Medical Volunteering in Tanzania - Arusha
That sounds like a fantastic opportunity for those interested in healthcare and making a positive impact in low-income communities in Tanzania. Volunteer After Safari’s Medical project provides a valuable experience for volunteers to gain medical knowledge and skills, while also contributing to improving access to healthcare in Arusha.
It's important to note that volunteering in a medical capacity requires a certain level of expertise and training, so it's essential that volunteers possess the necessary qualifications to participate. It's also important to take safety precautions, such as getting the necessary vaccines, before embarking on any medical volunteer work.
Highlights
- Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
- Affordable fees from $345 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
- Help provide and take healthcare to the people who need it the most
- See Tanzania’s stunning landscapes and unmatched wildlife
- Stay near Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s biggest mountain
- APPLY FOR FREEAdd to wishlist
Be Part of Something Meaningful
Improve access to quality healthcare
Volunteer house or homestay
Fully hosted experience from $345 for 1 week
Add on a safari in the Serengeti
Based in clinics and hospitals
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Durations from 1 - 16 weeks
Up to 6 hours volunteering a day
This program is ideal for:
Eager individuals who wish to assist in offering primary education and taking care of young kids can participate as volunteers. You don't need to have prior experience in childcare as local personnel will be there to assist you.
What to Expect and how you'll Make an impact
In many poor communities in Tanzania, healthcare is not easily accessible or affordable. The Medical Volunteer project aims to change that by placing volunteers in medical clinics that serve vulnerable people.
As a Medical volunteer, you’ll work in either a local clinic or hospital, shadowing local medical professionals and assisting with daily duties. Local regulations and language barriers mean volunteers are unable to perform independent tasks; however, you can observe healthcare in action in a developing country and help where permitted. Your placement will be determined by your previous experience and training.
You may also be able to take part in Medical Outreach campaigns twice a week. Campaigns take place in local villages, delivering basic medical care where it’s not often available. These campaigns are fully arranged and funded by volunteers, and you’re welcome to reach out to your Program Manager for more information about these.
Why do Medical volunteering in Arusha with Volunteer After Safari
As a healthcare volunteer in Tanzania, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving access to healthcare for low-income communities
- Learning about a medical system in a developing country
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining medical experience
- Immersing yourself in Tanzanian culture
- Discovering Africa’s incredible wildlife
Volunteer requirements
- To join the Medical project in Tanzania you will need to be in your third or subsequent year of medical or nursing school or a qualified professional. CNAs, paramedics, and fully qualified EMTs are also eligible to take part.
- All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance, and provide a criminal background check to VAS before departure.
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 project you will be working with.
Weekdays
- Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day would be as follows:
- 7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house or homestay.
- 8:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at.
- 1:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home for lunch at their accommodation, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing.
- 8:30 PMDinner at the volunteer house or homestay
Weekends
Tanzania is a wildlife lover’s dream. In your free time you can venture out on a safari and see Africa’s Big 5 - lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhino - as well as the mind-blowing number of other species that call Tanzania home.
In Arusha itself you can find great markets, take a few days to hike up the nearby Mt Meru, or learn about the Maasai and Meru tribes of the area. You can also take take a short flight down to Zanzibar for a weekend of sun and sandy beaches or save some time before or after your program to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
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.
Pricing
1 week. $345 Equivalent to $49/day
2 weeks. $515 Equivalent to $37/day
3 weeks $740 Equivalent to $35/day
4 weeks $930 Equivalent to $33/day
5 weeks $1,130 Equivalent to $32/day
6 weeks $1,330 Equivalent to $32/day
8 weeks $1,745 Equivalent to $31/day
10 weeks $2,175 Equivalent to $31/day
12 weeks $2,605 Equivalent to $31/day
16 weeks $3,465 Equivalent to $31/day
What included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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24/7 in-country support
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In-country program orientation
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Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
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Airport pick-up
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Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
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Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
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Certificate of International Volunteer Service
"Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Tanzania generally find US$75-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses."
Go off the beaten track with wildly exhilarating Tanzania adventures
From game drives with lion, elephant and rhino to climbing the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and visiting Africa’s ancient tribes - Tanzania offers some of the most awe-inspiring travel opportunities on the planet.
We believe that no volunteer adventure would be complete without experiencing these wonders. That’s why we offer safaris, guided hikes and other tours, exclusively available to VAS volunteers as affordable add-ons.
Here are just a few of the Tanzania add-ons we offer:
Here are just a few of the Tanzania add-ons we offer:
Local Arusha adventures - starting at $70 for one day
Get up close to flamingoes or visit the ancient Maasai tribe - perfect for your! We offer a range of Maasai Village Tours, as well as trips to Moshi and Bushmen/Eyasi.
Safari tours - starting at $260 per day
We offer a range of incredible safari tours and game drives to suit every schedule and budget across Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks. Safari tours range from one to four days.
Mount Kilimanjaro hikes - starting at $1400 for five days
Tick something truly epic off your bucket list by climbing Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and also known as the “Mountain of Greatness”. Guided hiking tours range from five to seven days.