Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Arriving in Tanzania Frequently Asked Questions Do I need a visa? Tanzanian visas are required by most nationalities. Visas are available at point of entry (ie airports and land borders) to most nationalities, although we do recommend you obtain your visas prior to departure. Some nationalities require visas to be purchased in advance so you MUST check before departure. If you plan to purchase your visas on arrival, you will need new, clean American dollars cash and the cost is around US$50 for each visa. All nationalities should check with the Tanzanian Embassies for more information. The Type of Visa you need is a Tourist Visa. What do I need when arriving in Tanzania? A copy of your Passport (and your Visa if organised in advance) Your Passport Yellow Fever Certificate Copy of Travel Insurance Immigration details for Arrival Form - this form needs to be filled out on the airplane. Please have your Passport details, Health Insurance, Address in Tanzania for the forms: Accommodation address: Kilimanjaro Backpackers Hotel, Moshi, PO BOX 8682, Tanzania Contact number at Hotel: Tel Do I need to bring any medications? Although pharmacy services are available in Tanzania it is recommended that you bring all medication you require for the duration of your stay as there is not a pharmacy in your village. Budgeting We recommend between 50 Euros to 100 Euros spending money per week, more if you plan on doing big trips over the weekends Pound Sterling, Euros and US dollars (notes printed after 2003) are easily exchangeable to the local currency at the airport and banks. It is unlikely that you will be able to get hold of African currencies in your home country. For the most recent rates please refer to the following website: What we don t cover Flights Personal Travel Insurance Travel Visas (where required) Personal Vaccinations/Medication Personal spending money (for souvenirs, weekend travel etc) Transfer back to the airport from the drop-off point (designated hotel in Moshi) on the last day of the Project so budget for a local taxi to drop you off at the airport

2 Do I need malaria medication? Yes, Malaria medication is applicable when entering Tanzania. What vaccinations do I need? It is recommended that you are vaccinated for: tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid. Note that in most European countries you will have had some of these vaccinations as a child. A yellow fever certificate is compulsory when travelling to Tanzania. Staying in Tanzania Where will I find the shuttle at the airport? If you arrive on a Friday you will get collected for free from Kilimanjaro Airport. It may take you up to an hour to clear immigration, change your cash at the forex counter, collect your bags from the conveyor belt, and clear customs. Once you are outside in the busy pick up area your crew will meet you with a signboard. If your flight lands early or you can t see your volunteer leader, please go to the information desk and we will meet you there. From there you will head over together to Kilimanjaro Backpackers for a welcome meeting later that evening. If you have any trouble or miss your flight you can call your volunteer leader at Kilimanjaro Backpackers - Tel ( ) Please note that on the following morning (Saturday) your volunteer leader will take you on public transport to the Project site to continue your welcome and orientation. Your will spend the rest of the weekend getting to know the area, settling into your accommodation, having a group meal, and having the opportunity to take some drumming lessons among other activities. After your 3 day welcome and orientation you will start your Project work on Monday morning. What if I don t arrive on a Friday? If you arrive before Friday, then please make your way to the Kilimanjaro Backpackers on Friday to meet your volunteer leader at 14:00, where you can meet the other volunteers. Please call 24hrs in advance to confirm the meeting time How does the Departure Work? We will return you to Moshi and the finishing point (Kilimanjaro Backpackers), on the last day of your project no later than 14:00. You can either stay at Kilimanjaro Backpackers or make your way to the airport or travel independently. We find that volunteers will share a taxi to the airport (around 25 Euros), go on to do some independent travel, join an organised overland adventure, or stay in Moshi for an extra night or the weekend. We recommend you book your flight departing Kilimanjaro Airport after on the Friday, no earlier to allow for any traffic delays. You may wish to leave for onward travel from this point, share a meal with your group or stay in Moshi. If you need accommodation for the last night in Moshi (Friday) it s very important that you let our crew know as soon as possible and well in advance of your departure date so they can book it for you. 2

3 Do I need to bring cash or can I use my debit / credit card? Visa and Mastercard facilities are readily available so you do not need to bring a large amount of cash. Ensure that your card is set up to be used abroad before you leave home. Can I drink the tap water? No, please ensure to only drink treated or bottled water. Are there a lot of mosquitoes? There are mosquitoes here, because we are situated in a malaria infected area. For safety please bring along all your allergy medication and other medication if needed. What kind of Food are we going to eat? We usually employ a local cook to provide meals, which will be mainly traditional dishes. The Kenyan diet is full of starchy foods with rice, beans, maize meal and chapati s as standard sometimes with simply prepared meat and mostly with some locally available vegetables. You will be encouraged to help with cooking so that everyone is involved in getting stuck in to the running of the project. If you do independent travel at the weekends you will need to budget separately for food. If you stay around the project site on a weekend then we will make sure the pantry is full. Volunteers are responsible for cooking their own food at weekends using the kitchen items at the house. Please help our crew by ensuring the if there are any foods items that we are running low on that they are notified in time for the weekly shop at the market, which you may enjoy visiting with the cook. We can cater for most dietary requirements and it s important that you let us know before you go. However we do not cater for picky eaters so please be respectful of the local food, cultures, traditions and give everything a go, you may even enjoy them. If you do some independent travel at the weekends you can try a number of other foods including more westernised dishes if you wish particularly when you are heading to tourist spots. Is it possible to smoke? Yes, there are designated smoking areas outside at the Volunteer Housing. Smoking is not allowed in front of children and in working hours, unless you are on lunch break and not on project site. Will I have internet access? There is no internet at the Project site. Volunteers usually go to hostels and cafes in Moshi over the weekends where they can have wifi and internet access. What happens if there is an emergency? We provide 24hour support and you will be given a contact number to use in case of an emergency. Are there plug sockets in every room? Power is available at the Volunteer Housing in most rooms (UK-style sockets). 3

