Overview

Volunteer Zanzibar 3 wks - pmt plans available - add on island fun
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Jun 24 - Jul 15, 2026
SHAPE NW image
SHAPE NW
$3,999
Deposit: $1,000

About your trip

Volunteering in Zanzibar:

Humanitarian Work in Tanzania, Africa

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Zanzibar has become a very popular tourist destination due to its perfect weather and the beautiful beaches on the Indian Ocean.  It's important to start our trip with a comprehensive village tour of Jambiani where students will meet local families and learn about day to day life in Zanzibar.   Students will spend their volunteer weeks in coordination with the local city counsel, building roofs for local families in need.  Students will receive 70+ volunteer hours for their project work in Zanzibar

Island Excursions to add-on in Zanzibar $650:

Stone Town - a visit to Stone Town, the home of infamous Freddie Mercury is a must do for anyone visiting Zanzibar. Students will explore the old streets and famous wooden doors, shop for souvenirs and grab some food at the night market.

Beaches - The property is a 2 minute walk to Jambiani beach where students will spend a lot of their free time. In addition, we will visit Paje Beach in addition to everyone's favorite; Mtende Beach.

Caves - We are fortunate to have three cenontes very close to us. There is one very special one in the south of the island where we can swim with turtles

Sunset - Sunsets in Africa are like none other and with the sun setting over the Indian Ocean, it is a wow experience. We will have two sunset excursions, one on a dhow boat and the other is a sunset party at Kae Beach.

Horseback riding on the beach

Snorkeling and visit to starfish Island

Cooking Class

Tour of the Spice Farm

What's included

Airfare

Round trip airfare from specified cities in the US.

Lodging

Food

Local meals will be provided on all project days. Participants will be responsible for some meals during excursion week.

Volunteer Projects

ALl volunteer projects we engage in asks for a fee for participation. The participation fee is included in the price of the trip.

Excursions

We have some planned excursions included, but the excursion package includes everything.

Transportation

Included is transportation to and from the airport, to our project sites and excursions as well as transport from Tanzania to Egypt.

What's not included

Visas

American passport holder are charged a $100 visa fee for Tanzania

Food while in Airports

While we are traveling, students will provide their own food while traveling through the airports.

Layover Extras

In the event there is a long layover some students opt for a hotel stay, accommodations and other activities are not included in the price.

Souvenirs

Food/Snacks/Beverages

Food is not provided while at the airports and on some excursion days. Meals at restaurants. Snacks. Beverages

SIM cards/Data Plans

Laundry

Changes to schedule

Any flight or schedule changes are not included in the price of the program

Unplanned activities

Day 1-2

Day 1-2 image

Depart US to Tanzania

This is our travel day from the US to Dar es Salaam and then a bus ride to Kahama.

Day 3-21

Day 3-21 image

Volunteer & Excursions in Zanzibar

In Zanzibar, we work in tandem with the city to choose families who are most in need of roofing. For the past two years, we have been building makati roofs for families in need. The photo above is a photo from 2025. The students not only built the roof but the entire shelter.

Students will have materials delivered and they will hand weave long leaves from coconut and palm trees, which makes the walls for the home. They will also use lumber to construct the shape of the roof and hand knot the makati material over the wood structure to complete the roof.

During the weekends, students will have the students will be out and about on their island excursions including the caves, beaches, swimming with turtles, sunsets and hanging out in Stone Town.

Day 21

Day 21 image

Flight to US

Accommodations in Zanzi

Accommodations in Zanzi image

Facilities

Participants will be living in the Jambiani Backpackers hostel which is owned by our organization. This facility, while the students are not occupying it houses travelers from all over the world. Opened in 2023 and has received the 2024 award for being the best new hostel in Africa and the 2025 awards for being the best hostel in Zanzibar and the best small hostel in Africa.

Students will be living in dorms in this little piece of paradise. The property boasts a swimming pool with sunbeams around, small kitchen, large veranda upstairs with hammocks and small yoga space and a sand volleyball court in the back. We are about 200 meters from the Indian Ocean (think two football fields).

About your organizer

SN
Volunteer Pathways is the International Volunteering Arm of SHAPE NW.   Founded in 2009, SHAPE NW began running summer and adventure camps for elementary and middle school students.  It was our goal to offer programming for HS students in a very intentional way. Paulina, the founder being an avid traveler and someone who dedicated many service hours to those in need has a deep-seeded belief that volunteering abroad offers an education you could never experience in a classroom. Her life mantra is "travel is the best gift"!

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