Where
Stone Town, Zanzibar
When
Sunday to Saturday
Duration
2 weeks
Accommodation
Shared or private rooms in the volunteer residence, with meals included
Language
Basic English is enough
Ideal for
Anyone looking for a cultural experience that brings together volunteering, group life and getting to know Zanzibar properly
Project details
Share a meaningful trip in Stone Town: join a school or community project and explore the island together
With HeyLocals, you'll work with schools, community centres and hospitals that run on limited resources. Your time, attention and skills make a real difference.
The available projects cover education (especially English), childcare centre support, evening community classes and ward support alongside the local hospital staff.
Travelling out as a group, you'll have a meaningful, hands-on experience, mixing useful work with time to discover Stone Town: its historic alleys, markets, Swahili culture and sunsets over the ocean.
See Zanzibar as a group: volunteering, nature and culture
Share a meaningful trip in Stone Town: join a school or community project and explore the island together
With HeyLocals, you'll work with schools, community centres and hospitals that run on limited resources. Your time, attention and skills make a real difference.
The available projects cover education (especially English), childcare centre support, evening community classes and ward support alongside the local hospital staff.
Travelling out as a group, you'll have a meaningful, hands-on experience, mixing useful work with time to discover Stone Town: its historic alleys, markets, Swahili culture and sunsets over the ocean.
Take a closer look at the projects
This is a suggested schedule. It can change depending on the needs of the local organisation, the participants' backgrounds, and other factors like the season, weather or holidays.
56+ confirmed participants
Helps widen access to local schooling
4–6 hours of activity each day
From 1 week
Childcare in Zanzibar
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Take part in everyday life at Zanzibari schools, helping students aged 5 to 14 build a love of learning. An experience of shared learning, personal growth and connection across cultures.
+£160/week extra
56+ confirmed participants
Supports access to local healthcare
4–6 hours of activity each day
From 2 weeks
Hospital internship in Zanzibar
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Get hands-on hospital experience in Zanzibar. Whether you're a student or a healthcare professional, you can pick clinical or nursing activities to suit your background, supporting the day-to-day work of the wards and getting to know the local culture.
Your weekly programme
Weekdays
During the day, each participant will head to their chosen project, school, childcare centre, community centre or hospital, and take part in the activities from the morning until the early afternoon.
The rest of the day is for prepping the next day's lessons or shifts, spending time with the other participants, joining activities run by the local team, and free time to explore Stone Town, the beaches and everyday life on the island.
07:00Breakfast at the centre, easing into the day with the group
08:00Morning activities at your placement: lessons, educational support or hospital shifts
12:00Shared lunch at the centre with the participants and the local team
14:30Afternoon activities or trips around the island
19:00Dinner at the centre and an evening together: culture, walks or games
22:00Downtime and a chat at the centre
Weekends
Weekends are free of set activities. You can explore the island, plan a short trip, or just take it easy with the others. Before you travel, the group can choose extra activities to do together with the local team or on your own.
Wander through Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Get lost in narrow lanes, carved doorways and spice markets in one of Africa's most striking towns.
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FAQs
During your stay in Zanzibar you'll be based at the volunteer house in Chukwani, a quiet area a short distance from lively Stone Town. The accommodation is a traditional, no-frills guesthouse, comfortable enough and set up to make sharing the experience with other volunteers easy. Rooms are shared (2–8 people per room), separated by gender, with shared bathrooms and a common living area to unwind after the day.
There's no Wi-Fi at the house, but you can pick up a local SIM easily to stay in touch.
Rooms have fans, beds with linen provided and mosquito nets. There's no hot water or air conditioning, but the place is well ventilated and secure, and each room locks. A laundry service is available on request for a small extra fee. Meals are served on site, with traditional Zanzibari menus prepared by the local team.
🍽️ Once a week, volunteers help plan the menu for the days ahead, a small thing that makes the place feel more like a shared home. The house is a short walk from shops, banks and a local pharmacy, and the sea is about 30 minutes away on foot.
🛏️ What's included
- Shared rooms (2–8 people)
- 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends
- Drinking water always available
- A fan in every room
- Ongoing support from the local team
- Laundry service on request (small fee)
- Lockable rooms
- Safe, welcoming setting close to Stone Town
The volunteer house is more than just a place to sleep. It's a space for sharing meals, swapping stories and living alongside people from all over the world.
There's no Wi-Fi at the house, but you can pick up a local SIM easily to stay in touch.
