Work and Travel in Tanzania

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN TANZANIA FOR TRAVELLERS

Tanzania is known as the jewel of East Africa. Popular with tourists, and home to the largest game park in the region, there’s a reason why so many people want to work and travel in Tanzania.

But with so much false and conflicting information online about work in Tanzania, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s where we come in.

Our travel guide to Tanzania is going to show you everything you need to know before planning a trip to this bucket list country.

1. Combat Deforestation in Tanzania

As you travel in Tanzania, you will see that logging is a big problem in the country. Deforestation is the immediate threat facing the environment here. That’s why international charities are working to stem the flow of deforestation.

There are a variety of jobs you can take up here. They may include raising awareness of deforestation through online/offline marketing or via planting new trees.

Depending on your skills, you’ll either be positioned in urban or rural areas. Most charities will also take your personal preferences into account.

2. Teach English in Tanzania

The national language of Tanzania is Swahili. But young people increasingly want to learn English as the country grows in stature.

One of the most rewarding volunteering opportunities in Tanzania is to become an English teacher. Whether working for private students or in a school, you’ll be able to make real, lasting connections with your students and change their lives forever.

It helps if you have a TEFL qualification, but it’s far from necessary if you’re a native speaker.

3. Improve Agriculture in Tanzania

Agriculture is a huge amount of the rural economy. However, famers rarely get the support they need. That’s why charities are working on helping farmers improve the way they go about their business. This includes showing them new and improved farming techniques and providing them with the latest technology.

The idea behind this is not just to help the farmers themselves but to improve the environment. You can play a part in this as you work and travel in Tanzania.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR TANZANIA

There are few countries whose citizens are able to travel in Tanzania without a visa. They’re generally restricted to other African nations and a few smaller countries dotted around the world, including South Africa, Belize, and most of the Caribbean nations.

The only exception to this is Romania. Romanian citizens are able to visit Tanzania for three months without getting any form of visa.

Everyone else will need to use the e-visa system. Under the e-visa system, you’re entitled to the same three months. It’s a relatively new system, as it was only introduced in 2018, but it works well and travellers have reported no problems using it.

Countries entitled to use the e-visa system include all European Union (EU) nations, North Americans, the UK, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia. For more info click here.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN TANZANIA

SPRING WORK

The spring season in Tanzania is a difficult time to be in the country. Spring is the middle of the heavy rainy season. Road conditions can become treacherous, and parts of the rural areas can be downright inaccessible.

For this reason, we recommend that you stick to the urbanised areas. Working as an English teacher or working with underprivileged children are two options you can pick up as you work and travel in Tanzania.

SUMMER JOBS

The summer season comprises the cool dry season. It’s the one of the high seasons for tourism, so there are plenty of volunteering opportunities in Tanzania in this sector. You can work in guesthouses and hostels across the country in exchange for accommodation and food.

This is also the perfect time of year for indulging in the conservation sector. Consider working to thwart deforestation. You may also decide to work with the endangered animals in the Serengeti National Park. There are always positions for travellers who’re passionate about animals.

Another type of work in Tanzania is infrastructure development. The rural areas are often blighted by a lack of good roads. You can work with organisations dedicated to improving the infrastructure of the country.

This sort of project involves a lot of hard work in hot conditions, but you’ll know that you’re making a big difference.

AUTUMN

The autumn season is the shorter rainy season. You don’t need to worry about parts of the country becoming inaccessible at this time of year. You should refer back to the two previous sections for ideas of what you can do around the country.

It’s one of the best times of year to visit the country, especially if you plan on working in one of the national parks. Many animals follow shorter migratory routes at this time of year.

WINTER

The winter is the hot dry season. Temperatures can get impossibly high at this time of year. You should be aware that this is also one of the high seasons for tourism, so you can work in hostels and guesthouses across the country.

Due to the high temperatures, we generally recommend staying in the urbanised areas. Working with impoverished communities is one of the best types of work in Tanzania on offer in winter.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN TANZANIA

Tanzania is a country that largely relies on tourism and its natural wonders. For this reason, you tend to get a lot of harassment in major tourist destinations, as people try to sell you their wares. This can become irritating as a volunteer, but it’s a reality of spending time in Tanzania.

But away from the tourist destinations you won’t have any problems working or volunteering. Voluntourism is not uncommon across the country, so you’re not going to stick out.

Like most East Africans, Tanzanians are friendly, generous, and love to get to know visitors. For this reason, Tanzania is a great volunteering option in East Africa.

Do you want to work and travel in Tanzania?