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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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Push yourself to the limits on this whirlwind 6 week Tanzania adventure. You will spend the first four weeks truly immersing yourself in Tanzanian culture as you work with young children in Moshi. And that’s not all! You will also spend the night at a real Masai village and visit the fabulous Lake Manyara National Park and N'Gorongoro Crater to see tons of wildlife including cheetahs, leopards, lions and more. Next you are off on a 6 day climb up world famous Mt. Kilimanjaro using the scenic Machame route.. Then you will finish the trip with a well earned stay on the beautiful island of Zanzibar, famous for its tropical beaches, world class snorkelling and chilled out atmosphere.
Welcome to Tanzania! Today you will be collected from the airport and taken to the volunteer house in Moshi. The house is huge, within its own compound and on a clear day has the most spectacular view of Mount Kilimanjaro! You will have the evening to settle in and get to know your new home for the next three weeks.
Dinner is included.
After a tasty breakfast, you’ll have an orientation on life in Moshi and be allocated a specific project that you will be helping at. We don’t usually allocate you a project before you arrive as the need for volunteers might change before you arrive, or we simply might decide upon meeting you that you would suit a different project depending on your confidence and character!
Breakfast and dinner are included.
Get ready to get to meet the lovely children! You will spend the next four weeks working with young children in Moshi, sprinkled with amazing activities. You’ll be caring for and teaching young children in the community and your task will be to make learning fun, so singing songs, playing sports and helping to read with the children are all highly encouraged!
Breakfast and dinner are included.
You have the weekend free to rest and enjoy the area at your leisure. You may choose to explore the nearby town of Arusha or simply stay in Moshi, hanging out with all your new Tanzanian friends. Moshi is small enough to navigate easily, but large enough to find plenty to do and plenty of ways to keep in touch with friends and family back home.
Breakfast and dinner are included.
These next few weekdays will be spent continuing your work at the project bonding with the children and having fun. Each day you walk to your project and make friends along the way, learn more and more Swahili and soak up the vibe in Tanzania.
Breakfast and dinner are included.
We’ll bet you have never spent a night like this before! Tonight you will sleep as the Masai tribe do, in a mud hut on a cow skin bed (be sure to take some warm clothes as there is no central heating in the huts – obviously…) This will be an amazing experience, almost certainly out of your comfort zone, but a real eye opener!
Breakfast and dinner are included.
Today is yet another treat for you – a visit to the lush Lake Manyara National Park to enjoy the fantastic scenery and wildlife. If you are lucky, you may just come face to face with giraffes, tree-climbing lions, elephants and hippos; just don’t forget the camera or binoculars…
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
After a scenic 40 minute drive you’ll arrive at the fantastic N’Gorongoro crater. This area is not only beautiful, but is also a great place to spot rhino, leopards and cheetahs. Lions, antelopes, gazelles and flamingos also call the crater home, finding them is all part of the fun and the whole experience of being on safari. You will have plenty of time to take plenty of photos and explore this breathtaking area in your safari vehicle before arriving back at the Moshi volunteer house for your evening meal. Sleep well!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Having had a fun filled weekend, head back to your project for a fun filled week! Carry on working with the children in Moshi and enjoy spending some quality time with them and coping with the most infections laughter you can imagine!
Breakfast and dinner are included.
You have the weekend to do whatever you please. You may want to go for a hike in the area, catch up on your reading or simply enjoy the mellow vibe of Moshi with the locals. Don’t forget to let people back home know what you’re up to – they are going to be so jealous, you’re still only around half way through your tour now…
Breakfast and dinner are included.
Enjoy this week because it’s your last chance to spend some quality time with the giggling children of Moshi. Although we’re sure you’ll find it hard to leave the children, we’re also sure you’ll come back one day to see them again!
Breakfast and dinner are included.
Well here’s something to write home about! This is where the tour gets even better – you’re actually about to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa!
The hike will of course be difficult at times on different terrains and different climates, so for your own sense of achievement you really must be in good physical condition in order to reach the peak – don’t underestimate how tough this climb will be, but the rewards at the top will make it all so worthwhile!
Today you will climb 10kms to reach the Machame campsite (3000m). This is a 5 hour trek through the rainforest; keep a look out for monkeys, birds and other exotic wildlife.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Please note that if the weather conditions are not suitable then the alternate Marangu route will be taken for the Kili climb, this will offer hut accommodation instead of tents.
Wake up to the realisation that you are on your way to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro (slowly), then roll over and get more sleep to prepare yourself even more!
