Dress
The climate is warm in Zanzibar. Light-weight and cool clothing is the norm. Men tend
to dress in casual pants and tshirts or shirts, though often you will see them dressed
in the traditional white robes called kanzu and elaborately embroidered "kofia" caps.
Zanzibari women typically cover their hair in public and wear ankle length garments.
A small number veil their faces in public. While covering your hair is not necessary
for women visitors, modesty in dress is important out of respect for Zanzibar culture.
Shirts or blouses with sleeves that cover the shoulder and pants or skirts that are
knee length or longer are recommended for daily wear and required in the
classroom. Swimming suits, shorts and beach wear are fine at the beach or
swimming pools but not on the street. Sturdy walking sandals are a good choice for
footwear. During the rainy season, an umbrella is a good idea.
Zanzibar has a large market area selling clothes, shoes and accessories. Colorful
shawls, attractive dresses and wraps are readily available. Shoes, imported western
clothes, especially for men, are found in the market as well. There is also a lively
trade in used clothing from Europe and America.
Your stay will typically include daily breakfast and dinner--though self
catering may be arranged in some instances. Depending on your
schedule and the location of your placement, self serve ("raid the
refrigerator") lunches will be available at home or you may want to
bring a bag lunch. You will eat traditional Swahili cuisine--simple but
healthful foods including fresh fish and chicken, rice-based dishes,
chapatis and bread, fresh vegetables and fruits and juices. We can
accommodate vegetarians if you let us know in advance. Alcoholic
beverages are at your own expense.
catering may be arranged in some instances. Depending on your
schedule and the location of your placement, self serve ("raid the
refrigerator") lunches will be available at home or you may want to
bring a bag lunch. You will eat traditional Swahili cuisine--simple but
healthful foods including fresh fish and chicken, rice-based dishes,
chapatis and bread, fresh vegetables and fruits and juices. We can
accommodate vegetarians if you let us know in advance. Alcoholic
beverages are at your own expense.
Living arrangements
Most volunteers will be housed at TZIVA house or, at your
request and if space is available, with families in clean, safe and
pleasant homes located near your teaching assignment.
Most volunteers will be housed at TZIVA house or, at your
request and if space is available, with families in clean, safe and
pleasant homes located near your teaching assignment.
Nightly football game on the beach by
TZIVA house.
TZIVA house.
Volunteer Lindsay Miller entertaining
visitors in her room.
visitors in her room.
| Communications For day to day communication, we recommend using a mobile (cell) phone. SIM cards, which will give you a local number and cheap prepaid phone service, are inexpensive and easily available. Cells phones use GSM 900 and 1800 networks so US visitors need to make sure their phones operate on these networks (e.g., a "world phone") and are unlocked so they can accept a different SIM card. These are sometimes available used or over the Internet. If not, it is possible to buy a functional mobile phone here for under $70 US. We would also appreciate the donation of any used mobile phones for our volunteer or staff to use. Long distance calls may be made from your mobile phone or, slightly cheaper, from several businesses that offer phone services in Stonetown. It is also possible to use a voice over Internet protocol provider such as SKYPE over the Internet. The international country dialling code for Tanzania, as well as Zanzibar, is +255. City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)24 for Zanzibar and (0)22 for Dar Es Salaam . Web and email access are easily available. You can have mail sent to you %TZIVA, SLP 4247, Zanzibar, Tanzania. We strongly recommend sending letters Air Mail rather than surface mail to ensure that they arrive in a timely manner. Packages are very expensive to send, take a long time to arrive and are often lost in the mail. Recipients must also retrieve packages at the main post office, have them inspected by a customs official and, in many cases, pay import fees. Electricity Zanzibar uses three-pronged English-style outlets but adaptors are available for European or American style appliances. Please note, however, that the electrical current is 220 AC so Americans and others coming from countries that use 120 current will need to check that any appliances or equipment they bring from home will work on this currency. Mobile phone and camera chargers and laptop computers will often accept variable currency. Other appliances such as shavers and hair dryers may require a "step down" converter to operate here. These are available from travel stores. Please ensure that you have one sufficient for the wattage of your appliance. Laundry Hand laundering is the norm in Zanzibar. Laundering of linens are included in your stay. You can either hand launder your personal items are we can make arrangements for you to have someone do it for a nominal fee. |
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Fees and Expenses
Our fees are $975 per month. This covers your placement, living
expenses including accommodations and meals, airport pickup and
drop-off, orientation, project expenses, interpreters, supervision,
and several weekend tours and trips around the island (see
below.) A portion of your fees support the continuation of our
program and are used as donations to the projects. Visas,
restaurant meals, alcoholic beverages, personal laundry and
incidentals as well as airfare and travel expenses are not included
in the fees. Upon acceptance as a volunteer, there is a
nonrefundable deposit of $150 to hold your place.
