volunteer accommodation
Your Home away from Home!
Welcome to the STEP Volunteer Village
In December 2025, it was finally time: we opened our new ‘STEP Volunteer Village,’ a home away from home and a base for our volunteers from which they can start their volunteering adventure. After years of renting accommodation that only partially met our requirements, we fulfilled our dream of owning our own piece of land in May 2022. In the quiet neighbourhood of Njiro/Arusha, the same district as our previous volunteer houses, we have created an idyllic retreat that offers security and easy access to all our projects.
What makes our new STEP Volunteer Village special:
Our Volunteer Village currently offers 8 private rooms, which will later be expanded to 11 to meet the growing demand for comfort and privacy. For those who value socialising and making new friends, there are currently 16 beds available in mixed-gender dormitories (2 more dormitories are still under construction), ideal for a budget-friendly stay.
All rooms are equipped with private bathrooms, small lockers, ceiling fans, mosquito nets and terraces or balconies. In addition, our office is located on the premises, so our entire team is always on hand.
A kitchen exclusively for our volunteers and a large lounge area will be completed by February 2026. Exciting new shared spaces and an extension to the garden, which is already visited by birdlife and the occasional small monkey, are also in the making.
Enjoy breathtaking sunsets and views of the majestic Mount Meru from our cosy rooftop terrace!
Some of our projects are within easy walking distance of STEP Village, while others can be quickly reached by public transport or services such as Indrive and Bolt. The surrounding area offers fruit stalls, supermarkets, a welcoming bar and restaurants, a cinema, shops and a gym in the Njiro Complex and Manjis Mall.
STEP Village offers an oasis of relaxation in the midst of African nature, while also being anchored in an authentic Tanzanian neighbourhood – quiet yet centrally located. We want to offer our volunteers a retreat here that helps them recharge their batteries so they can focus on their projects and explore this beautiful country.
We look forward to welcoming you and making a difference together. Karibu Tanzania!
Please note that we will be closing our ‘Main Hostel’ at the end of March 2026, meaning that STEP Village will then be the only accommodation available for our volunteers – apart from our host mother Salma in Kimandolu.
Host Families
There is also the option of staying with a host family during your stay in Arusha. Our host mum Salma offers a total of 8 places in her centrally located home and has years of experience in accommodating international volunteers.
It will be easy to get in touch with other volunteers and meet like-minded people. Salma’s house in Kimandolu is located in a different part of town from our STEP Village, but it is a little closer to some of our projects. Our host mum offers volunteers a typical Tanzanian breakfast and a hot dinner. A large common room invites you to sit together and chat after an exciting day. Living with Salma gives you an authentic insight into the life of modern African families.
“We are always there for you and help you when you need us. You will never be alone.”
Upendo Lema – STEP Africa Manager