4 Is it safe on my project? We minimise risks to our volunteers by giving advice on to how to keep safe, how to be culturally sensitive and how to blend into the community. Our Projects are all integrated and hosted within small local communities, who all keep a careful watch over our volunteers. Like any country there are unsafe places, particularly at night. These are well known by everyone and it is extremely unlikely that any volunteer could accidentally walk into them. Crime of any kind is rare in the villages where we work, and the local communities deal harshly with anyone who brings shame on the village as a criminal. The biggest risk is from opportunist theft, usually by children who don t know any better. The way to avoid this is by keeping any valuables out of site and in a secure place, and making sure that children do not enter bedrooms or other parts of the house where you have possessions. Tanzania is as safe as any other country to visit if common sense and basic precautions are taken. All our projects are situated in safe areas with staff onsite. For the vast majority of tourists, Tanzania is a relatively safe country and with common sense precautions you are highly unlikely to experience any serious problems. It is widely recognised that tourism brings a valuable source of income to Tanzania and its people therefore tourists are welcomed to Tanzania. Why do I have to pay to volunteer? The cost you pay to volunteer is only to cover unavoidable costs such as accommodation, meals, transport, shuttles and donation towards the project for running costs and material to sustain the program. Most of the projects are run only on the money that is donated by volunteer fees, without these donations and the physical help from volunteers most projects would not exist. Should I bring donations? Donations are always welcome; however you should not feel like you have to bring anything. You are already donating your time and expertise. When is the best time of year to volunteer? The project is run from mid-may to late August each year. The Education projects do change over school holidays to less formal and fun classes. Closer to the end of the terms is also exam times so you might be helping the children more with exam preparations than full teaching classes. Holidays are from: 29 Nov - 7th Jan, 12th April 5th May, and 2nd August 19th August I want to make the most of my programme, what length of time is best? The longer you can volunteer the better. Volunteers who stay longer can build greater relationships with the children and have a greater impact on the community. We recommend a minimum of 4 weeks. What do I need when I m on the project? Comfortable working clothes Comfortable shoes Swim wear and towel Sleeping bag and pillow or duvet cover/sheet (sometimes a sleeping bag will be too hot if you are travelling around but at night does cool down even when the days are very hot) 4

5 Sunscreen Mosquito repellent and net Personal medication The climate through the day is very warm and sometimes humid so light coloured, loose clothing is preferable. For girls especially it is important to not be too exposed in the village short shorts and skimpy tops are ok for the tourist resorts but are not appropriate for the village and may mean you receive unwanted attention. This can be avoided by wearing longer shorts / skirts and t-shirts / vest tops which are not revealing. In general, clothing should be lightweight, tough and casual. How do I get to my project? The programs are walking distance from your volunteer accommodation. Can I take photos of the children? Yes, you can take your camera to the project and take photos. Always ask permission when taking photos. Please refer to our Child Protection Policy for further information. I m scared of HIV and AIDS, what are the risks? HIV is a blood bound infection. You will not contract HIV through playing and touching the children. We do not know the HIV status of all the children we work with, therefore if there is an accident involving blood let your project leader take control. How many hours / days will I be working? Volunteers usually work hours a week on the project. In addition you may need to spend some time planning. This is usually spread over 4 5 days, although the exact program may vary dependent on special events or the project you are on. Will I have time off? Yes, volunteers have the weekends off unless we are organising a special event. This is your volunteer program so you may take time off during the week provided you first ask the volunteer coordinator and give us time to plan around your absence. The location of this project is at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Here there is a wealth of banana plantations, rivieras, and on a clear day, spectacular views of the mountain itself. This area is ideal for both climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and also the Northern Safari Circuit, Zanzibar and Mombasa are also within reach. What are my working hours? We have put together a rough itinerary of a typical day in Tanzania for all volunteer activities: 8am start on the project site 10am Tea break (about 20minutes) 12H30 Lunch (about 1h30) 4pm finish. You can assist the teacher at school in the morning because the school is very close to the project site or the building work. (English, Science, Maths) 5

6 After 4pm you can play games with the children, coach sport or assist in community activities, etc. We also use this time to have a shower or wash some clothes. In Tanzania the village runs of Africa time, which means these times are estimated! Everything is very laid back and the activities vary depending on what volunteers want to do and what we are able to do and weather dependant. How many people sleep in a room? It is 3 to 4 per room, with 2 to 3 rooms in each volunteer house. Will there be a possibility to go shopping, (for food or groceries etc) while at the program, or are we just staying at the Volunteer Housings? Yes, over weekends volunteers you can visit other local villages, head into Moshi to go to ATM, supermarket etc or just relax at one of the many backpackers or campsites nearby. 6