Final Call- VOLUNTEERS for April 30-May 10, 2024

Our groups are small, so you will be able to experience many more things, more intimately than big group tours. You will also get to know our staff, crew members and translators well.

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE

Adults, Couples, Solo Travelers, Youth (mature youth 15 and older with parent/guardian) and active Seniors are all welcome. Accommodations at some locations are limited however we will try our best to make you comfortable.

Solo travelers are welcome and we'll TRY to help place you with a same sex roommate, if available, or you can pay extra for a single room, when available.

Note we are a group that is accepting of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles & religions. We are non-political. (we ask that everyone refrains from religious & political discussions). 

Mature Youth +15 (with parent or guardian) are welcome. 

Our project is non- smoking.

We have some limitations, as people need to be fairly able bodied to join us and participate. We travel in safari style vans that are bit tight to climb in and out of. 

We also travel on many remote dirt roads that are very rough, with potholes, so people who have mobility or neck or back problems should probably not come.

We will be going to 5-7 remote villages in Tanzania where the people collect contaminated water to drink from surface ponds & rivers. The water often contains waterborne illness like cholera, typhoid & giardia. 

One main purpose is to deliver, assemble and educate the villagers on how to use water filters to obtain clean, safe drinking water that will help them stay healthy and productive.

We will also be distributing mosquito bed nets that prevent malaria and tarps to help villagers waterproof their mud/thatch huts to

stay dry during the rainy monsoons- as needed.

This next trip may also include revisiting one or more past villages to see how they are doing and replacing water filters and/or nets and tarps as needed.

******************************

FUN!

Yes, we have free time in between all of the villages. So we will explore several national parks on mini safari game drives.

We will also stop at one or two local towns or vendors to shop some.

Bring your bathing suit, some lodges and camps will have swimming pools.

INTERNET Most of the lodges will have internet and cell phone reception so you can check in with your home etc. 

Otherwise internet is sparse during the travel day.

All the volunteers will be rolling up their sleeves and working directly with the villagers. You do not need any experience, just a willingness to learn and pitch in. We will show you all you need to know. 

The most difficult part of the trip will be traveling and bringing suitcase(s) to airports. As a volunteer, we may give you one medium size suitcase full of village supplies to check thru to Tanzania. (You are allowed two free 50 lb. bags plus a carry on)

You will also have to deal with luggage at customs airports going in and out of the USA as well as going into Tanzania.

Note this is a road trip and we will be staying at nice lodges and camps near villages. 

Some of the roads are pretty remote and ROUGH! 

You will need to be able to climb in & out of safari vehicles, up/down stairs and walk on uneven surfaces. 

 There is nothing really heavy or difficult, we have strong local helpers for this. Our lodges will all have luggage handlers.

We will show you how to assemble the filters (very easy, anyone can learn it) and you will learn how to maintain the water filters so you can help people in the villages understand how to use them. 

Georgia uses a lot of show & tell, demonstrating and sign language (and laughs a lot). We will also have some wonderful local interpreters with us to help explain the concepts.

It is relatively easy and a lot of fun.

The more hands we have on the ground in the villages the better the villagers will learn how to use and maintain these lifesaving tools.

The appreciation you will experience from the villagers is hugely rewarding!

You will be working with an experienced American, English speaking trip leader as well as local guides and translators who know the area and customs.  You will be visiting many places that the majority of typical tourists would never see or experience.

It is a true immersion and cultural trip of a lifetime!

Just a WARNING you may fall in love with the people.

 The gratitude from the village people for helping them will often fill your heart. 

Mini Safaris: All of our trips include visits to explore 2 to 3 nearby National Parks in our free time in between visiting villages. You will see exotic African wildlife up close and personal in comfortable 4x4 safari style vehicles with roofs that open up for better viewing and photography.

We cannot make promises but you will have opportunities to see elephants, giraffes, gazelles, lions, cape buffalo, hyenas, wildebeests and more!

 There MAY also be opportunities to participate in a village dance, stop to explore a coffee plantation, learn how the Massai prepare food, gather water, try out primitive fire making, shoot a native bow and arrows OR maybe visit a local African museum or store in the area for shopping. Every trip is different.

Several of our lodges will have a pool, bar and/or restaurant.

The majority of our trip is a "road trip" to visit remote villages. We are limited to lodging available in that region. However, rest assured, you will have good food, a clean bed with a mosquito net and a bathroom with toilet, 

sink and shower. 

Note: AC is often non existent, we open our screened windows for the evening breeze.

Meals are very nice. You will get a wide variety of foods to choose from at each meal. There will be some local dishes but you will recognize most of the dishes.