You have about 5 hours trekking ahead of you today taking you over the clouds with amazing views over Mount Meru and surrounding lands as you reach the Shira Campsite (3600m).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Today will be a strenuous day but will be great for your acclimatisation! You will trek up to the Lava Tower and have some amazing views so don`t forget to have your cameras at the ready! You will then descend back down to camp at 3700m.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
This will be a long day trekking with 5-6 hours of the trek being along what can only be described as a lunar landscape! You will feel like you are walking on the moon with some spectacular views of Kili! You will reach Barafu camp mid afternoon ready for a short rest then food followed by an early night!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
You are almost there! The trekking starts at midnight today as you begin your hike to the summit! You will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m or Stella Point at 5681m after about a 6 hour trek but it’ll all be worthwhile as you reach the roof top of Africa!
Take time to bask in the glory and the sheer magnitude of your achievement - well done you! Take the obligatory photo of you standing next to the sign proclaiming you as having just climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – BAM! There’s your next Facebook profile picture!
But what goes up must come down. You’ll then head off back down to camp which will take about 3 hours, have a short rest before heading back to Mweka camp at 3700m. This will take around 3 to 4 hours for the last trek and then you can spend the night enjoying your victory.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Today you will have a 3 to 4 hour walk to Mweka Gate where you will be met and taken to Moshi for a long awaited shower! Can you believe you just climbed the highest mountain in Africa?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Kick off your boots in solitude and relax, after six days wearing them solidly, it’s better to take these off when you’re alone! Today we won’t demand much from you other than to recuperate from the challenging climb and demand respect and admiration from others around you. They will soon tire of ‘Make me a cup of tea - I’ve just climbed Mount Kilimanjaro don’t you know?’
Breakfast and dinner are included.
Today you will travel by public bus to Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania for some rest and relaxation. Dar is a great city to explore and you’ll see a different side to Tanzania than Moshi. This is where you can stock up on any Western items that you might be missing! Don’t get too settled though because tomorrow you are off to the island paradise of Zanzibar. Oh how jealous we are of you…
Breakfast and dinner are included.
Hop on the ferry for the scenic ride over to the beautiful island of Zanzibar. You will have the day to explore Stone Town, one of the most historic towns in all of East Africa and well worth exploring. You will be given a free ticket to the Stone Town museum, that’s a present from us - enjoy! We’ll then put you up for the night at a lovely guesthouse right in Stone Town. How much do you love Zanzibar right now?
Breakfast is included.
Unfortunately nothing to do with the Spice Girls, everything to do with the huge amounts of spice plantations located on the island. Disappointed? You won’t be when your senses are pummeled in the spice market in Stone Town. There are so many smells and sights to take in at once, years later a sniff of a certain spice could transport you back here!
Breakfast is included.
Oh yes, your well deserved beach time has finally arrived! Say your goodbyes to Stone Town and head to your lovely lodge on the beach. Use this time go for a swim or simply sit back and relax and catch some rays.
Breakfast is included.
Your last full day in Zanzibar is yours to grab with both hands, use to the maximum (or minimum if you prefer!) and spend as you please. Catch up on some serious sunbathing, souvenir shopping or just chill out at a bar…
Breakfast is included.
It’s time to leave Zanzibar and start your journey back to the mainland. Board the ferry and watch as the magical island gets smaller and smaller and eventually fades away into the distance. Will you come back to Zanzibar one day?
Breakfast and dinner are included.
The bus ride back to Moshi will be the final leg of your fabulous 6 week journey. Enjoy the views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and smile with the satisfaction of knowing you conquered the beast.
Breakfast and dinner are included.
It’s time to say goodbye to Tanzania as we transfer you back to the airport to board your flight. Six weeks can feel like a lifetime, yet it might seem like only yesterday that you arrived here…Flick through your photos as you take off and start planning what to say to tell all your friends and family first, who are surely seething with jealousy. We hope you’ve had the trip of a lifetime!
Breakfast is included.
Please note that this trip is guaranteed to run and does not need minimum numbers
We work with a number of nurseries and kindergartens in Moshi with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and these projects need your assistance to give them the best possible start in life.
These projects involve working with young children to help them with the basic skills in English and math that will give them hope and potential for the future. The nurseries are set up to prepare the children for primary school and provide extra care where they otherwise may not be able to access it. Eager faces will greet you every day as you use your creative skills to make the lessons more engaging and fun! Many of these projects are set up by adults in the community to try to give poor children a chance for the future.
Moshi is the closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro in the north of Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. The town has a range of facilities including internet cafes, ATM machines, banks and other shops and restaurants.
