Tanzania – Kilimanjaro Reforestation and Conservation

This project takes place in Mweka Village, in the north of Tanzania, which is at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Volunteers will stay on a Forest Camp, within walking distance of the Mweka Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. It’s where you’ll be living during your stay, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest and with a stunning view of Moshi Town’s plains.

Nearby Moshi is a modern, vibrant town with a dynamic mix of Tanzanians from different tribes and backgrounds, all living and working together side by side. It also has a number of restaurants, supermarkets, and cafes.

Moshi is the perfect location for adventurers wanting to explore a fascinating part of Africa. Located a few hours drive from major safari destinations, such as the Serengeti, the Ngorogoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.

The melting glaciers of Kilimanjaro are an internationally recognized symbol of climate change. As a volunteer, you will join various projects related to the effects of climate change and deforestation on the area’s community. The program coordinator organizes a volunteer plan each week and includes the following activities:

• Assist in a tree nursery at an altitude of 2000 meters, which is operated by local families from the Mweka community. You will help plant seeds of various indigenous and tropical fruit trees. Large-scale reforestation volunteer activities take place during the rainy season.
• Operate, learn, and maintain a small aquaponics system. Aquaponics is a circular system of aquaculture. Waste from farmed aquatic animals is used to provide nutrients for hydroponically grown plants, which purify the water.
• Help produce biodiesel from Jatropha seeds in a small scale setting to gain knowledge about biofuels.
• Join workshops that teach participants how to create local crafts, store food, and make soap and candles. These workshops provide knowledge of self-sufficient living. You can learn important skills from local artisans who live without electricity or refrigeration.
• Assist in a bamboo forestation project near Moshi to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. Bamboo shoots up quicker than other trees and can remove around 17 tons of carbon dioxide annually for each hectare. There are also workshops available to learn how to make items out of bamboo, which can be an alternative to plastic, metal, or hardwood that mature slowly.
• Lend a hand with an energy-efficient cooking project, which plans to hand out hundreds of fabric and coconut fiber insulated bags every year. These bags enable food to be cooked for long periods of time without requiring more energy, cutting down fuel usage. Volunteer will learn and show power-saving food preparation techniques to people in the area. These include solar ovens, firewood/coal stoves with reduced thermal dissipation, and briquettes crafted from organic leftovers.
• Attend lectures involving climate change and environmental topics to gain knowledge and understanding.
• Actively take part in weekly community gatherings, where they discuss and plan tasks. On designated days, you will join community activities such as assisting with harvests of coffee, bananas, or corn. Repairing and renovating important community infrastructure, such as school buildings, bridges, and roads. This hands-on involvement will allow you to contribute meaningfully to the community’s well-being.
• As an extra, you can attend lectures at the Mweka College of African Wildlife Management and become a member of the college’s Student Clubs. There is an extra onetime fee for this of $110.

   Internet: Wi-Fi isn’t available, but participants can use their cell phones for internet access. Every volunteer receives a local SIM card and a top-up voucher worth 10,000 TSH to purchase an internet data package.

Laundry: Washing machine is available

Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in a camp is near the Mweka Gate of Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park, surrounded by forest with views of Moshi Town. The camp sits at an altitude of 2000 meters/6500 ft. above sea level. The camp features comfortable safari tents on terraced grounds, accommodating a maximum of 6 participants. Each tent has 3 bunk beds with mosquito nets and lockable cabinet compartments for belongings. The tents have solid wooden thatched roofs and large windows with mosquito netting. Attached to each tent is a brick building with a toilet and a separate shower with hot and cold water. You can also enjoy the natural surroundings from the wooden verandah deck outside each tent. In the communal area, there is a kitchen building, a roofed pergola, and tables and benches where meals are served. During the rainy season (May to August), nights at the camp can get chilly. The local team provides good sleeping bags, blankets, and gas heaters for the bathrooms.  The program is all about sustainability. All lighting and mobile phone chargers are solar-powered, and the showers are heated with solar water heaters. The camp is constructed using local and renewable materials as much as possible. The camp has 24-hour security provided by two watchmen, and there is a safe deposit box for storing valuables. While we attempt to separate bed occupancy by gender, we cannot guarantee this due to variations in the number of male and female bookings.

Food: The community chef prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Triple-filtered drinking water is available at no extra charge.

• Minimum age of 18
• GoEco interview
• Police clearance
• Good level of English
• Open-minded and positive attitude
• Not afraid to get your hands dirty
• Comfortable with the possibility of encountering insects during the volunteer work.
• Immunizations (please consult your local travel clinic). Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory when entering Tanzania from a yellow fever country or when having a stopover there (e.g. Kenya, Ethiopia)

During your weekends, you can hike and explore nearby attractions. You can visit the magnificent Materuni Waterfall and the breathtaking Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park.

Additionally, you can take public transportation to Moshi Town, which is just around 1 hour away from the camp. Moshi is a modern, vibrant town with a dynamic mix of Tanzanians from different tribes and backgrounds, all living and working together side by side. It also has several restaurants, supermarkets, and cafes.

Moshi is the perfect location for adventurers wanting to explore a fascinating part of Africa. Located a few hours’ drive from major safari destinations, such as the Serengeti, the Ngorogoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.

Volunteers can book tours with a budget safari company based in Moshi. They offer affordable safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs, excursions, and watersports activities in Tanzania and Zanzibar.