Experience Making a Difference in a Bucket List Destination

Immersive cultural service and donor travel that changes lives.

  • "The beautiful students, the kind and competent staff, the knowledge and compassion of the director….all created one of the best weeks of my entire life!"

    — Margy

  • "Being there in person, we fully understood the mission and value that MAD stands for."

    — Victor

  • “It was so nice to be welcomed. I felt very safe and enjoyed seeing the impact one can make.”

    — Sara

Hear from One of Our Volunteers

Karibu (Welcome)!

A Once-in-a-lifetime Experience Awaits

Whether it’s for a day, a week or more … You are welcome!
Let us welcome you to our nyumbani (home). We need travelers like YOU who want to explore the world and leave it better off. 

For those of you’d like a fully planned week, we offer a once-in-a-lifetime immersive travel experience for you as an individual, or you with your company, family and friends!

What You Can Expect
An immersive cultural experience that can be accompanied with an optional safari or day hike climb up Kilimanjaro. You will experience community, joy and hope that prevails despite the ongoing challenges of poverty.

Why this Trip Matters

You’ll be further developing our Learning Management Software (LMS), which helps youth have a growth mindset, improve their English, create resumes and small business plans.

Your Unforgettable Week In Our Nyumbani (home)

  • Day 1 Airport Arrival

    Our driver will be at the Kilimanjaro International Airport with a “Make A Difference Now” welcome sign and our van. We will transfer you to our guest house in Moshi, which takes approximately one hour to get to.
    Travel Tip: Most people arrive on the KLM evening flight into JRO Airport so they can be well rested for the next day.

  • Day 2 Orientation & Meeting Students

    Learn about our organization and spend time with a few of our students in either one of their classrooms or outside learning about their goals and helping them with their English while they also teach you some helpful Swahili words and phrases!

  • Day 3 Cultural

    You will be immersed in the local culture, which may include a visit to one of the student’s villages, their school and an introduction to Swahili. Enjoy a time to stretch your legs and walk to a local waterfall as well as learn about the local Chagga Tribe and their history in the Kilimanjaro Region.

  • Days 4-6 Projects with Students

    After you have learned about the culture and gotten to know a few of our students you will now get to pull up your sleeves and work on a project that will empower young adults and their communities long-term. Projects range from painting our empowerment hubs, editing student’s resumes (CV’s) to working on marketing and business plans for local businesses to make them more prosperous.

  • Day 7 Kilimanjaro Day Hike (Optional)

    Spend the day hiking up the first part of Mount Kilimanjaro to Mandara Hut with a guide. This trip includes lunch, roundtrip transportation and an experienced guide. Pack broken in hiking shoes and a water bottle, as this is full day hike! Expect to get a taste of what it is like to climb Kilimanjaro.
    Not suitable for most kids under 12 or those over 80. For those of you who don’t want to climb Kilimanjaro, this is a great day for responsibly shopping.

  • Day 8-10 Safari (Optional)

    Enjoy a three day safari with your own driver guide. Explore the Crater and Manyara. Airport drop off at the end of the third day of your safari. Flights back should be booked as late as possible to allow more time on safari.

Lodging

Internet - WiFi and wired Internet access

Games - Over 20 board games to choose from

Food & Drink - Filtered Water, Juice, Coffee/Tea maker

Sleep - Self-contained rooms with mosquito nets over beds (6 bunkbeds and 2 queen size beds).

Bathroom - Bathroom in each room with shower

Comfort - Fans in each room, sheets, pillows, towels, toiletries, laundry (small surcharge per laundry basket of $5 USD), screens on windows

Accessibility - One story

Dietary Needs/Restrictions - We can accommodate most needs just let us know before your arrival.

Non-Smoking

Program Offerings

Our Program Includes

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off

  • Daily meals prepared by chef

  • Private and shared rooms. Each room is self-contained with a bathroom.

