frequently asked questions

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• Who can attend the medical electives?
• Anyone with a healthcare interest, as well as medical students, nursing students, midwifery students, nurses, midwives, doctors, pre med students, physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors! Depending on your qualifications and year of study, we will find a suitable role for you.

• Can I choose the speciality that I do my elective in?
• Of course, you can let us know what areas you are interested in and depending on your length of stay, we can organise for you to participate in more than one area of interest or if you prefer just to stay in one place the whole of your elective then we can arrange for that also.

• What is the closest airport to where we are staying?
• You can fly to Kilimanjaro( JRO)

• Do I need a visa?
• Check with the country issuing your passport, there are some passport holders who will obtain visa on arrival and others who need to apply for a visa beforehand. Volunteers are required to obtain a visitors visa, either through e-visa or visa on arrival at the cost of $50 and then this visa is changed into a volunteer visa in country for an additional $50, the total price of visa is $100

• Will I get a certificate or proof that I have participated at the end of my time there?
• You will receive a certificate of attendance and you can request letters of recommendations from the doctors that you have been closely working with. 

• When is the best time to visit Tanzania?
• If you like the heat, May - July/August is a good time to go, if you prefer cooler weather September to November is very nice and not too hot, Usually December - February is warm but more chances of rain. Whatever time you decide to go, there will be plenty of activities for you to do and plenty of sights to see on your evenings and weekends off.

• What do I wear and what should I take with me?
• Usually in the hospitals, you will be required to wear your scrubs and sensible footwear, such as crocs or trainers. You should bring an extra pair of scrubs if you are attending theatre as you are required to change into clean clothing and clean shoes during times of surgery. Students usually bring a few changes of scrubs for their stay.

• Does the hospital provide PPE and sanitiser or should I have my own?
• The hospitals are equipped with basic PPE and sanitiser, but it is a good idea to bring your own, or buy some from the pharmacies there, its very affordable and ensures you always have clean masks and other PPE with you when needed.

• Is there anything I should bring with me for the hospitals or for patients?
• You will be seeing patients of various socio- economical backgrounds, students in the past have donated medications and other medical necessities that are in high demand to the hospitals. It is up to you as an individual if you would like to donate anything to the hospitals.

• Where do I exchange money?
• It is difficult to buy Tanzanian Shillings outside of Tanzania, so the best thing to do is have your currency in cash and you can exchange at the airport or you can use your bank cards at certain ATM machines for a small fee, depending on your bank. There are supermarkets and some restaurants that take card payments.

• How much money do I need?
• Depending on your activities, if you are planning to go on activities, you will be provided with a price list  to book beforehand, generally students will use anywhere between £50-£100 a week, however, it is entirely up to you if you want to go out every night and spend money or you want to relax at the lodge every evening and have all your meals there! Bear in mind the average wage in Tanzania is equivalent to $170-$230 per month, so the cost of living is comparatively low to western countries.

• What is the food like? Is there any food catered to westerners?
• You can experience local cuisine at very reasonable prices and you can choose to eat at restaurants that cater for American and European diets, there is something for everyone!

• What kind of place will we be staying at?
• Everyone will be staying together in one lodge resort, breakfast, lunch and dinner is included in your package, we can cater for certain dietary requirements that you mention in your application form.

• Are there opportunities to go out and explore?
• We have event organisers that we work closely with to offer you safe, affordable and amazing experiences such as safari, Mount Kilimanjaro experiences, nature reserve walks and hikes and much more. You can also go and explore the local town and markets and restaurants and immerse yourself in the beautiful culture.

• Is there anything I should be wary of while I am there?
• As with any new country or unfamiliar territory, it is important to stay in groups, don't speak to strangers or engage with any suspicious activities with people you dont know. You will have a driver that will be with you taking you to and from the hospital and dropping you to town or to the supermarket when you need. If there is anything you need you can ask the hotel staff who will assist you in every possible way.

• What type of clothes should I bring with me?
• Bring comfortable, loose clothes to wear, trainers and other comfortable shoes are ideal. It is important to respect the culture and religions of the nationals, so dressing modestly is highly advisable. There are opportunities to go to pubs/bars restaurants, so you can bring occasion wear to those events. Bring a hoodie or something warm incase the weather gets a bit chilly at night!

• What vaccinations do I need?
  • You can check out the advise of CDC on the following link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/itineraries/tanzania-and-zanzibar 

• What will my day to day look like?
  • Day 1: You should ensure that your flight lands into Kilimanjaro International Airport .The airport pickup is available 24 hours. A member of our local team will be waiting for you just outside the arrival’s door with a named signed. You will then head to our volunteer accommodation located in Moshi - around a 45 minute drive. The rest of the day is yours to spend relaxing and getting to know your fellow volunteers as and when they arrive.
  • Day 2: Orientation and optional day trips- After a good night’s rest and a delicious breakfast, our local team will provide a full orientation / induction that will go into detail about your time in Tanzania. This will include information about each project, health and safety information and show you around the village, pointing out all of the essentials. You will also have the option to head out on a day trip to see Materuni Waterfalls, Kikuletwa Hot Springs or somewhere else of interest.
  • Day 3: Orientation and palcement. this will be the first day of your placement, you will be briefed about where you will be going and the hours and about drop off and pick up, once you arrive at the hospitals or schools, you will be shown around and your placement starts!

• What kind of meals will we be getting?
  • All meals are included within the package and are provided either at the volunteer accommodation or at the project. The meals are freshly prepared by our on-site cook and will be a mixture of Tanzanian and western cuisine. There are several restaurants and supermarkets just a short tuk-tuk ride away, where you can enjoy a vast array of other meals and snacks. Some of the meals you can enjoy while volunteering include: Breakfast –Pancakes, eggs, toast, coffee, tea Lunch & Dinner – Chips, rice, chicken, mixed vegetables, pasta, stews. There are vegetarians and vegan options too.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP US A MESSAGE AND WE CAN ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.