Rooms have fans, beds with linen provided and mosquito nets. There's no hot water or air conditioning, but the place is well ventilated and secure, and each room locks. A laundry service is available on request for a small extra fee. Meals are served on site, with traditional Zanzibari menus prepared by the local team.
🍽️ Once a week, volunteers help plan the menu for the days ahead, a small thing that makes the place feel more like a shared home. The house is a short walk from shops, banks and a local pharmacy, and the sea is about 30 minutes away on foot.
🛏️ What's included
- Shared rooms (2–8 people)
- 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends
- Drinking water always available
- A fan in every room
- Ongoing support from the local team
- Laundry service on request (small fee)
- Lockable rooms
- Safe, welcoming setting close to Stone Town
The volunteer house is more than just a place to sleep. It's a space for sharing meals, swapping stories and living alongside people from all over the world.
We take your safety seriously. In Zanzibar we work with trusted local partners with years of experience hosting international volunteers. Chukwani, where the volunteer house sits, is quiet and away from the busier tourist zones, but still well connected to Stone Town.
🔹 Background checks and safe spaces
To keep children and local communities safe, every participant is asked to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent) before travelling. We'll send you clear instructions on how to request it.
🔹 Trusted local partners
The schools and centres we work with are used to hosting international volunteers and offer welcoming, well-organised settings. The local team is on site every day to keep an eye on activities, support you and step in if anything is needed.
🔹 24/7 support
From your arrival at the airport through to the end of the programme, you can count on the local staff being available, evenings and weekends included. Our UK team is also reachable on WhatsApp whenever you need us.
🔹 Briefing and orientation
On your first day you'll join an orientation session covering the local context, the programme rules and practical tips. Before you travel, you'll also get a full guide with everything useful to know.
🔹 A few sensible habits
Zanzibar is welcoming and friendly, but a few simple habits go a long way:
✔ Avoid going out on your own at night, especially in quieter areas
✔ Travel with other volunteers when you can
✔ Always follow your local coordinator's advice on areas and transport
💡 Our aim is to give you a safe, well-supported environment, so you can focus on what really matters: spending time, sharing skills and learning alongside the local community.
🔹 Background checks and safe spaces
To keep children and local communities safe, every participant is asked to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent) before travelling. We'll send you clear instructions on how to request it.
🔹 Trusted local partners
The schools and centres we work with are used to hosting international volunteers and offer welcoming, well-organised settings. The local team is on site every day to keep an eye on activities, support you and step in if anything is needed.
🔹 24/7 support
From your arrival at the airport through to the end of the programme, you can count on the local staff being available, evenings and weekends included. Our UK team is also reachable on WhatsApp whenever you need us.
🔹 Briefing and orientation
On your first day you'll join an orientation session covering the local context, the programme rules and practical tips. Before you travel, you'll also get a full guide with everything useful to know.
🔹 A few sensible habits
Zanzibar is welcoming and friendly, but a few simple habits go a long way:
✔ Avoid going out on your own at night, especially in quieter areas
✔ Travel with other volunteers when you can
✔ Always follow your local coordinator's advice on areas and transport
💡 Our aim is to give you a safe, well-supported environment, so you can focus on what really matters: spending time, sharing skills and learning alongside the local community.
🧭 Orientation day
Your time in Zanzibar starts with a full day of orientation, a chance to settle in, get to know the local culture and start the project on the right foot.
📅 On your first Monday
The local team will walk you through a series of activities to help you feel welcome and ready:
✔ Welcome meeting, project introduction and house rules
✔ Health, safety and cultural guidelines
✔ A short introduction to Zanzibari culture and a few first words in Swahili, useful for chatting with the children
✔ A walk around Chukwani, with practical info on shops, the pharmacy, where to get a SIM and how to get around
✔ A guided walk through Stone Town's markets, alleys and local stories
✨ Orientation is also when you'll meet the other participants you'll share the house, the activities and your free time with. A good moment to break the ice and start finding your rhythm together.
📌 From Tuesday onwards, you'll start the activities at the schools and childcare centres, with the local coordinators on hand throughout. By the end of day one you'll already feel part of something bigger.
Your time in Zanzibar starts with a full day of orientation, a chance to settle in, get to know the local culture and start the project on the right foot.