Moshi is also the start for most treks up Mount Kili and for other safaris and tours. The projects are distributed across Moshi so you can have up to an hour’s walk or a shared taxi ride to reach them.
All too often parents cannot afford to take care of their children, especially if they are faced with a devastating combination of poverty and HIV/AIDS. This is the reason why there are so many street children and orphans in Africa with no one to care for them. By assisting at these projects you are helping to educate and entertain children who may not receive care and attention elsewhere.
Your role between Monday and Friday will be to provide a range of skills and activities, depending on your experience. You will be asked to help teach the children basic learning skills, such as the alphabet, maths and simple vocabulary.The main aim is to make learning as fun and interactive as possible so any games, songs or other fun activities you can initiate would be greatly appreciated.
The projects involving work with children are mainly in the morning so you can use your afternoon to really help other people within the community such as adult Masai or women’s groups which will be a fantastic unique cultural experience. There are also possibilities for afternoon classes with children who are struggling with their morning studies, conservation projects or even football practice with the local teams! That’s if you aren’t too hot under the African sun!
Our experience has taught us never to enter a classroom without stickers! Children around the world go mad for stickers in their workbooks and will work hard for them too!
Other useful ice-breakers are feathers, footballs, balloons, plastercine, flash cards, and also photos of you, your family, house and pets to incorporate in your lesson plans.
As Tanzania is a modest country you will need to dress conservatively at your project so remember that shorts and skirts should be to the knee or below and tops and shirts should cover the shoulders. Bikinis, short skirts and shorts, strappy tops should be left for the beaches!
When you’re volunteering in Tanzania the project you work on benefits from your help and adds to the ongoing work of others. You’ll need to apply for a Permit in order to do this; it’s a working Permit that allows you to volunteer. We’ll send you all the documents straight after booking so you know what you to do. There are a just few things you’ll need to know about the permit when preparing your itinerary:
IMPORTANT: If you want to travel around Tanzania, go on safari, climb Kili etc please ensure that you do this BEFORE your project start date whilst you are still on a tourist visa - the tourist visa you enter the country on gives you far greater freedom in terms of where go and what you do!
As climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is at a high altitude, the highest being 5895m at Urhuru Peak, then you`ll need to be aware of the effects of altitude sickness. The team we work with for the climbs are experts and are well trained in trekking at high levels so will be able to respond accordingly though it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
Altitude sickness occurs when the body is not able to obtain sufficient oxygen from the air at high altitudes and it can affect anyone, irrespective of age, gender or an individual`s level of physical fitness. Approximately 70% of people will suffer from some symptom of altitude sickness and at varying degress which can include; headaches, nausea, exhaustion, rapid pulse, insomnia, swelling of the hands and feet and reduced urine output. Usually taking a person suffering from symptoms to a lower altitude will suffice. However there is always a smaller possibility of it developing into severe altitude sickness which is less commonly known.
Severe Altitude sickness is an increase in the previous symptoms and also includes shortness of breath at rest, inability to walk and fluid build up in the lungs. Two severe forms of altitude sickness are High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) where the lack of oxygen results in leakage of fluid in to the lungs or brain, both needing immediate descent. These cases are few and usually occur when someone ascends too high too quickly.
It is important that you are aware of the risks involved prior to taking the trip. Medication can be arranged to help with altitude sickness prior to arrival but you should consult with your doctor. You should also let your trek leader know if any of the symptoms persist or worsen while on your trek.
Whilst hiking, you will only have to carry your day pack, your porter will have the pleasure of carrying the rest! Keep in mind that for Kilimanjaro hikes there is a limit as to how much you can pack, your bag can not weigh more than 15kg. Your day pack will only have the bare essentials such as small snacks, water, sun cream and medication and any extra layers of clothing you may need during the day. There are usually 3 porters per person so you will be well looked after!
Be sure to pack a sleeping bag, hiking boots, heavy jacket, warm hat or ski mask, sweater, warm trouser, rain coat/waterproof trousers, gloves, walking sticks, pair of socks, water bottle, a pair of light shoes, scarf, rucksack, headache pills and a flash light with spare batteries.
Other bulky equipment can be hired locally for very reasonable prices, so there is no need to bring hiking equipment with you unless you have space for it.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night a
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 90.00
During your stay in Moshi, we’ll put you up in a volunteer house which is located in a guarded secure area and looks out on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day! The house has capacity for around 40 people!
