Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Love the sea and want to be a Coastal and Marine Conservation volunteer in Zanzibar? International Volunteer HQ’s Coastal and Marine Conservation project is a great way for volunteers to gain experience and learn about the challenges of protecting wild turtles, and coastal ecosystems, and you may also get the chance to release baby turtles after hatching. Volunteers also help monitor a coral reef, provide environmental education to local kids and tourists, learn about local sustainability issues, and can get involved with coral farming.
Matemwe is home to some of Zanzibar’s finest beaches. With white sand that seems to glow day and night, it is a popular tourist destination! Volunteers have the opportunity to work alongside local marine biologists to help boost marine life populations and protect the coastal environment.
As a Coastal and Marine Conservation volunteer, you’ll be volunteering in Matemwe and staying at a coastal conservation camp just a short walk away from the beach. You’ll get to assist at a local turtle hatchery that was established to protect marine life in the North East of Zanzibar. The turtles are released into the ocean immediately after hatching, as it has been found that they best develop their sense of orientation and other critical ocean survival skills soon after birth.
You will also be assisting with coral reef monitoring by snorkeling, community environmental education, and activities addressing Zanzibar’s waste problem which imposes a threat to marine turtles and other sea animals.
Volunteers can also be part of coral farming activities via scuba diving (please note that a scuba diving certification is needed for this activity - volunteers taking part for two weeks or longer can join a 3 day PADI Open Water course on-site for an additional cost).
Volunteer tasks will vary but can involve:
*Volunteers need to be aware that while turtles are released into the ocean immediately after hatching, we cannot guarantee that this will occur during a volunteer’s program, especially for those attending for shorter durations.
As a Coastal and Marine Conservation volunteer in Zanzibar you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
IVHQ was very welcoming and glad to answer any questions I had. Compared to another company I volunteered with, IVHQ was much kinder in helping me.
I gained a lot of confidence as a young solo traveler and volunteering helped me feel like I was making some sort of impact.
Just commit and book it! I’m so grateful I did. I felt the normal worries like “What if I don’t make friends there? What if I do something stupid or culturally inappropriate? What if I don’t speak the language? What if I spend this money and the whole thing just isn’t what I was hoping for?”
The fact is, I’ve met some of the most incredible people in the world on these trips. The people volunteering abroad are generally very accepting and friendly. The culture is generally very accepting and friendly. We all make mistakes, but what we are doing is inherently good. That speaks worlds to how you will be seen and treated abroad. Money is replaceable but experiences like these are one in a million. I’m so grateful I went.
The meals were awesome! It was always clean and tasty. A good mix of local vs. western cuisine.
I felt so safe and taken care of by IVHQ and the local team. They were easy to reach in person or via phone, and always had my back.
I feel like I gained a lot of confidence in myself - volunteering is so worth it!
I've definitely gained a new perspective on things, and I would 100% recommend an IVHQ volunteer program to a friend. It was a really wonderful experience, which i don't think I'll ever forget.
IVHQ gave me such an amazing set of resources pre-departure to educate volunteers on what to expect at the program. This whole experience was amazing, you learn so much and meet so many amazing new people. My advice would be to dive in and be confident, speak to everyone and ask many questions!
It's an awesome program to learn about the ocean and how to save it. You will meet people from all over the world and make some life long connections.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit
The Marine Turtle Hatchery is based at Matemwe, a village on the north-eastern coast of Zanzibar. Volunteers are accommodated at a coastal conservation camp located 15 minutes away from the hatchery. Some of the project work is based on the beach where the camp is situated, such as beach clean ups. With spectacular beaches and a coral reef, there is plenty of fishing, snorkeling, diving, sightseeing and relaxing to be done in this area.
Volunteers need to arrive in Zanzibar on their Wednesday start date and their orientation will take place on the Wednesday afternoon and/or the following day.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the Wednesday night before your Thursday program orientation. If you are traveling in Tanzania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Zanzibar on your start date.
Orientation is hosted by our local team at the volunteer accommodation. Orientation begins on the Wednesday afternoon and/or the Thursday morning after your chosen start date. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Zanzibar – an introduction to Zanzibar, Zanzibar customs, rules and expectations, language lessons (Kiunguja), safety, travel opportunities in Zanzibar, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers.
First Day
On the first day of the volunteering placement, you will be escorted to the project by our local staff and introduced to the staff at the placement you will be working with.
