend this experience enough! The local guides take such good care of you and really make you feel like family. The island of Zanzibar is absolutely breathtaking and getting to experience right next to the local people is just incredible.

While I was there, we worked on constructing a new store house for the local schoolhouse. I had so much fun working with the GIVE construction workers and just making memories with our GIVE group. In the afternoon, we worked in the classrooms and taught English to students. It was so amazing to watch the students pick up on a new concept or watch a light come on as you explained something that they didn’t understand at first. When we were not volunteering, we were out experiencing the local culture. We swam with dolphins, explored local food markets, swam in the most beautiful ocean and so much more! If you are on the fence about a trip to Tanzania, don't be! GIVE will take such good care of you and this experience will change your life in ways you can't even imagine!