Volunteers need to check with their doctors the current recommended vaccinations and anti-malarial tablets.   A complete course of vaccinations, depending on what the doctor recommends, can take 6 weeks.

The children have been tested and found not to have HIV/AIDS.   The most common illnesses experienced by volunteers arise from failing to take precautions common to all tropical countries - ensuring that water is boiled before drinking (unless from sealed bottles, which are readily available), eating only food that has been freshly cooked, eating fruit only after checking that the skin has not been punctured and then peeling, and adopting standard anti-malarial precautions such as taking tablets as prescribed, limiting the amount of body uncovered after dusk and always sleeping under a treated mosquito net.   Bathing in Lake Victoria and rivers is not recommended due to the presence of Bilharzia.

Safety

Tanzania has been one of the most peaceful countries in Africa since acquiring independence over 40 years ago.   Mwanza is off the tourist track, where criminal gangs tend to focus their activities, and away from any places which might be considered targets for international terrorist attacks.   The Christian and Moslem communities in the town co-exist and volunteers have never felt inhibited from wandering around the central areas of the town in daylight.

As with health, the safety precautions which volunteers should take are common to most low-income countries.   "Mzungus" (white people) are considered to be wealthy in a country which is one of the poorest in the world.   The vast majority of Tanzanians you will come into contact with are friendly and will be concerned about your welfare.   Should they observe undesirable people showing an interest in you (typically pickpockets) they will chase them away or warn you.

However, it is incumbent on volunteers not to place themselves at risk by keeping money and valuables in secure places, not holding large sums of money where they can be seen, taking care if walking around with expensive cameras and not walking around after dark.   It is bad manners to take people's pictures without their consent and their permission should always be asked to avoid any confrontation.   Market traders will usually give permission if you have purchased something from them.   Others may ask for a small payment.

Tanzanians dress very conservatively.   In public places women should not dress in the more revealing fashions common in their own countries.   Skirts should be below the knee and trousers are acceptable.   Shoulders should be covered and bare midriffs avoided.   In public, men most commonly wear long trousers rather than shorts.

You may wish to read your government's advice on travel to Tanzania eg. UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.   This advice is commonly followed by commercial travel agencies and insurance companies in deciding whether it is safe to operate tours to Tanzania and provide travel cover.

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