📅 On your first Monday
The local team will walk you through a series of activities to help you feel welcome and ready:
✔ Welcome meeting, project introduction and house rules
✔ Health, safety and cultural guidelines
✔ A short introduction to Zanzibari culture and a few first words in Swahili, useful for chatting with the children
✔ A walk around Chukwani, with practical info on shops, the pharmacy, where to get a SIM and how to get around
✔ A guided walk through Stone Town's markets, alleys and local stories
✨ Orientation is also when you'll meet the other participants you'll share the house, the activities and your free time with. A good moment to break the ice and start finding your rhythm together.
📌 From Tuesday onwards, you'll start the activities at the schools and childcare centres, with the local coordinators on hand throughout. By the end of day one you'll already feel part of something bigger.
✈️ Arriving in Zanzibar
For an easy start, we'd recommend booking your flight into Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar, ideally on a Saturday or Sunday, between 06:00 and 21:00. That's when our free airport pickup runs, taking you straight to the volunteer house, around 30 minutes by car.
If you arrive on a Saturday, you'll need to book an extra night at the house (small supplement applies).
⏰ Arriving outside those hours? Not a problem. You can either get a taxi yourself (we'll send the directions) or pre-arrange a private transfer with us for a small extra fee. Either way, please send us your flight details as soon as you book so we can sort out the right support.
🛬 When you land, a member of our local team will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name or the partner organisation's name. If your flight is delayed or you can't spot the team straight away, stay where you are and wait at least 20 minutes. You'll also have emergency numbers to ring; we'll send these before you travel.
📱 A quick tip: pick up a local SIM at the airport (it's very cheap), so you can stay in touch with the local team, the other volunteers and people back home.
🚖 Heading home: return flight tips
When the project finishes, check-out from the volunteer house is by 12:00 on the Saturday. The return transfer to the airport (or anywhere else) isn't included, since people often leave at different times and the team is juggling several departures at once.
That said, our team will happily help you book a taxi or share a private transfer with the others heading back at the same time.
We'd suggest booking your return flight for Saturday afternoon or evening, so you can leave the house at your own pace and get to the airport without rushing (about 30 minutes by car).
🗓️ Carrying on with your trip elsewhere? Let us know in advance and we'll share useful tips so your departure goes smoothly.
💡 Once your booking is confirmed, we'll email you a detailed pre-departure pack with all the practical info and emergency contacts.
For an easy start, we'd recommend booking your flight into Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar, ideally on a Saturday or Sunday, between 06:00 and 21:00. That's when our free airport pickup runs, taking you straight to the volunteer house, around 30 minutes by car.
If you arrive on a Saturday, you'll need to book an extra night at the house (small supplement applies).
⏰ Arriving outside those hours? Not a problem. You can either get a taxi yourself (we'll send the directions) or pre-arrange a private transfer with us for a small extra fee. Either way, please send us your flight details as soon as you book so we can sort out the right support.
🛬 When you land, a member of our local team will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name or the partner organisation's name. If your flight is delayed or you can't spot the team straight away, stay where you are and wait at least 20 minutes. You'll also have emergency numbers to ring; we'll send these before you travel.
📱 A quick tip: pick up a local SIM at the airport (it's very cheap), so you can stay in touch with the local team, the other volunteers and people back home.
🚖 Heading home: return flight tips
When the project finishes, check-out from the volunteer house is by 12:00 on the Saturday. The return transfer to the airport (or anywhere else) isn't included, since people often leave at different times and the team is juggling several departures at once.
That said, our team will happily help you book a taxi or share a private transfer with the others heading back at the same time.
We'd suggest booking your return flight for Saturday afternoon or evening, so you can leave the house at your own pace and get to the airport without rushing (about 30 minutes by car).
🗓️ Carrying on with your trip elsewhere? Let us know in advance and we'll share useful tips so your departure goes smoothly.
💡 Once your booking is confirmed, we'll email you a detailed pre-departure pack with all the practical info and emergency contacts.
Local holidays
Public holidays
School holidays
Book your spot
1
Send your application (free)
Choose a project and tell us when you’d like to travel. Applying is free, with no obligation to book.
2
Meet your coordinator
After your application, we'll put you in touch with your dedicated coordinator. They'll walk you through everything and answer your questions.
3
Confirm your spot
When you're ready, pay the deposit to lock in your spot. You'll get everything you need: local contacts, a visa guide and your pre-trip pack.
4
Off you go
Pack your bag and travel. On arrival you'll find other travellers like you, a welcoming local team, and a trip you'll be talking about for a while.
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