How do I volunteer at the Fruitful Orphanage in Arusha?

Apply directly through fruitfulorphanage.org. Isaac Sumary answers personally and arranges the placement, accommodation and house rules. We only organise the safaris.

Can I go on safari during a volunteer placement?

Yes, and most volunteers do. Weekends work for day trips or a two to three day safari; longer trips are usually saved for the end of the placement so you do not break your routine with the children.

How does the 10% donation actually reach the children?

Once your safari is fully paid, 10% of the total goes directly to the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center for food, school fees and running costs, and we send you written confirmation of the transfer.

Volunteering · 6 min read

Combining Volunteering and Safari in Tanzania

This is how Fruits & Love started: volunteers with a free weekend and a country full of national parks two hours up the road.

The short answerYou can volunteer in Arusha and go on safari on the same trip — that is how Fruits & Love Safaris started. Volunteers at the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center use weekends for one to three day safaris and finish their placement with a five or seven day northern circuit. Placements are arranged through fruitfulorphanage.org; 10% of every safari payment goes back to the children.

Published 29 June 2026 by Isaac Sumary in Arusha

Children at the Fruitful Orphanage and Day Care Center in Arusha gathered around a laptop

Volunteers at the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center spend Monday to Friday with the children — helping in the classroom, in the kitchen, in the garden, and simply being present. Weekends are free, and Arusha is the gateway to the entire northern safari circuit.

The usual rhythm

·Weekdays at the centre in Arusha.
·One free day: Arusha National Park, including a walking safari.
·A weekend: two days covering Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater.
·End of placement: five to seven days including the Serengeti.

Why it works so well

You are already in the right town, already acclimatised, and already understand something about Tanzania that most safari tourists never see. Guests who come to us through the orphanage ask better questions on game drives, and the conversations with our guides go somewhere.

It also closes a loop. Ten percent of what you pay for the safari goes straight back to the centre where you spend your weekdays — so the trip you take for yourself funds the place you came for.

Practical points

·Book safari dates as early as you can if you are travelling July to September.
·A single-entry tourist visa covers a volunteering stay of up to 90 days for most nationalities; check your own requirements.
·We collect you from your volunteer accommodation in Arusha, so no extra transfers are needed.
·Bring neutral safari clothing separately from your volunteering clothes — laundry between the two is easy.

How to arrange it

Volunteer placements are organised through the Fruitful Orphanage directly. Once your dates are set, send us an enquiry and we will fit the safari around your placement calendar.

About the author

Isaac Sumary

Isaac is a Tanzanian safari guide from Arusha and the founder of both the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and Fruits & Love Safaris. He has been driving the northern circuit for over a decade, and 10% of every safari payment goes back to the children in his care. Reach him on +255 762 353 576 or isaacsumary@yahoo.com.

Planning a trip?

We run private safaris from Arusha and give 10% of every payment to the Fruitful Orphanage. Send us your dates and we will reply within 24 hours with a quote in USD.

Get a quote

Safaris mentioned in this article

1 dayArusha National Park

1-Day Arusha National Park Safari

A full safari day 45 minutes from town, with the option of a ranger-guided walking safari.

From

$250 USD pp

View itinerary

2 daysTarangire · Ngorongoro Crater

2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari

The shortest itinerary that still includes the Ngorongoro Crater — ideal for a tight schedule.

From

$500 USD pp

View itinerary

Parks covered in this guide

Arusha National Park Tarangire National Park Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Safari lengths to compare

3-day Tanzania safari

Frequently asked questions

How do I volunteer at the Fruitful Orphanage in Arusha?: Apply directly through fruitfulorphanage.org. Isaac Sumary answers personally and arranges the placement, accommodation and house rules. We only organise the safaris.
Can I go on safari during a volunteer placement?: Yes, and most volunteers do. Weekends work for day trips or a two to three day safari; longer trips are usually saved for the end of the placement so you do not break your routine with the children.
How does the 10% donation actually reach the children?: Once your safari is fully paid, 10% of the total goes directly to the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center for food, school fees and running costs, and we send you written confirmation of the transfer.

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