Zanzibar Vet Clinic
Zanzibar
Working on the tropical island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania, our team are providing vital charitable care to animals in need. This project is for students and graduates who want to support the effort to bring much needed care to dogs, cats and occasionally farm animals on the island, learn from the busy caseload, and give back to a community living in poverty.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Work on the stunning island of Zanzibar
Join a friendly team making a difference to animals in need
Project tailored to your knowledge and skills, we accept preclinical and clinical year students and vets.
Join spay and neuter campaigns and help vaccinate animals on the island
Learn from a range of medical and surgical cases
Spend weekends on the beach, snorkelling with dolphins or exploring the jungle
Dive deep in to Zanzibar's culture, mingling with Masai people, as you help their animals
Project video
We work between two locations on Zanzibar which allows us to bring care to more animals on the island and reach more communities. We split our volunteers between these two clinics to ensure your stay has the most impact and you get as hands on as possible.
Stone Town Clinic
This team are based 45 minutes from the Famous Stone Town, where you will arrive and depart the island. The clinic is on the West side of the island, and runs out of a newly purpose built clinic nestled inland, amid farm lands and community houses in the spice farming area of Dhole. There are kennels for patients, a surgical room, basic laboratory, cattery, pharmacy and waiting room for owners. An onsite shelter for rescued dogs and cats is located on the property. There is his is where we base most of our student volunteers who are able to learn from the interesting cases that present and often are held at the shelter for ongoing treatment and care. You assist with the sterilisation of animals in the shelter so they can be rehomed to loving families. We also run an open clinic on Saturday, when you will see farm animals brought in for care and consultations.
Jambiani Beach Clinic
This clinic is based in the South East of the Island, in the village of Jambiani, 2 hours South of Stone Town where you arrive and depart. The beach is just a few minutes’ walk away. There is a single large surgery room where we often have multiple procedures occurring at one time, and a 2nd room for preparation and consultations. Basic laboratory equipment is available and out the back is a little courtyard to hold dogs for short inpatient stays or overnight recovery after sterilisation. We tend to place out qualified vets at this location to focus on providing sterilisation to the strays on the South of the Island, although you are likely to also see injured and sick patients too.
Our work varies from day to day. Sometimes we are rushed off our feet with sick dogs and cats, other days we actively go out to catch strays and return with them for sterilisation and vaccination. Being a community based clinic, we have an open door policy and never know what will show up tomorrow, so it is good to come expecting a range of work. Whilst the most common patients are dogs and cats, we may also see cows, goats, birds, donkeys, and other farm species.
KEY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Husbandry Work
Dog walking/exercising for animals under rehabilitation
Building enrichment for shelter dogs if at Stone Town Clinic
Veterinary work
Spays and castrates
Vaccination programs
Emergency call outs
Routine house visits
Wound Care
Road Traffic Accidents
Providing medication to animals on long term treatment
Bathing ("dipping") animals suffering with parasite or skin problems
Fluid therapy and anaesthetic monitoring
Diagnose, manage and treat tropical diseases, plus tick and midge borne diseases
Occasional farm animal or donkey work
There is only basic medical equipment available on Zanzibar, so the style of work is often a very new experience for people coming from first world countries. Anaesthesia is done using injectable drugs and the monitoring equipment is basic. There is no xray or ultrasound machine at present.
Please be aware that this is a busy clinic is a genuine working charity, with a varied annual schedule and workload. This is not a surgery training course. Come prepared to join in with all aspects of the work, and do not expect your days to be solely based around surgery. All the members of this team are willing to dig in and get their hands dirty with all aspects of animal care and we ask our volunteers to adopt the same attitude. No one here is above grooming dirty dogs, picking up poo or cleaning kennels when it needs to be done. Whilst it will not be the focus of your stay, a can-do attitude is important when working as part of a small team for the good of the animals.
The animals always come first, so you may work very long days if we are in the middle of a sterilisation drive, or spend many hours on the road when animals in need are far away. You may join outreach trips, especially if based at the Stone Town Clinic. This involves driving around the island providing mobile care and treatment at homes, hotels and community locations. The driving may be up to 2 hours each way in a tightly packed car.
Project Photos
ACCOMMODATION
Stone Town Clinic
The clinic is based among spice farms, surrounded by community houses and the accommodation is right across a small grassy field, so it takes about 1 minute to walk from your room to work. Two volunteer bedrooms are based in a traditional "rondavel" or "round house" with 2 or 3 single beds in each room, and an en-suite bathroom. Rooms are same sex unless you are coming with a partner. All rooms have mosquito nets, bedding, towels and fans. The house has a bright shared living space with sofas, TV, and a kitchen where volunteers can relax, cook and kick back in the evenings. A patio out the front is a great place for morning coffee whilst watching the world go by. There are little local shops selling the basics like bread and milk. Larger food shops are done by catching a DalaDala (bus) to Stone Town. Volunteers sometimes choose to hire a scooter or car for their stay but local busses run regularly from the end of our drive and cost about 1 US Dollar to Stone Town.
