Useful Information for Turtle Conservation: Zanzibar

Come with an open mind and realistic expectations. Life on a volunteer project is simpler and slower than at home: shared rooms, basic facilities, heat and humidity, and a culture with its own customs. Everyone feels a little out of place at first, and that is normal.

Before you travel, read the programme information we send you. When you arrive, the local team introduces you to the project, the house rules and local customs, and they are there to talk to if you feel homesick or unsure. Most volunteers find the first few days are the hardest, and the rest flies by.

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 and 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.

Possibly, depending on your vaccination history. See your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you travel and check the TravelHealthPro advice for Tanzania, including Zanzibar. It lists hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid for most travellers, and others such as hepatitis B and rabies for some, depending on your plans. Zanzibar has a high risk of malaria, so ask about antimalarial tablets too.

Yellow fever vaccination is not usually recommended for Zanzibar, but you must show a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. This is guidance, not medical advice.

At the project. Clothes you do not mind getting wet, muddy or stained, as 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.

Zanzibar is a popular, welcoming place to visit, and most visits are trouble-free. As anywhere, take sensible precautions: bag snatching happens and there have been robberies in Stone Town and on popular beaches, so leave valuables at your accommodation, avoid walking alone on quiet beaches or streets after dark, and use taxis your coordinator recommends.

Dress modestly away from the beach and respect local customs. Check the latest UK government travel advice for Tanzania before you go, and follow the safety briefing you get on arrival.

Yes. TravelHealthPro, the UK's travel health service, lists a high risk of malaria in all areas of Tanzania below 1,800m, and that includes Zanzibar. It advises antimalarial tablets for this area, so see your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you travel to discuss which is right for you.

Avoiding bites matters just as much: use insect repellent, cover up in the evenings and sleep under a mosquito net where one is provided. If you get a fever during or after your trip, get medical help straight away and say you have been to Zanzibar.

The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Since 2025 the law requires goods and services in Tanzania, including Zanzibar, to be priced and paid for in shillings, so plan to pay for everyday things in local cash.

ATMs are easy to find in Stone Town but scarce in villages, so take out cash before you head to your project, and expect a fee for each withdrawal. Cards are accepted at larger hotels, resorts and some restaurants, often with a surcharge, but most shops and markets are cash only. You can also exchange US dollars or euros at the airport and at official bureaux de change in Stone Town.

Zanzibar mainly uses Type G sockets, the square three-pin plug used in the UK, and you will sometimes find the older Type D, with three round pins. The supply is 230V. UK plugs usually fit, but other travellers need an adapter. Power cuts can happen, so a power bank is useful. See our plug and socket guide.

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.

Zanzibar sits just south of the equator, so it is warm and humid all year, often in the low 30s°C by day. The long rains fall from March to May, with heavy afternoon downpours. June to October is the long dry season, with sunny days and a cooling breeze. Shorter, lighter rains come in November and December, and January and February are hot and mostly dry.

See our Zanzibar weather guide for month-by-month detail.

Swahili (Kiswahili) is the language everyone speaks, and it and English are Tanzania's official languages. English is widely spoken in hotels, tourist areas and by the programme team, but less so in villages, so a few words of Swahili go a long way: jambo (hello), asante (thank you) and karibu (welcome).

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.

Tipping is not compulsory, but it is appreciated. In restaurants, leave around 10% for good service if no service charge has been added. For guides, drivers and boat crews, a tip in shillings at the end of a trip is a welcome thank-you; ask your coordinator what is usual.

Roaming can be expensive, so most volunteers buy a local SIM, from networks such as Vodacom or Airtel, at the airport or in Stone Town. Registration is compulsory: bring your passport, and expect your fingerprints to be taken. An eSIM bought before you fly is an easy alternative. Coverage is good in towns and along the coast, but can be slow in villages.