Zanzibar attracts people who are willing to take a leap, not just in adventure, but in life. Every year, volunteers from around the world come to the island to give their time, skills, and energy to support local communities through healthcare, education, conservation, and grassroots projects.
At Zanzibar Skydive, we’re proud to meet many of those volunteers when they come to us for a tandem jump, often as a celebration at the end of their placement. This page is our shout-out to everyone who chose to take a risk, step outside their comfort zone, and give something back.
Below, we’ve put together a guide to the main volunteering organisations working in Zanzibar, grouped by the number of volunteers they place on the island. It’s also our way of saying thank you – we offer a special skydive discount exclusively for volunteers, as a small reward for doing something that truly matters.
Statistics source: 2025 Zanzibar NGO Data
Zanzibar’s volunteer ecosystem is well established due to:
Each year, thousands of volunteers arrive on the island, contributing skills, time, and resources to local communities.
TryMedics is the single largest contributor to volunteering in Zanzibar, placing nearly half of all recorded volunteers on the island. Their programmes are primarily focused on medical and healthcare placements, supporting hospitals, clinics, and public health initiatives.
Because of their scale and long-standing presence, TryMedics plays a central role in Zanzibar’s volunteer landscape and is widely regarded as a cornerstone partner for medical volunteering in East Africa.
Adventure School is the second-largest organisation operating in Zanzibar. Their work focuses on education, teaching support, and youth programmes, often placing volunteers in schools and learning centres.
They are especially popular with:
TICC (Training and Information Centre for Communities) offers community-based placements that combine education, health awareness, and cultural exchange. Their approach emphasises sustainability and local empowerment.
Together, TryMedics, Adventure School, and TICC account for approximately 73% of all volunteers in Zanzibar. This highlights a high level of concentration at the top and explains why these organisations dominate search results for volunteering opportunities on the island.
A strong second tier of organisations provides valuable diversity and resilience within Zanzibar’s volunteer ecosystem.
These organisations often offer short-term placements, structured gap year programmes, and multi-country volunteering options, making them attractive to volunteers looking for flexibility.
Beyond the major and secondary partners is a long list of smaller organisations, each placing fewer than 25 volunteers per year. These include:
While smaller in scale, these organisations play an important role by providing:
Collectively, they contribute meaningfully to Zanzibar’s volunteer capacity.
Before choosing a volunteer organisation, consider:
(short-term vs long-term)
(medical, education, community, conservation)
Look at their philosophy and practices
Volunteering in Zanzibar isn’t just about the work—it’s also about experiencing the island itself.
After weeks of contributing to the community, many volunteers look for a memorable way to mark their time on the island. That’s where adventure comes in.
To say thank you to the incredible people supporting Zanzibar’s communities, Zanzibar Skydive offers a special volunteer discount on our world-class skydiving experiences.
👉 Volunteering in Zanzibar? Ask your organisation or contact us directly to unlock your exclusive volunteer discount.
We built Skydive Zanzibar so you could feel the same life-changing rush that inspired us.
Your moment is waiting.
Mention that you are a volunteer for your discount and experience the thrill for yourself.
Stay tuned to the sky. From epic jump stories and behind-the-scenes insights to pro tips and Zanzibar’s best adventure spots, this is where the action lands first. Dive into fresh updates, expert advice, and inspiration designed to fuel your next adrenaline-charged leap with SkyDive Zanzibar.
Save the moments! Be sure to check-out our professionally edited video and photos of your experience, plus a 30 second edit for Instagram.
