Your first day in Tanzania is more than just an arrival — it is the beginning of a new adventure, a cultural experience, and a journey that can make a real difference.
At Giving Hands Tanzania, we want our volunteers to feel safe, welcomed and well prepared from the moment they arrive. That is why we have designed a complete first-day experience to help you settle in, understand your surroundings and get your first impression of life in Arusha. From airport pickup to your orientation tour through the city, our team is there to support you every step of the way.
✈️ Welcome to Tanzania: Your Airport Transfer
After your flight arrives at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your Tanzanian adventure officially begins.
One of our Giving Hands Tanzania team members will meet you at the airport and take you safely to your accommodation in Arusha.
After a long journey, having someone waiting for you can make a huge difference. Instead of worrying about finding transportation, negotiating with drivers or navigating an unfamiliar city, you can simply relax and enjoy your first impressions of Tanzania.
During the transfer, you will already start getting to know your new surroundings — from the landscapes and local villages along the road to the busy streets of Arusha.
Once you arrive at your accommodation, our team will help you settle in and introduce you to the place where you will be staying.
Your Tanzanian home away from home starts here.
🤝 Meeting the Giving Hands Tanzania Team
Your first day is also an opportunity to meet the people who will support you throughout your volunteering experience.
We introduce you to our local team and explain how the volunteer program works. You will learn who to contact if you have questions, need assistance or experience an emergency.
We believe that good volunteer support begins with personal relationships.
You are not simply arriving at a project — you are becoming part of a local community.
🛡️ Safety Briefing: Helping You Feel Confident in Tanzania
Before beginning your volunteer project, we provide a comprehensive safety and orientation briefing.
We discuss important topics such as:
- Personal safety in Arusha
- How to move around the city safely
- Using local transportation
- Important local customs and cultural etiquette
- What to do in case of an emergency
- How to contact the Giving Hands Tanzania team
- Important local rules and regulations
- Respectful behaviour within the community
- General health and safety recommendations
- Areas and situations volunteers should avoid
We encourage volunteers to ask questions. There are no silly questions when you are experiencing a new country for the first time.
Our goal is not to make you worried about safety — our goal is to give you the knowledge and confidence to enjoy Tanzania responsibly.
🌍 Cultural Orientation: Understanding Your New Home
Volunteering abroad is not only about helping others. It is also about learning.
During your orientation, we introduce you to important aspects of Tanzanian culture and everyday life.
You will learn about:
🇹🇿 Tanzanian culture and traditions
Understanding local traditions helps volunteers build respectful relationships with the people they meet.
🗣️ Swahili
You will learn some useful Swahili words and phrases that you can use in everyday situations.
🤝 Respect and cultural exchange
We explain why it is important to listen, observe and learn rather than arriving with assumptions about the local community.
👗 Appropriate behaviour and clothing
We provide guidance on clothing and behaviour appropriate for different situations and communities.
📸 Photography and privacy
We explain the importance of asking permission before taking photographs, particularly when working with children and vulnerable communities.
For us, ethical volunteering starts with respect.
🏙️ Discovering Arusha: Your Orientation Tour
Once you have completed your briefing, it is time to get out and discover your new home.
Arusha is a vibrant city located in northern Tanzania and is often described as the gateway to some of Africa’s most famous natural attractions.
Our orientation tour gives you a practical introduction to the city and helps you become familiar with the places you are likely to visit during your stay.
Depending on the schedule, the tour may include important local areas such as:
- Local markets
- Shops and supermarkets
- Restaurants and cafés
- ATMs and banks
- Pharmacies
- Main transportation points
- Local meeting places
- Important landmarks and central areas
Instead of spending your first week wondering where everything is, you will already have a basic understanding of how to navigate Arusha.
🛍️ Learning How to Get Around
One of the most useful parts of the orientation is learning how everyday life works in Arusha.
Our team can show you where to buy groceries, where to exchange or withdraw money, how to get around the city and where to find essential services.
You will also learn about common forms of local transportation and how to use them responsibly.
By the end of the tour, Arusha should already feel a little less unfamiliar.
🍛 Your First Taste of Tanzanian Life
Your first day is also about experiencing the culture beyond your volunteer project.
Depending on your arrival time and schedule, you may have the opportunity to try local food, visit a local restaurant or experience some of the everyday atmosphere of Arusha.
Food is one of the easiest ways to connect with a new culture.
From traditional Tanzanian dishes to fresh tropical fruits, there is plenty to discover.
And don’t worry — if you have never tried Tanzanian food before, our team is happy to give you recommendations!
❤️ More Than an Orientation — Your First Connection to Tanzania
Starting a volunteering experience in another country can feel exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming.
You may arrive with questions:
Where am I going?
Is Tanzania safe?
How will I get around?
What should I wear?
What if I need help?
How will I communicate with local people?
That is completely normal.
Our first-day orientation is designed to answer those questions before you begin your volunteer work.
By the end of your first day, you should have:
✔️ Arrived safely in Arusha
✔️ Met the Giving Hands Tanzania team
✔️ Settled into your accommodation
✔️ Received your safety briefing
✔️ Learned important cultural guidelines
✔️ Discovered essential places in Arusha
✔️ Learned how to get around
✔️ Started learning some Swahili
✔️ Had your first impressions of Tanzanian life
✔️ Met other people who may become part of your volunteering journey
🌱 Ready for Your Volunteer Journey?
Your first day is only the beginning.
The following days will take you into your chosen volunteer project, where you will work alongside local partners and communities in areas such as childcare, education, community development, women’s empowerment, environmental projects, animal welfare and more.
At Giving Hands Tanzania, we believe responsible volunteering is about exchange, learning, respect and sustainable impact.
You come to Tanzania to contribute — but you will also leave with new experiences, friendships, cultural understanding and memories that can stay with you for a lifetime.
Karibu Tanzania — Welcome to Tanzania! 🇹🇿
Your adventure starts the moment you land.
Giving Hands Tanzania