Our fees are $975 per month. This covers your placement, living
expenses including accommodations and meals, airport pickup and
drop-off, orientation, project expenses, interpreters, supervision,
and several weekend tours and trips around the island (see
below.) A portion of your fees support the continuation of our
program and are used as donations to the projects. Visas,
restaurant meals, alcoholic beverages, personal laundry and
incidentals as well as airfare and travel expenses are not included
in the fees. Upon acceptance as a volunteer, there is a
nonrefundable deposit of $150 to hold your place.
SOME USEFUL INFORMATION ....
Getting Here.
You can book flights directly to Zanzibar and we will meet you at the
airport when you arrive. You can also take the ferry from Dar Es
Salaam (for approximately $30). There are several ferries per day
and we can meet you at the port if you let us know in advance which
ferry you are taking. Let us know if you need further information on
where to stay in Dar and how to get the ferry, etc. If you would like to
have someone meet you in Dar and escort you to Zanzibar, we may
be able to arrange this for an additional fee.
You can book flights directly to Zanzibar and we will meet you at the
airport when you arrive. You can also take the ferry from Dar Es
Salaam (for approximately $30). There are several ferries per day
and we can meet you at the port if you let us know in advance which
ferry you are taking. Let us know if you need further information on
where to stay in Dar and how to get the ferry, etc. If you would like to
have someone meet you in Dar and escort you to Zanzibar, we may
be able to arrange this for an additional fee.
| Religion Zanzibar is over 90% Muslim. The island has mosques representing every major and most minor branches of Islam. Zanzibar is also noted for its tolerance of other faiths. There are several Catholic churches, Hindu temples, and the Anglican church built over the former slave market in Stonetown. |
Dala dalas go everywhere in Zanzibar.
Walking is the most common form
of transportation in Zanzibar.
of transportation in Zanzibar.
Tours and Excursions
As part of your stay with us (and included in your fees), we will be taking to various
parts of the island to visit ancient Stone Town and other communities and historic
sites. Depending on your interests and the time of the year, this may include
touring spice farms (one of our main industries), seeing Jozani Forest (and the
famed colobus monkeys), visiting the slave caves and slave market and learning
about this unhappy part of our history, sailing to a nearby island or two on a dhow,
and swimming at some of the more famous beaches. We want you to learn about
our history, our lifestyles, the development work that is going on here and enjoy
the many pleasures Zanzibar has to offer.
Free time
Most volunteers will enjoy the opportunity to swim every day and/or take part in the
nightly community football games on the beach. Watching the sunset in the
evenings--we have some spectacular ones--and visiting the beach at daybreak to
watch the fishermen bring in their catch are special pleasures.
Stonetown has been named a world heritage site by the UN and wandering
through its maze of narrow alleyways and visiting its museums, marketplaces,
gardens, coffeehouses and wharf is a another pleasure. There are frequent
outdoor musical events in the Old Fort and at various venues in the city and at the
local dance clubs. Zanzibar also has a wealth of beautiful beaches, world class
snorkeling, diving and fishing, spice farms and numerous other interesting places
to visit while you are here.
