Zanzibar Program FAQ’s

For Answers to General Questions about our programs, please click here and for questions specific to the Zanzibar program, please read on.

Section 1: Planning for Zanzibar Travel
Q1. What languages do I need to speak to be able to participate in your volunteer Zanzibar program?
Q2. When is the best time to participate in your programs?
Q3. When do the programs begin?
Q4. Where can I read about Zanzibar?
Q5. What is the Weather like in Zanzibar?

Section 2: Traveling and Visa Issues
Q6. What kind of visa do I need? Do I need a work permit?
Q7. How much do I need to pay for a Zanzibarn visa and how do I get one?
Q8. What Airport Should I Fly to?

Section 3: Fees and Money
Q9. How much money should I bring for my personal expenses in Zanzibar?
Q10. What Does my payment cover?

Section 6: Living In Zanzibar
Q11. What language program is offered in Zanzibar, is it Language and Culture or Survival Spanish and how long will it take?
Q12. How much time must I spend in your programs in Zanzibar?
Q13. What are the living conditions like in Zanzibar?
Q14. What is the food like in Zanzibar?

Q1. What languages do I need to speak to be able to participate in your volunteer Zanzibar program?

The language of business in Zanzibar is English. Swahili is the national and most spoken language. Some members of your host household will speak English and you should be ok if you have a working knowledge of English even if it is not your first language.

Q2. When is the best time to participate in your programs?

Ans. For most people, any time is just as good. For those going on safari in the mainland of Tanzania, October–January is the spectacular wildebeest migration season, and probably the best time to visit. For the rest, Zanzibar is cooler in May through September and better for visiting.

Q3. When do the programs begin?

Ans. Beginning dates are First (1st) and Third (3rd) Thursday of each month.

Q4. Where can I read more about Zanzibar?

Ans. You can click here to go to the Zanzibar Country Profile Page, where you can read more about Zanzibar.

Q5. What is the Weather in Zanzibar like?

Ans. Zanzibar Islands and most of the south and southwestern Tanzania have one rainfall seasons; December to April. May through October is the warm season, the rest of the year being more or less hot. Temperatures average between 25 Celsius (77 F) to 39 Celsius (102 F) in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. There is sunshine throughout the year and summer clothes are worn most of the year.

Section 2: Traveling and Visa Issues

Q6. What kind of visa do I need? Do I need a work permit?

You will need a Tanzania tourist visa since you are categorized as a tourist because you do not get paid for any services you provide while in the country. There is no separate visa for the Island of Zanzibar. You do not need a work visa - a non-tourist visa is unnecessary, difficult to obtain and may be twice as expensive as the tourist visa.

Q7. How much do I need to pay for a Tanzania visa and how do I get one?

We provide all our participating applicants with all this information. Any traveler in East Africa can stay on a tourist visa for 3 months at $50 US dollars. The Tanzania embassy or high commission in your country will issue you with a Tanzanian visa. You must obtain a visa before arrival in Zanzibar, you may not be able to get one at the airport in Zanzibar.

Q.8. What Airport should I fly to?
Ans. If you are going to Zanzibar, you should fly to Zanzibar International Airport in Zanzibar. The conventional airport name is Zanzibar and the Airport Code is ZNZ. If you are going to Moshi, you should fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. The conventional airport name is Arusha, Kilimanjaro and the Airport Code is JRO.

Section 3: Fees and Money

Q9. How much money should I bring for my personal expenses in Zanzibar?

The amount of money you bring depend on you. Most participants can live on USD 25 per week for out of pocket expenses. A weekend out will cost you between $ 250 and $500.

Q10. What do the fees cover ?

Ans. Please go to the Zanzibar Program Fees page to find out what the fee does and/or does not cover.

Section 6: Living in Zanzibar

Q11. What Language is offered in the Zanzibar Language and Culture Experience program, will I need an extra week to participate?

Ans. Swahili Language is offered in Zanzibar. Although this program only offered in combination with other programs, it is a separate program that takes one week. There is no overlap between the programs

Q12. How much time do I need to spend in Zanzibar?

Ans. You can spend 1 to 24 weeks. If you want to take the language and culture program and/or any adventure program where trips and tours take more than 7 days, you will need at least 10 days.

Q13. What are the living conditions like in Zanzibar?

Host families who are carefully selected from among respected members of society provide accommodation. Alternative accommodation can be arranged at extra cost. Living conditions are average for developing countries but vary from house to house. There will be electricity most of the time. Portable tap/faucet water will most likely be available in the house or on site, just outside the house. Flash toilets will be there in at least 70% of the
households.

Q14. What is the food like in Zanzibar?

East African foods include chapatti – more like tortilla made from wheat flour; rice and beans, a mash of plantains, meats - chicken, beef, goat, sheep; tea; coffee; pilaf rice, etc. Chili and other spices are commonly used in food, but you can ask to have less of the spices in your meals if you so desire. Vegetarian foods can be arranged.