Dolphin & Marine Conservation Volunteering in Zanzibar

We have our very own local chef that will prepare 3 fresh meals for you each day, including weekends. Zanzibar is a melting pot of cultures and flavours. It has one of the richest and most diverse culinary scenes in all of Africa – shaped by centuries of trading and migration. Being by the ocean, the seafood is incredibly fresh and tasty, but there are also plenty of other options for those that don’t eat seafood. A few local favourites include: Zanzibar pizza (this is no ordinary pizza, think of it more like a savoury crepe), biryani and pilau, mishkaki (meat skewers) and mandazi (Swahili doughnuts). We can cater for most dietary needs, but please let us know in advance if you have any food allergies or specific dietary requirements.

You will receive three fresh and delicious meals a day cooked by chefs from the local community. Breakfast is typically fresh fruit, eggs and toast with a selection of toppings while lunch and dinner are a mixture of local and international cuisine. You can expect to eat anything from burgers, pizzas and pasta dishes to stews, fresh seafood and fragrant curries. Vegetarian options will always be available and we can cater to many other dietary requirements, please just let us know your requirements in advance. Once a week there is also the option to go to one of the preschool teachers’ or Kanga Ladies’ homes for dinner. It is a brilliant evening of eating a homemade meal together while sharing stories and laughs.

There is free WI-FI available at the accommodation to keep family and friends up to date. The connection can be slow and unreliable at times, so please be flexible and patient with this.

Zanzibar has a tropical climate and is hot all year round, with two distinctive rainy seasons: one more intense, known as the “long rains”, from March to May, with the peak in April, and the other less intense, known as the “short rains”, between mid-October and December. April and May are the wettest months, with frequent short thunderstorms. The warmest time of year is from December to March, during which the maximum temperature hovers around 32°C (90°F) and the humidity is high, although the sea breeze tempers the heat a little. You can expect highs 38 °C (100 °F) at this time of year. May to August is cooler (but still hot!), with highs around 29°C (84°F).