During your Mount Kilimanjaro trek, you will most likely be camping in tented accommodation. Tents are hired locally and always available, so there is no need to bring your own from home!
Whilst in Dar and Zanzibar, we’ll put you up in a locally run guesthouse and a volunteer hostel in lovely locations, some are on a shared basis of 2 and some are on a shared basis of up to 7 sharing.
The Moshi volunteer house is huge. Even in our busier summer months when we tend to fill to capacity, there is still plenty of space for everyone. There’s nothing like waking up to the view of Mount Kilimanjaro from the balcony as you enjoy a morning coffee!
The bedrooms sleep between 4-6 people of same sex volunteers and have single beds and space for your luggage. Each person has their own locker but you should bring your own padlock as these are not provided.
The house has a huge balcony area with plenty of seating; perfect for watching the sun go down with your new friends. There are lovely gardens and the unforgettable view of Mount Kilimanjaro to remind you that you are in Tanzania!
Breakfast and dinner and cooked and provided for you by the house staff. You will need to do your share of keeping your things tidy and your room clean, that’s all we ask of you.
The bathrooms have western style toilets and showers. Although there is no hot water, you won’t miss this as it is already hot weather, you’ll look forward to a cool shower.
Based on previous volunteer feedback, we recommend that you bring the following:
The house is located in a quiet residential area of Moshi and you’ll find plenty of amenities within walking distance. Moshi has ATM machines, cafés, bars, banks and internet cafes to keep you connected to the Western world.
Depending on which project you go to, you usually walk to and from your project. This can take up to one hour, but previous volunteers have said that this was the highlight of their day; they felt safe and met plenty of children along the way to keep them company
Modern day Tanzania was formed in 1964 with the merger of Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. Migrating tribes from across Africa settled on the land as early as the first century BC, while Arab traders occupied the coastal regions from around the 8th century onwards. The Portuguese added to the mix when they colonised the country from the 16th century. By the 19th century, a European presence was stronger than ever; explorers, notably Stanley and Livingstone, were arriving and the country became part of the German Empire until the British took control after WW I.
Nationalist movements were gathering pace against the onslaught of European rule and by 1961 the country had gained independence with Julius Nyerere of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) at the helm. A one party system pervaded much of the century until 1995, which saw the first democratic elections in almost 20 years. Recent elections however have been wrought with contention and have succeeded in widening the gap between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Tanzania remains one of the poorest countries in the world, but it has achieved steady economic growth, aided by a rise in tourism.
Tanzania’s summer is December to March while its winter season runs from March to May, and is also the main rainy season. The heavy rains can make travel on unpaved roads and dirt tracks difficult. The rainy season hits Zanzibar in April and May. The country is hot year round with the most agreeable temperatures from June to September, averaging in the high 20°C. The most opportune time to see lions roaring and wildebeest roaming is to visit the Serengeti from January to March, or the beginning of June and mid-November, when the great migrations to and from Kenya takes place.
The mainland and Zanzibar are serviced by a stream of airlines, both domestic and private small plane operators. Air Tanzania and Precision Air fly the main domestic routes, including flights to Zanzibar (around 20 minutes flying time from Dar es Salaam), with the main flight hubs based at Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kilimanjaro. Zan Air, Zanzibar’s airline, also flies to the mainland and to the island of Pemba. Coastal Aviation specialises in Safari trips and has a fleet of small planes varying from 3 to 12 seaters. Ferries also serve Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam. Ferry operator Azam Marine provides a daily service that takes around 2 hours, while its route from Zanzibar to Pemba takes just over an hour and runs a couple of times a week. Faster services are available from companies such as Sea Express and Flying Horse.
Bus travel is the most used form of transport but is tainted with road accidents and poor quality roads outside of the major towns. Private companies like Scandinavia Express offer air-conditioned buses that cover the major routes. Dalla dallas (minibuses) are also in abundance and often travel to more remote areas though they don’t have the best safety records. Buses only travel during daylight hours as night time bus travel is not permitted. Self-driving is not recommended. Most four-wheel drives for safaris are required to be hired with a driver and some car hire companies don’t allow for self-driving outside of Dar es Salaam.
A much safer, albeit slower, option is to ride the country’s railways. Tanzania Railways Corporations runs services from Dar es Salaam to stations throughout the country, while TAZARA covers stops en route to Zambia from Tanzania. It’s best to opt for the comfort and security of classes 1 or 2 but travellers still need to keep an eye on belongings and close windows at night.
For localised travel, crowded buses and minibuses, together with taxis, are a regular feature in towns and cities as a means of getting from A to B.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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