  • Swahili lesson

  • Program coordinator, security guard and driver

  • Optional add ons


Shop Before You Go

Before you leave, consider purchasing a journal, shirt, water bottle or bag and help educate impoverished youth. Shop and Make a Difference. 

Group Leader?

If you have a group of six participants or more discounts are available as a group leader. Contact us for more information!

Part of Package or Optional Add On

Safari

Recommended add-on 3-day safari to Ngorongoro Park as well as Lake Manyara, Tarangire or Arusha National Park (US)/person (minimum of 6 people needed, the price goes up if less than 6 people).

Kilimanjaro Hike

You can go on a one day (taste of climbing Kilimanjaro hike) or a 7 day fundraiser hike to the top of Kilimanjaro!

Team Building Volunteer Trips

Bond with coworkers by utilizing volunteer time off to give back. Our team-building trips enable groups to make a difference together while getting to know one another and having the chance to learn about another culture

Let Us Create the Perfect Package Tailored to You

We’d love to have you join us! You’re welcome anytime your schedule permits, just reach out to us.

You can choose from an all-inclusive 7-day stay as well as optional add-ons that fit your budget and schedule.

If you prefer to travel with a group and get a group discount on safari (prices are based on a minimum of six people and are much higher for safari when traveling alone), our next group trips are:

June 2025
June 20th evening arrival into JRO - June 29th evening departure from JRO
August 2025
August 1st evening arrival into JRO - August 10th 2025 evening departure from JRO
September 2025
September 1st evening arrival into JRO - September 10th evening departure from JRO
October 2025
October 1st evening arrival into JRO - October 10th evening departure from JRO

Fill out the form to the right once you’re ready to book.

If you’re traveling with a company please let us know. We often have Salesforce join us!

Preparing You for Your Trip

We charge fees for guests staying at Make A Difference Now’s guest house in Tanzania and for meals provided during their cultural immersion experience to ensure the sustainability of our programs. These fees help cover accommodation, food, and logistical costs while also directly supporting our educational initiatives for local students. By contributing, visitors not only enjoy a meaningful and authentic cultural experience but also play a vital role in empowering the community through education and development projects. This model allows us to continue making a lasting impact while offering a comfortable and enriching stay.

Need more info? Fill out our form.

Let’s create an experience for you that’s fun, educational and gives disadvantaged women and youth a chance at a better life by providing them access to quality training and education.

Make A Difference Now, Tanzania, Safari, Zebras

Frequently Asked Questions

  • While it may appear counterintuitive to pay to volunteer, our fee structure is essential for covering the comprehensive costs associated with organizing and facilitating your meaningful work. These fees ensure that you have access to safe accommodation, nutritious meals, reliable transportation, program materials, and dedicated staff oversight. 

    Organizing such impactful trips incurs necessary expenses, including staff, Website hosting, time, transport, meals and compliance fees. We are committed to keeping these costs as low as possible. 

    As a nonprofit organization, we appreciate every donation that helps us cover some of our expenses, but the fees you pay are critical in ensuring that we can continue to operate effectively.

  • Make A Difference is a registered organization in the USA, Tanzania and India. We are recognized as a 501c3.

  • Tanzania is in East Africa. Dodoma is the capital. The languages spoken in Tanzania are English, Kiswahili and numerous indigenous languages. The currency is Tanzanian shillings.

  • There are two rainy seasons; the long rains in April and May and the short rains in November and December. The hottest periods are from January to March and August to November. The coldest months are in July and the beginning of August.

  • You will fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). You will be met on arrival. The airport is around one hour from Moshi. If you want cash upon arrival, banking services, ATM’s and 24hr foreign exchange (forex) bureaus are available at the airport.

  • Yes! It’s okay. Reach out to us and we can work with your schedule.

  • Yes! You can choose the dates that work best for you. We’re very flexible.

  • We love it when people are interested in funding project. Reach out to us and we can work to accommodate your budget from funding centers and classrooms to students, chairs and workbooks.