Volunteering in ecological house building in Tanzania

As a volunteer in Mtwara, you will live on a 15.000m² site with various bungalow houses. It depends on the number of volunteers and the time of year where exactly you will be accommodated. Other employees live on the same premises but in different rooms. You can reach your location on foot from all accommodations. WiFi is also available here.

The stone bungalows are equipped with wooden roof terraces and a roof made of bamboo, coconut and metal and are located on small hills in a small village near the city. From the roof terrace you have a great view over the green valley of Mtwara. The accommodation has space for up to 30 volunteers, who are housed separately in the rooms according to gender.

The accommodations have French toilets (no sit-in toilets) and showers with running water, a private fresh water well and a solar powered water pump. You will also find a spring with natural drinking water 100 meters away.

During your time as a volunteer you will receive half board, i.e. breakfast and dinner. You also have the option of using different kitchen spaces for cooking or ordering food such as fries and chicken, salad or fish and drinks.

There is also a sports bar and restaurant, a kindergarten and a music and video studio on the site. The Women Empowerment Project is also in the immediate vicinity.

In about 400 m distance you will find a market, shops, bars and restaurants. It is 500 m to the bus station, 5 km to the city center, 5 to 6 km to clubs and gyms and 7 km to the beach and ferry. If you want to discover Mikindani, the historical side of the place, you have to travel about 15 km. The nearest national park (marine park) is about 40 km away. There is the possibility to rent motorbikes or bicycles and to do tours as well as a boat trip with a local sailing boat.

Between 6am and 00pm it is safe to be outside alone. At night you should only travel in groups and take the transport directly to the house.

Mtwara is located in southeastern Tanzania, near the Mozambique border and just off the Indian Ocean coast. Palm trees and natural sandy beaches characterize the image of the likeable port city. Mtwara used to be a small fishing village. Even today, there is fresh fish every day at the port, which you can enjoy while walking around, fried until crispy! You will certainly find your way around here quickly and enjoy the Tanzanian serenity.

Our RGV location in Mtwara was set up together with our volunteers. In addition to a women's aid project and kindergarten, we also built a small amphitheater and a bar with a concert stage in 2020. Mtwara is the place for cultural exchange - meet people from all over the world!

The city is the perfect location if you like spending time on the beach and want to make new friends. The relaxed atmosphere will definitely have an effect on you too! Hakuna Matata!

Mtwara is located in southern Tanzania on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The former fishing village has developed into a vibrant port city where fishing still plays an important role today. Stroll along the harbor and taste the fresh fish prepared at one of the many stalls.

In addition, the direct location by the sea opens up numerous other leisure activities. For example, take part in a boat tour, explore the colorful underwater world with your diving goggles or relax on the beach in the shade of large palm trees, for example on the natural Shangani Beach.

The city also offers you other exciting opportunities: Stroll through colorful markets where you can buy clothes or traditional products. Stroll along Aga Khan Street, which is lined with old Indian trading houses from the 50s and 60s, or through the nearby historic town of Mikindani - culture enthusiasts will also get their money's worth here. In addition, the lively districts of Majengo and Chikongola are definitely worth a visit! As a rule, the residents of Mtwara are very hospitable and open-minded - let yourself be infected by their friendliness and the relaxed local atmosphere as you explore the city.

You don't necessarily have to walk for all these activities - in Mtwara it is common to explore the town by bike or motorbike. You can also discover the area with the other volunteers by motorbike - for example, take a group trip to the nearby Msimbati Marine Park. This is just before the Mozambique border, on a paradisiacal peninsula lined with beautiful sandy beaches. Here you can experience not only hippos and crocodiles, but also sea turtles, dolphins and humpback whales up close.

Our project site itself also has numerous leisure activities. On the site there is a small amphitheater and a bar with a concert stage. There is also a sports bar/restaurant and a music and video studio. You can meet the other volunteers at all of these locations and benefit significantly from the international exchange. 

During your volunteer work, a day tour with the team and the other volunteers is included, with the exact time being determined on site. On this day you will first go to Montessori Beach, which is located on the Shangau Peninsula. Afterwards you will travel along the coast of Mtwara on a so-called dhow, a traditional African sailing boat, visiting many small islands or the fishing village of Pemba - depending on the tide. In the meantime you will get a strengthening meal, which you can either enjoy on the dhow or on a sandbank. The day ends in historic Mikindani, from where you make your way back to the Student House.