Environmental & Animal Projects

Mbwa Wa Africa

The Project

Mbwa Wa Africa (“Dogs of Africa” in English) was launched in 2013. It was created due to a need for animal care and education in Arusha.

There are always at least 80 dogs and around 30 cats at the shelter. About 25 of the dogs live there permanently because they have any kind of disability due to accidents or abuse. Dogs with paralysis and other special needs are also given intensive care. In addition, there are usually up to 15 puppies that are raised and then given up for adoption. The shelter has a cat kennel, dog kennels and quarantine kennels where injured dogs and new arrivals receive care.

The two German founders, Sandra and Jens, work at the shelter. In addition, there are 23 other employees, including a 6-person clinic team. Mbwa Wa Africa is growing every year and is constantly expanding its premises, the team and the health care of the animals.

Your Work

Volunteer experience video:

Schedule

Working hours are arranged on an individual basis. Lunch is provided for volunteers and costs around 10 US $ per week.

Daily activities include:

walking and training the dogs
playing with the dogs and cats
washing the dogs
caring for the animals who have special needs
searching for people to adopt a dog or cat
cleaning
fundraising

No previous experience necessary

Volunteers do not need any prior experience. But a basic knowledge of English is necessary, as well as a love of animals. Also, you should not be afraid of dogs, or getting a little dirty. All volunteers need to be vaccinated against rabies.

If you are interested in the veterinary clinic, you are very welcome as long as you have a veterinary education.

Location

This project is located 34km (21miles) from the hostel, on the edge of the Arusha National Park and can be reached by public transport for around 4 US$ per day.

Please note

The project requires a donation of US$100 for up to four weeks and US$25 for each additional week. This donation is not included in the program fee, and is paid direct to the shelter. It is used to support expenses such as dog food, veterinary bills and staff wages.

The donation is not included in the registration or program fee and needs to be paid directly in cash to the project on your first day.

Founder’s interview:

Read our

Testimonials

"I stayed at Villa Viva by Viva Tanzania for four weeks. Tizia and the team gave me a very warm welcome and I immediately felt at home. I did my voluntary service at Mbwa wa Africa, an animal sanctuary on the edge of Arusha National Park. It was so touching to see how happy the animals are in their new life full of hope. Tizia organized my volunteer project well so that there were no problems and also showed me the way to the shelter so that I felt safe driving there alone. I am glad that I got to know all these nice people at the villa and the project and that we could all share nice moments together. If I had any questions, I just asked the staff and they arranged everything for me. Tanzania was a great experience that I will remember for the rest of my life and it's a shame that my time here is over now. I can absolutely recommend Viva Tanzania.P.S. The food is fantastic and there are great international as well as Tanzanian dishes. Asante Sana!"

Chase Ying Yuan, 19

United States of Africa

Project price

2 weeks:	650€
3 weeks:	850€
4 weeks:	1.050€
Every additional week:	200€

Please note: The project requires a donation of 100 US-Dollar for up to four weeks and 25 US-Dollar for every additional week to support different expenses of the dog shelter like food, veterinary bills, staff etc. This donation is not included in the program fee.

Accommodation

You can choose between a single room or four-bed room in the hostel.

Project length

The minimum stay is two weeks. Due to visa regulations you can spend a maximum of two years as a volunteer in Tanzania.

Let your adventure to start

Book your place now

Are you interested in the project? Fill out the registration form and we will start planning your stay.
Start your volunteering experience in Tanzania and get the lifetime experience!