Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers in Tanzania are either accommodated in a volunteer house or a​ ​homestay with a host family. Volunteers can expect to share a room with 1 to​ 8 other volunteers of the same gender and volunteer houses can accommodate up to 30 volunteers at a time. Volunteers in homestays can expect to be living with at​ ​least four other volunteers. The volunteer house and homestays have running water and electricity but it is important to note that there are​ ​often power outages which affect the availability of hot water and power.

Bedding is​ ​provided, however, you will need​ ​to bring​ ​your own towel and toiletries. It is​ ​also​ ​recommended to bring​ ​a​ sleeping bag for cooler months and weekends away​.

​In the volunteer house, there is a cook who​ ​​prepares meals for the​ ​volunteers and there is a security guard.​ ​The local​ ​​team​​ are also available on a daily basis​ during the week for support and via phone over the weekend.​

If you would like to keep connected during your stay, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Tanzania. The local team can assist you with purchasing a SIM card during your program orientation. You can also access WiFi from cafes and restaurants in Arusha.

If you would like to arrive a day earlier than your recommended arrival date or wish to spend a few extra nights after finishing your program, we can arrange extra nights of accommodation for you for $35 per person, per night, meals included, subject to availability.

If you would like to arrange extra nights of accommodation, just make a note in your application or contact your VAS Program Manager who will be happy to assist you.

 

Meals

Tanzanian cuisine varies across the country, owing to the difference in produce inland and along the coast. The immigration of Khoja Indians has resulted in local dishes influenced by Indian cuisine. Staple foods in Tanzania include rice, ugali (maize porridge), chapatti and beans.

Volunteers in the volunteer house are served four meals per day. Breakfasts generally consist of eggs served with pancakes, mandazzi (deep fried dough balls) or cake and always plenty of fruit and bread with jam and spread if you prefer toast.

Lunch will be a traditional meat dish (chicken or beef) with a vegetable dish, beans, lentils or cooked vegetables served with rice, pasta, chips or chapatti.

Soup is served around 4pm with bread rolls. homestay houses will not serve soup Dinner will be different to lunch but similar in that it will normally consist of a traditional meat dish (chicken or beef) with a vegetable dish, beans, lentils or cooked vegetables served with rice, pasta or chapatti.

Meals are served at the accommodation, however some fruit can be provided and you can feel free to make a sandwich upon request if your placement is due to finish after lunch time.

Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately $5 per week for 2 liters a day. Filtered water is available at the all accommodation it is volunteer preference if you choose to buy water or use the free filtered water.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know so we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.