Weekdays - A typical day would be as follows:
| 5:45 - 7:15 AM | Beach patrol |
| 7:30 - 8:30 AM | Breakfast at camp |
| 9:00 AM | Volunteers begin work for the morning |
| 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Lunch at camp or at project site |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Volunteers resume work for the afternoon |
| 6:30 - 7:30 PM | Dinner at camp |
Weekends
Volunteers have free time on the weekends and are able to make the most of the gorgeous beaches, explore Zanzibar’s historic Stone Town or other towns, shop for souvenirs, or enjoy a range of adventure and outdoor activities including snorkeling, diving, swimming, wildlife viewing and fishing. If you’re staying for a while you may also like to fly back to mainland Tanzania or other parts of Africa where you can go on safari or otherwise explore.
Volunteers on the Coastal and Marine Conservation project stay in semi-permanent fully furnished tents in a camp located just a 3 minute walk from the beach. You can expect to share with 1 to 3 other volunteers. When possible tents are separated by gender, however cannot always guarantee this separation due to varying occupancies and booking situations.
Bedding is provided, however you will need to bring your own towel and biodegradable toiletries. Biodegradable shower gel is provided in the shower blocks, as the greywater is used for watering the garden. Please note, because of this volunteers should not bring shampoos/shower gels that are not biodegradable. The showers are solar-heated and volunteers need to be prepared for times where there may be no electricity as the supply can sometimes be disrupted on the island.
The camp has cooks, housekeepers, maintenance staff and watchmen. The program coordinators and support team are also available on a daily basis during the week for support and via phone over the weekend.
If you would like to keep connected during your stay, free WiFi is provided and volunteers will be able to connect in most areas of the camp. Volunteers can also bring an unlocked mobile phone and the local team will provide you with a local SIM card at your orientation and assist you to set it up.
If you would like to arrive a day earlier than your recommended arrival date, or wish to spend a few extra nights after finishing your program, we can arrange extra nights of accommodation for you for US$45 (approximately CA$65) per person, per night on the Turtle and Coastal Conservation project. Meals are included, and extra nights are subject to availability. There is an additional surcharge attached when volunteers need airport pick-up earlier than their Wednesday start date.
If you would like to arrange extra nights of accommodation, please just make a note in your application or contact your IVHQ Program Manager who will be happy to assist you.
Private room upgrades are also available for an additional cost. These are subject to availability so once you have registered, you will be able to request to book an accommodation upgrade via your MyIVHQ Profile.
Zanzibar’s cuisine varies across the island, owing to the difference in produce inland and along the coast. The immigration of Khoja Indians has resulted in local dishes influenced by Indian cuisine. Staple foods in Zanzibar include rice, chapati and coconut milk.
Volunteers are served three meals per day in a buffet style, which is a mix of local and Western food. Breakfast includes toasted bread with jam and vegetables such as tomatoes or avocado, olive oil, fruit, eggs, filtered drip coffee, tea and cereals.
Lunch and dinner typically consist of plain or pilau rice (which is traditionally cooked in Zanzibar with cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves), chapati, legumes such as beans, pasta, and french fries with meat or vegetables (typically carrot, sweet potatoes, peas, or okra) typically cooked in a coconut sauce that contains some herbs and spices. The meal plan aims to promote sustainable practises and healthy nutrition by using more plant-based foods. Volunteers can typically expect two meat dishes and three fish dishes per week. Please also note, meals can vary depending on seasonality.
Please note that while the local team can cater for vegetarians, they are not able to cater to other special dietary requirements or requests, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and there is the need to be flexible or prepared to supplement the food provided. If supplementing food, volunteers must note that the kitchen is not available for volunteer use but there is a mini fridge available for shared volunteer use in each tent.
A drinking water filter machine is available at the accommodation and to help reduce plastic trash volunteers are asked to bring a refillable drinking bottle.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately CA$436) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $645 Equivalent to $92/day |
| 2 weeks | $900 Equivalent to $64/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,155 Equivalent to $55/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,410 Equivalent to $50/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,665 Equivalent to $48/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,920 Equivalent to $46/day |
| 8 weeks | $2,430 Equivalent to $43/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,905 Equivalent to $42/day |
| 12 weeks | $3,345 Equivalent to $40/day |
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
| Capital | Dodoma |
| Population | 58 million |
| Languages | Swahili and English |
| Currency | Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 |
Weather and climate
Zanzibar follows very similar weather patterns to that of mainland Tanzania but is always a little more humid and warm weather should be expected all year round. The island’s rainy season runs from March through May when humidity is high and afternoon downpours are common. The dry season occurs from June through October and rain is infrequent. During November and December there’s another short rainy season followed by a short dry season across January and February.
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