3 daysLake Manyara · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire
3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari
The best-value way to see three completely different landscapes and stand a real chance of the Big Five in three days.
From
$750 USD pp
Volunteer & safari
Volunteer and safari in Tanzania
Spend your weekdays with the children at the Fruitful Orphanage and Day Care Centre in Arusha, then head into the parks at the weekend with the same family who runs it. One trip, two halves — and 10% of every safari we sell goes straight back to the centre.
Where
Arusha, Tanzania
Stay
From one week
Gives back
10% of every safari
Isaac Sumary answers every enquiry himself, usually within 24 hours. His family runs both these safaris and the Fruitful Orphanage — 10% of what you pay goes to the children.
How a volunteer and safari trip fits together
Most people combine two to four weeks at the centre with a safari at the end. You arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport, we collect you, and you settle into Arusha. Weekdays are at the orphanage; weekends are free for day trips; your safari comes at the end, when you already know the country and the people.
| When | What you do |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Arrival, orientation in Arusha, first days with the children and the staff |
| Week 2 | Settled routine at the centre; a Materuni or Arusha Park day trip at the weekend |
| Week 3 | Last days at the centre, then a 3 to 5 day safari to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti |
Shorter and longer stays are both possible — we build the trip around your dates.
What volunteers actually do
- Helping in the day care and pre-school classes: reading, numbers, songs, play
- Supporting the Tanzanian staff rather than replacing them
- Practical work when it is needed — painting, repairs, the vegetable garden
- Sports, art and music afternoons with the older children
- No medical or child-protection work that requires qualifications you do not hold
What 10% back really means
Every safari sold through Fruits & Love sends 10% of the payment directly to the Fruitful Orphanage. On a five-day safari at $1,450 per person, that is $145 per traveller — roughly a month of food and school materials for several children. It is not a marketing line: Isaac's family runs both the centre and the safari company.
Costs and what is covered
- Volunteer placement: we quote per week depending on your dates and accommodation — ask for the current rate
- Simple, safe accommodation in Arusha with breakfast, and airport pick-up on arrival
- Safari prices are the same as for any traveller: day trips from $200, multi-day trips from $750
- Not included: flights, visa, travel and medical insurance, and personal spending
Who this suits, and safety
It suits people who are happy to be useful rather than photographed, who can commit at least a week, and who want to see Tanzania with someone who lives there. Gap-year travellers, teachers, retirees and families have all come.
Arusha is a normal working city and our volunteers move around it safely with basic care. You will always have Isaac's phone number, a local contact, and a briefing on the first day.
Parks on these trips
Trips you can book
View itinerary
5 daysTarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
Two full nights inside the Serengeti plus a crater day — the shortest itinerary that does the migration justice.
From
$1,450 USD pp
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
Read before you book
Volunteering
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.
Volunteering
Volunteering in Tanzania: How to Choose an Honest Programme
Good volunteering looks boring from the outside: the same faces, week after week, doing what the house actually needs. Here is how to find it.
Planning
Arusha Travel Guide: Where to Stay and Start a Safari
Everyone passes through Arusha and almost nobody plans for it. Two days here make the rest of the trip better.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most before booking.
- Can I volunteer in Tanzania and go on safari in the same trip?
- Yes — that is exactly what we set up. Weekdays at the Fruitful Orphanage in Arusha, weekends free, and a safari at the end of your stay with the same team.
- How much does volunteering in Tanzania cost?
- We quote per week based on your dates and where you stay, and it covers simple accommodation, breakfast and airport pick-up. Ask Isaac for the current rate — there is no large agency fee on top.
- How long do I need to stay?
- One week is the minimum so that the children are not meeting a new face every few days. Two to four weeks works best, and longer stays are welcome.
- Do I need qualifications or Swahili?
- No. English is enough and the staff translate. Teachers, nurses and trades people are useful, but willingness and patience matter more.
- Is the orphanage a real, registered centre?
- Yes. The Fruitful Orphanage and Day Care Centre in Arusha has its own website and is run by Isaac's family, who also run these safaris. You can visit before committing.
Tell us roughly when you could come and Isaac will reply personally with dates, costs and what you would be doing.