There is a television and dvd player at TZIVA house. DVD rentals are available at
a variety of locations and there are daily English language news broadcasts on the
radio. There is a well-stocked bookstore in Stonetown and various outdoor stalls
where used paperbacks are obtainable. Cards, board games, art supplies and
other diversions are welcome. Visiting and conversation with the neighbors is, of
course, the most common past-time in the evenings.
Money
ATM machines are readily available in Stonetown, as are Forex bureaus which
change major currencies and also accept traveler's checks (though at a lower
exchange rate.) US dollars are sometimes required for government fees. Older
style (pre 2003) bills in $20, $50 and $100 denominations are frequently not
accepted.
Getting Around
Locally, "Dala dalas" (buses or small lorries fitted with seats) are the common
mode of public transportation and what you will likely use. They are cheap
(around 35 US cents), fast, cover the entire island and are available from early
morning until around 10pm (Stonetown to Bububu.) Many are old vehicles and
usually are quite crowded (though Zanzibar police rigorously enforce seating
maximums.) Taxis are also readily available for late night events in Stonetown
(around $6 to Bububu at night) and can be hired for trips to the countryside if
desired. Car and motorbike hire are also available though gas tends to be
rather expensive.
Vehicle roads are limited within Stonetown. Walking, bicycles or small
motorbikes are the only way to get around most of its narrow streets.
Locally, "Dala dalas" (buses or small lorries fitted with seats) are the common
mode of public transportation and what you will likely use. They are cheap
(around 35 US cents), fast, cover the entire island and are available from early
morning until around 10pm (Stonetown to Bububu.) Many are old vehicles and
usually are quite crowded (though Zanzibar police rigorously enforce seating
maximums.) Taxis are also readily available for late night events in Stonetown
(around $6 to Bububu at night) and can be hired for trips to the countryside if
desired. Car and motorbike hire are also available though gas tends to be
rather expensive.
Vehicle roads are limited within Stonetown. Walking, bicycles or small
motorbikes are the only way to get around most of its narrow streets.
Many Zanzibar women wear an outer
garment called "buibui" everywhere.
garment called "buibui" everywhere.
Zanzibar is noted for its cuisine
Robes called "'kanzu" and
embroidered "Kofia" caps are
traditional garments for males,
both old and young!
embroidered "Kofia" caps are
traditional garments for males,
both old and young!
Watching the sunset at Bububu beach
is the perfect way to end the day.
is the perfect way to end the day.
Visiting the many historical sites in
Stonetown is a pleasure
Stonetown is a pleasure
Swimming and boating are favorite
pastimes.
pastimes.
| Health and Safety Issues While we make every effort to insure your safety and health, Zanzibar is a third world country with limited health care facilities and resources. We require all volunteers to obtain a traveler's health policy (if their current health care insurance does not cover them) and sign a liability waiver. They are advertised on the web or the US state department has a list of companies on it’s website http://travel.state. gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html . Malaria is a risk so we advise volunteers to visit their health care providers to obtain the necessary prophylactics and follow appropriate prevention measures during their stay. Mosquito nets are provided in all our accomodations--but it is up to you to use them. Your health care provider will also advise you about the necessary shots and health care precautions to take before your trip. The US Center for Disease Control has a list of recommended vaccinations, malaria prevention medicines and other health recommendations for Tanzania and Zanzibar. See http//wwwn.cdc. gov/travel/destinationTanzania.aspx Please bring an adequate supply of prescription drugs you take and other medicines you might need. There are some relatively-well stocked pharmacies here but your medicine of choice may not be available. The crime rate is generally low in Zanzibar and it is usually safe to walk around by yourself and in the evenings. We'll let you know if there is any place you need to stay away from. Getting lost is probably the greatest risk, especially in the labyrinth of Stonetown but, at least for your first few weeks here or until you're comfortable on your own, you'll have a TZIVA member helping you when you want to go somewhere. |
More Questions? Just let us know. We'll do our best to answer them.
TZIVA
Tanzania Zanzibar International Volunteer Association