Tanzania Volunteer Teaching Trip | Travelling from Hong Kong to Arusha (IVHQ Experience)

Last August, I had nearly two weeks off and felt a deep itch for a different kind of solo adventure. I sat quietly with my thoughts and asked myself: is there somewhere I’ve always longed to go, but never quite found the time or courage to visit? Almost immediately, one answer came rushing in — volunteering in Africa.

This was my first time joining a volunteer teaching program in Tanzania through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ). Before the trip, I spent hours searching for 'volunteering in Tanzania', 'volunteer in Africa', and 'IVHQ Tanzania reviews', but found relatively few first-hand experiences in English. This blog series documents my real journey in Arusha, Tanzania — including the application process, travel experience, cultural observations, and teaching volunteer life in Africa.

Why I Chose a Volunteer Teaching Program in Tanzania?

I’ve always believed in the power of education.

As Nelson Mandela once said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.' Growing up in a working-class family, I often watched my own hunger for learning get interrupted by circumstances. That quiet regret — wanting to explore a bigger world but feeling held back — has stayed with me.

I am grateful that my English has opened doors to international communication. I even completed my TEFL certificate out of personal interest. When I started researching volunteer abroad programs and international volunteer opportunities, teaching projects in Tanzania kept standing out.

Eventually, I chose Arusha, in northern Tanzania. My heart decided before my head could analyse it further. An inner voice simply said: 'Just go.'

I wanted to experience the world while I was still young, and contribute in small but meaningful ways through a volunteer teaching experience abroad.

Preparing for My Tanzania Volunteer Trip

The preparations were a whirlwind, but everything somehow fell into place.

Just two days before departure, I casually told my mum I was heading to Africa. She reacted calmly — by now she is used to my restless curiosity for travel and solo journeys.

Before leaving, I ordered dozens of stationery sets and notebooks, imagining the moment I could hand them to students in Tanzania. It felt like a small but meaningful gesture for my upcoming teaching volunteer program.

Compared to my first solo trip to Europe, I was surprisingly calm this time. Booking through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ Tanzania volunteer program) gave me structure and reassurance. They provided clear guidance on what to expect, what to prepare, and how the volunteer process would work.

The real challenge wasn’t logistical — it was mental. Letting go of comfort. Letting go of predictability. Letting go of city routines.

Deep down, I knew this volunteer travel experience in Africa was something I had been unconsciously moving toward for years.

First Impressions of Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania

Getting from Hong Kong to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania is not a short journey, as it takes over twenty hours in total. Since I struggle with long-haul flights, I broke the trip into two legs, flying from Hong Kong to Amsterdam for thirteen hours, spending a night in a hostel, and then continuing another nine hours to Tanzania.

The plan sounded reasonable, but the reality was less graceful. I woke up in the hostel with a stiff neck due to a bad pillow, and spent most of the second flight quietly enduring discomfort. This was my first taste of long-distance travel to East Africa, a mixture of excitement, exhaustion, and disbelief that I was finally heading to Tanzania.

Journey from Hong Kong to Tanzania (20+ Hours Travel Experience)

The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt it immediately. Everything was simple, humble, and unpolished.

There were no airbridges, only metal stairs leading us into warm and dry air. This was my first time in Tanzania. We joined a slow-moving immigration queue filled with dust and movement. With only a few counters operating, everything progressed at its own unhurried rhythm.

Even the 'Nothing to Declare' lane was not really separate, as everyone was redirected for full inspection. It felt chaotic at first, but gradually I understood that this was simply the pace of life in Tanzania — unhurried, unpredictable, and real.

Meeting Other International Volunteers in Arusha

Outside the terminal, I met the local representative from THE (Tanzania Host Experience), the partner organisation supporting IVHQ volunteers in Arusha. We then boarded a shuttle heading towards the volunteer accommodation in Arusha.

Inside the vehicle were international volunteers from around the world, including a French volunteer escaping the Paris Olympics atmosphere, a nineteen-year-old engineering student from Spain, two Italians from Tuscany, and a Scottish volunteer teacher.

As the van drove into Arusha, the city was already wrapped in darkness. I could not see much, but I could feel the warmth of the air and the energy inside the vehicle. Everyone shared their volunteer placements, including teaching, medical support, childcare, construction, and Maasai cultural immersion programs.

Even though we came from completely different backgrounds, there was an immediate sense of connection. This was what volunteer travel in Africa felt like — strangers becoming temporary companions in the same journey.

Volunteer Accommodation in Arusha (Lush Garden Hotel)

I stayed at Lush Garden Hotel, located near the volunteer house in Arusha. To my surprise, it was far more comfortable than expected, with clean rooms, bunk beds, hot showers, and basic but usable Wi-Fi.

I shared the room with an English volunteer and an Australian volunteer, both already two weeks into their programs in childcare and medical volunteering. We exchanged a few words before sleep slowly took over.

A Small Act of Kindness in Tanzania

I had arrived too late the night before to buy water, and by morning my throat was painfully dry. Without saying much, the Australian girl in my room quietly handed me a cold 1.5-litre bottle of water. I asked them about where I could buy water late at night but all shops or restaurants were closed.

I knew the nearest supermarket was far away, so she must have bought it from the hotel restaurant, which I later learned was significantly more expensive. It was a small gesture, but in that unfamiliar moment, in a completely new country, it meant everything.

This was my first real experience of kindness during my volunteer teaching journey in Tanzania. Before classrooms, before teaching, before expectations, there was simply human warmth.

Hotel's breakfast was actually not bad!

This was the lunch.

Next Chapter: Volunteer Orientation & Meeting Friends in Arusha

The first official day of the IVHQ volunteer programme began with orientation, where we learned about daily life in Arusha, safety guidelines, and local culture. More importantly, it was where I met people who would later become close friends throughout my stay.

Some encounters are brief, while others quietly stay with you long after the journey ends. This was where my Tanzania volunteer story truly began. Please stay tuned!

Note: The cover photo was taken with consent from the school, teachers, and students. Respecting local people and culture is essential in both travel and volunteer work.