Volunteer
We couldn’t do animal welfare work without the help of our volunteers. Volunteers are a vital part of Mbwa Wa Africa—your time, skills, and commitment make a direct and lasting impact on the lives of our animals and help us continue our mission to improve animal welfare in Tanzania
Volunteering at our shelter means becoming part of a passionate team dedicated to giving rescued animals a second chance through daily care, love, and hands-on support.
Your Role as a Volunteer
Volunteers mainly support our permament shelter staff with:
- Walking, feeding, brushing, and socializing dogs
- Supporting inpatients and disabled animals
- Helping & Cleaning in Quarantine
- Providing basic training for the dogs like teaching them commands such as “Sit”, “Stay” or “Down”
- Assisting with flea/tick treatments, photo-taking for social media, and other daily tasks
- Occasionally supporting the clinic team (in non-medical roles only)
Workdays usually run from 9am to 5pm, with a break for lunch. Volunteers are expected to work 5–6 days per week, including weekends, as animal care continues every day.
What We Expect
- Promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.
- Treating all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion at all times, regardless of the situation or circumstance.
- Working courteously, respectfully and cooperatively with other staff members.
Your Role as a Clinic Volunteer
At the Mbwa Wa Africa Veterinary Clinic, we welcome only trained veterinary professionals—qualified vets, vet nurses, and vet students with clinical experience—as volunteers. Your role is hands-on and varied, ranging from assisting with surgeries and consultations to inpatient care and emergency treatments. While we aim to offer high-quality care, please note that local standards and resources may differ from what you’re used to; creativity and flexibility are essential parts of your work here.
Our clinic was established not only to support our shelter financially but also to treat street animals and pets from the local community—especially those whose owners cannot afford veterinary services. Every animal deserves the best possible care, whether they come from the streets, our shelter, or a loving home.
Daily Routine at the Clinic
The clinic operates daily (also Sundays) from 9am to 5pm. Mornings begin with checking on inpatients, giving treatments, preparing for surgery, or handling early consults. We currently run surgeries twice a week—Tuesdays for strays and community dogs, and Wednesdays for private clients and shelter animals. House calls are done on Fridays if needed, while general consultations and emergencies are handled throughout the week. One of our Team members goes out for TVT treatments on Mondays.
Your responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with or performing surgeries and consults
- Inpatient care from medicating to cleaning their kennels
- Monitoring and treating inpatients
- Managing the clinic’s cleanliness and hygiene
- Doing laundry and maintaining medical equipment
- Entering all patients, cases, and procedures into our database
- Answering the clinic phone and helping manage appointments
- Providing emotional support and stimulation for recovering animals
We also ask all team members to contribute to the non-medical needs of the animals—like walking, playing, or simply giving affection. Even the sickest dogs deserve time outside and human connection.
Workloads can vary—some days may be full and fast-paced, while others are quieter. While we aim to stay organized, the environment can be unpredictable, so adaptability and a sense of humor are a must. Protocols and guidelines are available to help you navigate your responsibilities.
Our goal is to eliminate rabies in the Arusha Region and to humanely control the dog population
In Tanzania, rabies claims the lives of about 1,500 humans per year, most of them children. The World Health Organisation and OIE World Organisation for Animal Health advocate a ‘One Health’ approach to rabies control – vaccination of at least 70% of the dog population in a rabies-endemic area prevents the spread of rabies between dogs and its transmission to people.
Additionally, thousands of puppies are born on the streets of Tanzania every year. Spaying & Neutering the dogs is the only approach to humanely control the dog population and to end the suffering.
If you are a Trained Veterinarian or Vet Nurse and are interested in participating in one of our Campaigns, please contact us or visit the website of our partners Mission Rabies & WVS.
Organize an event and donate it to the project, throw a party, a BBQ, a garage sale. Run a marathon or climb a mountain.
Any help is appreciated. Contact us for more ideas, we are having thousands of them.
Living at the Shelter
Volunteers stay in our on-site Volunteer House. The shared accommodation includes:
- Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and living space
- Drinking water (filtered), electricity, and WiFi
- A lovely cook who prepares delicious dinners
We provide breakfast basics and a shared lunch. Costs for additional meals, like going to the nearby restaurants, additional groceries or beverages, are not included.
What to bring
You will need light clothes that can get dirty. For work at the clinic, casual clinic clothes are appropriate. A raincoat and gumboots are needed in February-June and October-December. Otherwise, a sweater or fleece and light jacket will suffice. Volunteers may do a lot of walking, so good walking shoes are important. Plan to bring some reading material, a flash light, a headlamp, batteries, camera, etc.
For Vet Volunteers a headlamp is a must! Since electricity is not always a given, light conditions can be rough.
Visa requirements
Currently all volunteers and visitors are required to get a tourist visa either at the airport on arrival or from the Tanzanian Embassy prior to travel. Visa costs vary by country, but are usually $50, US Citizen $100.
Vaccinations
For all volunteers rabies immunization is required due to the subject of work.
Safari Options
You can contact us for further information about Safari’s or other trips.
The Costs depend on the duration of your stay, you can expect costs from 130 USD to 90 USD per week for accomodation & board, plus a registration fee that includes help with visa and permit application, airport transfer at Kilimanjaro and Arusha Airport, in case you are coming from Nairobi we will pick you up in Arusha at the shuttle bus stand.
Not included
International flights, travel insurance, visa, drinks and other personal expenses