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Rainforest and Coastal Conservation in Zanzibar
Next start date available: Jun 14, 2023

Rainforest and Coastal Conservation in Zanzibar

Thrilled at the thought of doing Rainforest and Coastal Conservation volunteering in Zanzibar? International Volunteer HQ’s Rainforest and Coastal Conservation project is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to explore the Jozani Forest. It’s the largest tract of native bush on the island and is famously home to the endangered Red Colobus Monkey which is found only in Zanzibar. Volunteers will gain conservation experience by supporting local initiatives that aim to protect and preserve the natural environment and its wildlife through a range of conservation and sustainability activities and community education programs.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every Wednesday
  • Affordable fees from $565 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Protect endangered monkeys, and snakes, lizards, tortoises and chameleon

  • Discover Zanzibar’s incredible natural environment

  • Camp out in a lush rainforest near the tiny village of Jozani

Key information

Protect the planet & preserve nature
Based at a volunteer forest camp
Semi-permanent tent in the rainforest
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Fully hosted experience from $565 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 12 weeks
Discover the incredible island of Zanzibar
Up to 6 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who love the outdoors and want to be involved in a variety of conservation activities. You’ll be passionate about the environment and ready to get your hands dirty.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

The Jozani Forest is the largest area of indigenous rainforest on the island of Zanzibar. It’s home to a host of rare and unusual species of wildlife and a few which are found nowhere else in the world, including the endangered Red Colobus Monkey.

As a Rainforest and Coastal Conservation volunteer you’ll work with the local community assisting in conservation and environmental education efforts through a range of activities. Volunteers will be involved in tasks such as:

  • Helping at a small reptile sanctuary
  • Working at a farm co-op which grows fruits and vegetables
  • Upcycling of waste materials
  • Mangrove tree planting
  • Replanting fruit trees in the forest as a source of food for the Red Colobus Monkey
  • Small construction and renovation projects
  • Teaching environmental conservation education in local schools
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Human activity has altered almost 75% of the earth’s surface and around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Nature is critical to our survival. We must promote kindness to animals and use regenerative techniques to combat deforestation, conserve biodiversity and protect wildlife.

Why do Rainforest and Coastal Conservation volunteering in Jozani with IVHQ?

As a Rainforest and Coastal Conservation volunteer in Zanzibar you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Assisting with local initiatives to support conservation efforts
  • Protect endangered wildlife in their natural habitat
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining a wide range of conservation volunteer experience
  • Learning about wildlife conservation and preservation
  • Exploring Zanzibar and its amazing rainforest

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

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”It is hard to pick just one favourite moment from the volunteer experience because everything impacted me in some way! The guidance and preparation resources I received from IVHQ were very helpful and my emails were responded to quickly. The children and the amazing local team had the biggest impact on me along with meeting other people volunteering abroad. What I would say to someone still hesitant about volunteering abroad is, to just go for it - you won't regret it! ”

Read reviews from Rainforest and Coastal Conservation volunteers in Jozani

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Volunteer Abroad in Zanzibar with IVHQ

Location

The Rainforest and Coastal Conservation project is based in Jozani which is located in the southeast of the island, close to the picturesque Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park.

Arrival and orientation

Volunteers need to arrive in Zanzibar on their start date and their orientation will take place the following day.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the Wednesday night before your Thursday program orientation.

If you are traveling in Tanzania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Zanzibar on your start date.

Orientation is hosted by our local team at the volunteer accommodation. Orientation begins on the Thursday morning after your chosen start date. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Zanzibar – an introduction to Zanzibar, Zanzibar customs, rules and expectations, language lessons (Kiunguja), safety, travel opportunities in Zanzibar, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and the local team you will be working with.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On the first day of the volunteering placement, you will be escorted to the project by our local staff and introduced to the staff at the placement you will be working with.

Weekdays - A typical day would be as follows:

8:00 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM Volunteers travel to their placements
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch at the volunteer accommodation
2:00 - 5:30 PM Volunteers resume work for the afternoon
9:00 PM Dinner at the accommodation

Weekends

Volunteers have free time on the weekends and are able to make the most of the gorgeous beaches, explore Zanzibar’s historic Stone Town or other towns, shop for souvenirs, or enjoy a range of adventure and outdoor activities including snorkeling, diving, swimming, wildlife viewing and fishing. If you’re staying for a while you may also like to fly back to mainland Tanzania or other parts of Africa where you can go on safari or otherwise explore.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers on the Rainforest and Coastal Conservation project in Zanzibar stay at a forest camp in semi-permanent tents. Volunteers can expect to share a tent with up to​ 5 other volunteers of the same gender. Forest Camp living is basic but comfortable with compost toilets, solar-heated showers and filtered drinking water.

Bedding is​ ​provided, however you will need​ ​to bring​ ​your own towel and toiletries. It is​ ​also​ ​recommended to bring​ ​a​ sleeping bag for weekends away​. There is a cook who​ ​​prepares meals for the​ ​volunteers and 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 the local team will provide you with a local SIM card at your orientation. The local team will provide more information on how to top up your SIM at the orientation.

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 $19 (approximately $19) per person, per night, on the Rainforest and Coastal Conservation project. Meals are included, and extra nights are subject to availability. There is an additional surcharge attached when volunteers need airport pick-up earlier than their Wednesday start date.

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

Meals

Zanzibar’s cuisine varies across the island, 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 Zanzibar include rice, ugali (maize porridge), chapati and coconut milk.

Volunteers are served three meals per day. Breakfast usually consists of a hot Zanzibari spice tea, instant coffee, chapati, mandazi (deep fried dough), toast with jam, and fruit.

Lunch and dinner are usually plain white rice or pilau rice (which in Zanzibar includes cardamom, cinnamon and cloves), pasta, french fries or ugali with meat or vegetables (usually carrot, potatoes, peas, okra) typically cooked in a coconut sauce that contains some herbs and spices.

Please note that while the local team can cater for vegetarians, they are not able to cater to other special dietary requirements or requests, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and there is the need to be flexible or prepared to supplement the food provided. If supplementing food, volunteers must note that the kitchen is not available for volunteer use.

At the Rainforest and Coastal Conservation project accommodation, volunteers will have access to filtered water and we recommend volunteers bring their own reusable water bottle. Bottled water is also readily available in Zanzibar and volunteers should budget approximately $5 per week for this (2 liters per day).

Pricing

Duration
1 week $565 Equivalent to $81/day
2 weeks $750 Equivalent to $54/day
3 weeks $935 Equivalent to $45/day
4 weeks $1,120 Equivalent to $40/day
5 weeks $1,305 Equivalent to $37/day
6 weeks $1,490 Equivalent to $35/day
8 weeks $1,860 Equivalent to $33/day
10 weeks $2,195 Equivalent to $31/day
12 weeks $2,495 Equivalent to $30/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations and criminal background check.
  • Please note: Volunteers ​staying for 2 weeks or more ​will need to budget US$200​ to ​obtain a work permit.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Zanzibar generally find US$50-75 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Check what's required to visit Zanzibar

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Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Dodoma
Population 58 million
Languages Swahili and English
Currency Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Time zone UTC+03:00

Weather and climate

Zanzibar follows very similar weather patterns to that of mainland Tanzania but is always a little more humid and warm weather should be expected all year round. The island’s rainy season runs from March through May when humidity is high and afternoon downpours are common. The dry season occurs from June through October and rain is infrequent. During November and December there’s another short rainy season followed by a short dry season across January and February.

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