TYPICAL Buffet Breakfast offers things like scrambled eggs or Spanish style eggs, homemade toast, jelly, butter, coffee, juices, fruit, plus some kind of meat like sausage or bacon.

Lunch is often a picnic style chicken and bread lunch box as we are traveling.

Dinners will usually be a variety of meats like chicken, pork or beef, several lovely vegetable options and soup. It is either buffet or they serve it in course.

Whether the lodging is a lovely room with a view or a more rustic safari style tent camp, they are all unique and comfortable living spaces. Some lodges will have a nice refreshing pool and a bar or restaurant for meals and drinks. You will enjoy yourself.

 TRAVEL INSURANCE 

 is mandatory to participate on a VCP trip. We can recommend a travel insurance company, however you are free to shop for and select your own.  We will need a copy of travel insurance receipt plus your flight details before departure.  

Once you arrive in Tanzania, the majority of the trip is all inclusive in the price. The price is also very reduced from other tour groups you will find. 

All volunteers with double occupancy will have their own bed and share a bathroom with a toilet, usually one towel each, sink and shower. Note wash clothes are often not provided.

Price is based on double occupancy rates. 

Group room rates for family and friends in same room may be quoted when available.

Solo volunteers welcome. Single room supplements are $50 pp per day, when available.  Or, to save money we can try to match you up with another person of the same sex to share a room with separate beds.

INCLUDED: 

3 meals a day, non-alcoholic beverages, airport transfers are included if you arrive/depart on same day as your trip leader, lodging, guides, translators, National Park admissions and entrance fees, safari style 4x4 vehicles with roofs that open & close and gas are all included. 

EXCLUSIONS:

Your volunteer email travel packet will include details on any exclusions not covered in the trip. 

Excluded includes: 

Round trip Airfare, 

Visa, 

Alcohol or Soft Drinks not at meals, 

Laundry, 

Souvenirs & Personal Expenses, 

Travel Insurance,

Dinner the first night. 

Tips for your head guide and driver and

 to lodging staff are also extra in US dollars at end of the trip). 

(VCP will tip our other team members and translators)

Volunteers will receive an emailed information packet. It will include a suggested packing list, including info on electronics/adapters/plugins/cell phones, wi fi, electricity, weather, travel, health & covid protocols in case of illness, and other helpful advice, etc.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

airport transfers are included if you arrive/depart on same day as your trip leader.

 We pick you up at JRO Kilamanjaro, Tanzania, Africa between noon and 10 pm 

(10 Days in Country, first and last days are mostly for arrival and departure)

On Return we take you to JRO Airport between 1 pm - 7 pm (will drop you off 3 hours prior to your flight) (Note if you need to arrive or depart on different days, just let us know and we will try to help you but there will be add'l transfer fees.) 

Cost  $4500. 00 per person (pp)  double occupancy rates, $5000 single room. See included/exclusions on left.

A$800 pp Deposit must be received to hold your spot asap and balance received by Dec 1st.

 Cost does not include airfare, Tanzanian VISA, guide tips, and a few other exclusions, see left. 

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE

A $800 pp Deposit is required to hold your spot and balance must be received before Sept 30th.

(Note we have had a lot of interest, so please reserve early.) We pay deposits to our vendors many months in advance so these are non-refundable).

----------------------------

Volunteers will need to arrive and depart on these days:

Arrive JRO Airport, Tanzania, Africa  - 

on Monday, April 30th  after 12 pm or afternoon/early evening 4/10/24

Depart for your home, May 10th, Friday  5/06/24 in afternoon or evening

=================

We prepay for all lodging reservations and vehicles, so please make sure you want to go before sending in your non refundable deposit.

You will need to get your airfare, Tanzanian Visa and recommended health immunizations. 

You are also required to be fully vaccinated for covid to enter Tanzania and to return to the USA.

We can help you. We will also be sharing the trip leaders airfare plans with volunteers so you can try and match these, if desired. 

----------------

GENERAL TRAVEL

We can advise you on how to obtain a Passport & Tanzanian VISA that you will need to get into the country.

We will give you a travel packet with helpful information plus dates and details on the itinerary for your flight plans. We are happy to help and assist, however, we are not travel agents so you will be responsible for getting to our meeting location at JRO airport in Tanzania on the same basic schedule as your trip leader. We will advise.

Our guides will pick us up from the airport on the scheduled date.

Note we also expect volunteers to be flexible once we start our trip as the "planned" itinerary is flexible & may change due to weather, the needs of villagers, etc.