About STEP Africa
We know what we are talking about! Our team combines qualifications and many years of experience in the fields of tourism, education and social work in Tanzania. Our friendly and qualified supervisors are always there for you on the ground, here in Arusha.
Our STEP Africa House – located in the quiet and central suburb of Njiro, Arusha – is the “headquarters” of our Organization. It’s the home away from home for all our volunteers and interns during their time in Tanzania. Our office is also in the house, and our Swahili teacher comes here to teach his lessons. The hostel is a cozy guest house just a few minutes away from the hussle and bussle of Tanzanian life. It is in a central yet quiet location, a few hundred meters from the closest bus connections, 1 km from supermarkets, the Njiro Complex with restaurants, cinema & more and a short ten-minute drive to the city center of Arusha. All of our projects can be easily accessed from here. At the STEP House you will always meet like-minded people with whom you can exchange experiences and gather new ideas for your project. A typical Tanzanian breakfast is served consisting of white bread and black tea and other side dishes such as eggs, fruits and mandazi (Tanzanian baking specialty) and delicious local dishes for dinner (vegetarians are served separately!). We want you to feel comfortable in our House, which is why we attach great importance to a friendly and personal atmosphere. In the cozy backyard and in the garden you can relax from busy day at your project and the sometimes exhausting African everyday life.
The house consists of a total of seven bedrooms (dorm rooms with bunk beds and two double rooms). There is also a kitchen with a fridge for our volunteers, an oven, bathrooms, a common room equipped with comfortable sofas and a TV, as well as a covered dining area with numerous tables and benches outside.
Short Info Tanzania
Tanzania is a federal republic with John P. Magufuli (CCM) as the president. The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma, but the industrial center is the city of Dar Es Salaam. Tanzania has approximately 56 million inhabitants who belong to 130 different tribes. The national language is Swahili with English as the second official language. Tanzania is a developing country and many people live below the poverty line. The main economic activity is agriculture as 80% of the population live in rural areas away from the big cities. The second major industry is the tourism sector around the national parks across the country which creates hundreds of thousands of jobs.
About Arusha
Our programs take place in and around the city of Arusha in northern Tanzania. Arusha is the tourist center of Tanzania, since numerous safaris to the northern national parks depart from here. Accordingly, there are numerous hotels and lodges in Arusha and also restaurants and supermarkets have adjusted to western visitors. Arusha is often referred to as the “Geneva of Africa” as it is seat for the Arusha International Conference Center, Headquarter of the East African Community, the UN Tribunal for the Rwanda Genocide and the African Court for Humans and Peoples Rights. Nevertheless, Arusha has remained a tranquil city where you will soon feel at home. Arusha is also known for its music scene, Bongo Flavor Music is known far beyond the borders of East Africa and many well-known singers started their careers here. Arusha City has approximately 400,000 inhabitants. The city lies at the foot of Mt. Meru, also known as Kilimanjaro’s little brother. Tanzania is one of the safest travel destinations on the African continent.
We offer you the opportunity to volunteer in meaningful projects in Tanzania or to gain valuable professional experience during your internship and experience African everyday life up first hand. We firmly believe in the power of change through intercultural exchange. With our programs we promote and demand equality and cultural tolerance. We know and love Tanzania like no other country and can tell exactly what is important when organizing your stay. Our team is already looking forward to welcoming you to Tanzania!
Our contribution to development is that we bring people of different cultural backgrounds together and thus promote a mutual dialogue. We support initiatives and projects in Arusha in the most sustainable way possible.
"WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ACCOMPANY YOU THROUGH YOUR TIME IN TANZANIA!" Behind STEP Africa stands a motivated team of permanent employees who are always there for you in Arusha! You can find our team profiles further down on this page.
What many of us have learned about Africa in the media doesn't always reflect the truth. In Africa there is more than just poverty and misery. Tanzania is a country full of ideas and resources, politically stable and of breathtaking beauty. Experiencing everyday life in Tanzania is an adventure in itself that is above all a lot of fun! Our programs are based on the principle of learning with and from each other in an increasingly globalized world. Broadening your horizons and looking outside the box is one of the most valuable experiences that will shape your future life. A trip to Africa opens your eyes to other realities and perspectives.
We only place our volunteers into projects in which they can gain a lot of valuable experience for their future. Our volunteers do not replace local workers. Volunteers are assistants who offer support to employees and e.g. perform tasks where there is otherwise not enough time for.
The landscape of Tanzania is one of the most beautiful in Africa with the endless plains of the Serengeti, the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro. In addition to our volunteer program, we therefore offer selected group safaris, mountain tours and day trips to the most beautiful places in northern Tanzania. This offer is aimed both at participants in our programs and at travelers who do not want to pay high prices for a classic safari vacation.
We are not a huge organization with worldwide branches. Our programs focus exclusively on the Arusha region in northern Tanzania. We prefer to avoid expensive advertising and glossy brochures and therefore offer you individual support on site by our team. This is a big advantage for you. Because this way we can offer you very fair fees, we do not have expensive administrative structures. Therefore we can offer our employees in Tanzania fair wages and a secure job; And an unforgettable time for you!
