Marine turtle conservation in Zanzibar

• Assist in the rehabilitation and care of injured marine turtles.
• Help maintain clean and safe beaches for turtle nesting.
• Collect seaweed from the Indian Ocean, an essential food source for turtles!
• Feed the turtles.
• Monitor the growth of young turtles and release them into the ocean.
• Raise awareness among the local community about marine conservation.
• Help collect data on turtle populations and behavior.
• Assist in cleaning the turtle habitat.

You will work with the local team on-site to support the smooth operation of the facility and the well-being of the turtles.

The center’s main objective is to rescue injured turtles from local fishermen, provide them with care and treatment, and release them back into the wild once they have recovered. During the nesting season, the center also collects eggs, ensures they hatch, and releases baby turtles into the sea.

The rehabilitation center also has a mission to plant and cultivate seaweed around the site to improve the turtles’ natural habitat.

You will stay in shared accommodation with other volunteers in Makunduchi, a peaceful town located in southeastern Zanzibar. The accommodation is close to the coast. A short 5-minute bike ride will take you to the village of Makunduchi, where you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Rooms are shared between 2 to 4 volunteers (same gender). There are 2 bathrooms with hot water. A quick reminder: tap water is not drinkable!

All essential amenities are located near the accommodation.

Meals

All meals are included (3 per day). Traditional meals will be served at this accommodation, including local dishes such as wali (rice), ugali (corn porridge), nyama choma (grilled meat), mshikaki (marinated beef skewers), samaki (fish), pilau (spiced rice), biryani, and ndizi-nyama (plantains with meat). Once a week, all participants collaborate to plan the weekly menu together.

On your first day, you will have an orientation session with the local team to introduce you to the facilities, other volunteers, and explain the schedule for the upcoming days. You will also tour Makunduchi to locate shops, ATMs, and other key points of interest near your accommodation.

For the rest of the week, the programme continues, and you will carry out various tasks related to turtle conservation, habitat protection, and the smooth running of the center.

A local team is always on-site to ensure the programme runs efficiently and to assist volunteers when needed.

Your Arrival

Upon your arrival at the airport, we recommend purchasing a SIM card from a local shop to stay connected, as the volunteer house does not have Wi-Fi.

A local coordinator will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign displaying your name and will take you to your accommodation.