Useful Information for Turtle Conservation: Zanzibar

Our Culture week program covers most of the topics including culture shock and how to adapt to Culture and Traditions. One should come with an open mind. We suggest you to go through the program guide.

Your arrival transfer is included. You will be met at the airport and taken to your accommodation, so there is nothing to arrange for the journey in.

The departure transfer at the end, from your accommodation back to the airport, is not included. You can add it as an optional extra in your account, or make your own way.

Once you have booked your flights, log in to your account and add them under Flight Details so we know when you are landing.

This program is for participants aged 18 to 65.

Under 18s can join with signed parental consent. Anyone over 65 needs medical clearance before travelling.

No. No qualification is required and no experience is expected — the local conservation team will show you everything in your first couple of days.

You need a basic level of English. On signing up we will ask for a copy of your passport and a criminal record check (CRB/DBS). No CV or resume is needed.

You should be comfortable spending the day outdoors in warm, humid conditions, walking on uneven ground and sand, and lifting and carrying — seaweed, water, cleaning equipment.

None of it is strenuous, but it is physical and it is daily. Being adaptable matters just as much: tides, weather and the turtles' own condition change what happens on any given day, and there is teamwork involved in the student visits and the seaweed harvesting with the community.

The vaccinations usually recommended before travelling to Tanzania are yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), meningitis and rabies. Malaria prevention is worth discussing as well.

This is guidance rather than medical advice. See your doctor or a travel clinic well before you fly, and check the current WHO guidance for Tanzania.

At the project. Clothes you do not mind getting wet, muddy or stained — you will be handling seaweed, scrubbing enclosures and moving water. Water shoes rather than flip-flops. Long sleeves and long trousers are worth having against the sun. No vest tops or short shorts while you are working; that is the project's own rule.

Around the village. Makunduchi is a working Zanzibari village rather than a resort strip, and the island is predominantly Muslim. Keep shoulders and knees covered away from the project, and save swimwear for the beach rather than the walk down to it. During Ramadan, be discreet about eating and drinking in public.

You will not need anything formal. Nothing on this program calls for it.

The island is very safe for tourists and internationals. The local authorities take the safety of visitors extremely seriously.

We encourage you to remain anywhere of your surroundings, as with anywhere in the world and to follow our safety tips to ensure your safety at all times, such as leaving your valuable in at your accommodation and showing respect for local traditions and culture.

Zanzibar is NOT a malaria risk area. However, we cannot completely rule it out, especially if you are travelling through mainland Tanzania as well.

If you choose to be on the safe side, please make sure you bring an ample supply of anti-malarial tablets with you.

The official currency in Zanzibar is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS.) You can use all major credit and debit cards in many of the resorts, bars and restaurants in Zanzibar, most of them charge a 5% transaction fee though.

Most shops, even in Stone Town, do not accept payments via debit or credit card. You can change USD into Tanzanian

Shillings at the airport, or in Stone Town. It tends to cost about $4 to withdraw money.

Generally, power sockets in Zanzibar are ‘Type G’ the square three pin style, found in the UK.

The majority of people in Zanzibar are Muslim.

We strongly encourage you to respect their tradition culture by behaving and dressing modestly in public.

During the season of Ramadan, we encourage you to respect local people who fast during the day by not eating or drinking in public places. In the mainland, Christianity is the main religion.

As Zanzibar is nestled just south of the equator, Zanzibar’s climate is very similar to that of Tanzania, although slightly more humid. Generally, the main raining season is between March-May, where afternoon tropical showers are very common and can be heavy.

During the rainy season, the humidity can be very night, with daily temperatures ranging between low to mid 30 degrees Celsius. The long dry season lasts throughout June-October, with temperatures varying depending on altitude and location, however, you can expect clear skies and sunny weather.

There is another short rainy season, between November- December, however, these rains are much lighter and less common, compared to the main rainy season. As for January-February, this is known as the short dry season, ahead of the rains beginning again at the start of March.

The official language in Zanzibar is English, alongside Swahili and Arabic.

We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.

Yes! Travel insurance is a must for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof (on your phone or printed) to your group leader when you arrive.

Need to grab a policy? Get a quote and buy travel insurance here.

We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.

Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.