The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Our groups are limited to 6-7 volunteers, 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. 

If a lodge (does not happen often) is full we help place you with a same sex roommate, if available.

Note we are traveling as humanitarians with no intention of trying to change their cultures. Our group is accepting of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles & religions. We are secular and non-political and we ask that everyone refrains from religious & political hot topic discussions. 

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

Our project is 100% non- smoking.

LIMITATIONS 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.

One or two of the lodges have uneven and steep rock sidewalks to get to the rooms. There are people to help with luggage, but you still need to be able to walk it.

Some of the villages have rough uneven bush and jungle trails to go and visit them.

We will be going to 6 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 help improve the health and quality of life of villagers. We buy, 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 also distribute treated mosquito bed nets that prevent malaria. 

Plus, we provide tarps to help villagers waterproof their mud/thatch huts to

stay dry during the rainy monsoons- as needed.

When we can, we take solar LED lanterns as well, the gift of light when the sun goes down.

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.

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FUN!

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

We will also stop at one or two local towns or vendors to shop some. VCP resells these souvenirs to support this project.

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

INTERNET & WI FI Most of the lodges will have internet and cell phone reception so you can check in with your home etc. Companies like Verizon have cheap daily international rates to call and text home.

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 and supplies (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 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 typically have opportunities to see elephants, giraffes, gazelles, lions, cape buffalo, hyenas, hippos, wildebeests and more!

 There MAY also be opportunities to learn how the Massai prepare food and gather water. We might try dancing with the villagers, primitive fire making, shooting a native bow and arrows OR maybe visit a local African museum or coffee plantation.

There will be several opportunities to buy souvenirs along the way. 

Every trip is different.

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

The majority of our trip is a "road trip" to visit remote villages. We are limited to lodging available in the region we visit. 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 usually 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, potatoes, plus some kind of meat like sausage or bacon.

Lunch is often a picnic style with chicken, fruit, boiled egg,  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 with soup and homemade breads. It is either buffet or they serve it in courses.

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 and eat well.

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 will have their own room, however we reserve the right to have same sex person share a room, in the event that the lodge is full.  Everyone will have their own bed, a bathroom with a toilet, usually one towel each, sink and shower. Note hand sized wash cloths are often not provided.

INCLUDED: 

3 meals a day, non-alcoholic beverages (bottled water is extra at meals in the lodges now) like coffee and tea. 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. 

NOT INCLUDED: 

Round trip Airfare or transportation to Tanzania, 

$100 Tanzanian Visa, 

Alcohol or Soft Drinks in lodges not at meals, 

Large Bottled water is extra at meals now,

Souvenirs,

Laundry

 & Personal Expenses, 

Travel Insurance,

Dinner the first night in Arusha, 

Tips for our guides and drivers, 

Tips to maids and baggage handlers are also extra. Can be in US dollars. 

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 in Tanzania are included if you arrive/depart on same day as your trip leader.

 We pick you up at JRO Killamanjaro, 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.) 

Airport transfers are included so long as you are traveling on same days as the trip leader, otherwise you will need to get a shuttle or taxi at your own expense.

2025 Cost  $6000.00 per person (pp)  See Included/exclusions on left.

CLOSED for applications: Next trip will be Jan, 2025.

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

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE

(Note we get a lot of interest, so please reserve early.) We pay deposits to our vendors 4 months in advance to secure our rooms. 

These deposits are non-refundable).

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Volunteers will need to arrive and depart on these days:

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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. 

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

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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 also 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.