Jambiani Beach Clinic
Accommodation is a 10 minute walk from the clinic (volunteers sometimes choose to hire a scooter or car) and a 3 minute walk to the white beaches. The house has a small garden, and 3 levels. Ground floor is an open plan kitchen/living room where you can prepare your meals and hang out with your fellow volunteers. The next level has 2 bedrooms, each with 2 single beds and ensuite bathrooms. Rooms are same sex unless you are coming with a partner. All rooms have mosquito nets, bedding, towels and fans. The top floor is open to the sky, and here you can watch sunrise and sunset, kick back and socialise in your free time. Within walking distance there are shops and restaurants for your self catering.
You cater for yourself on Zanzibar, the food is reasonably priced and a variety of diets an be managed. On nights when you don’t feel like cooking, why not treat yourself to dinner at a rooftop restaurant, or a cocktail on the beach, as you live as a local on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
LOCATION
Zanzibar is the largest island in the Zanzibar archipelago. Situated less than 50km from the coast of the African country of Tanzania, it is renowned for its stunning white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters home to dolphins, whales and a rich and diverse marine life. The Island is safe for travel and slowly becoming a more popular destination for all ages of travellers. It has a rich history of spice and silk trading which can be seen in the architecture and buildings inspired by the Arabic and Portuguese traders who used to use this island as a resting and trading point.
For most people, the quintessential image of Stone Town is the huge wooden doors with large brass studs that guard the entrance to many shops and houses. In the winding narrow streets, little local shops sell spices, fruits, jewellery, rich fabrics and clothes. There are many restaurants and bars, selling fresh local produce and delicious meals. Our volunteers normally enjoy heading to the roof top bars that overlook the harbour for sunset, or the beach front bars where you can sip a cocktail with your toes in the sand.
ASSOCIATED COST:
2024 cost:
1 week: £611
2 weeks: £948
3 weeks: £1,337
4 weeks: £1,700
2025 and 2026 cost:
1 week: £524
2 weeks: £1,069
3 weeks: £1,613
4 weeks: £2,157
5 weeks: £2,701
6 weeks: £3,245
7 weeks: £3,789
8 weeks: £4,333
9 weeks: £4,877
10 weeks: £5,421
11 weeks: £5,966
12 weeks: £6,510
In order to provide you with a fun, safe and rewarding stay, we have a project fee to cover your accommodation and all transfers when staying with us This fee also helps us employ local veterinarians to train and support your stay, and provide year round free vet care to stray animals. Your fee also allows you to be covered by our public liability and professional indemnity insurance so you can focus on having an amazing time and we will take care of the rest.
Want to know what’s included?
Pre departure assistance with planning your trip from one of our destination specialists
All airport collection and returns
All accommodation
24 hour support on every project and at the volunteer accommodation by onsite staff
OUR PRICES EXCLUDE:
Meals are NOT included in the cost of this project
Volunteer Visa
Mandatory Zanzibar Travel insurance. You can opt for additional personal medical and luggage insurance at your own discretion
Flights to and from Zanzibar
PROJECT SPECIFICS
AGE: 18 +, no upper limit
QUALIFICATIONS: Open to anyone. Qualified vets and nurses generally work at Jambiani Beach Clinic, and vet/nurse students head to Stone Town Clinic.
This project counts as EMS and Clinical EMS for vet students
START DATES
This project starts every Sunday the year. Volunteers arrive on Sunday and depart on Saturday. You will be picked up from Zanzibar airport. Alternative start dates can be accommodated with advance planning so please contact us if this may suit your plans.
Volunteer feedback
Felicity Brein
May 2024
"The island was beyond beautiful, it was really rewarding work. I loved going around the island treating animals. It was busy and varied and taught me a lot. I made awesome friends, both with other volunteers and the animals. The rescue cats will forever hold a place in my heart! I "heart" Smudge, I wish I could have taken him home!"
Charlotte Ashfield
January 2023
"I really felt like I improved my surgical techniques with the practice and guidance of the team. It is different to work with so little diagnostic equipment available and definitely helped me work through cases without expensive tests. Best EMS ever"
WHAT NEXT?
We want you to join us in Zanzibar, to help the animals and have the adventure of a lifetime. Sound good? If you think you can assist this project, please click the "apply now" button and we will be in touch with you shortly.
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