Zanzibar Vet Clinic

Zanzibar Vet Clinic

Zanzibar

Sitting in the middle of a spice farm on the tropical island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania, is the Zanzibar Veterinary Clinic. Whether you are an animal lover wanting to assist with caring for the inpatients, or a vet or student wanting to help and learn from the busy caseload, all are welcome.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • Work on the stunning island of Zanzibar

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  • Join a friendly and fun team working for animals

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  • Project tailored to your knowledge and skills, from those wanting to help care for street dogs, to vets wanting to improve their surgery skills

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  • Work for underprivileged families, making a real difference in Africa

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  • Learn from medical and surgical cases with a range of domestic and farm species

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  • Spend weekends on the beach, diving with dolphins or exploring the jungle

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  • Dive deep in to Zanzibar's culture, mingling with local people as you help their animals

The clinic is a hub of activity for local animals requiring treatment and you don't need any past experience to volunteer. No animal is turned away and patients include donkeys, cows, goats, dogs, cats and birds. As an charitable, self funded non government organisation the clinic aims to:

  

  • Establish care, support and animal protection services

  • Tackle the stray animal population

  • To stop animal overloading, beating, mishandling and animal cruelty.

  • Provide education and awareness to local communities

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The clinic accepts up to 6 volunteers at a time.The clinic is the only one on the island and consists of a surgery room, consult room, kennels, cattery and also paddocks for large animals. On any day there may be numerous dogs, cats, cows and donkeys resident at the clinic. The care of these animals is just one of the jobs our volunteers assist with when they are not busy helping the vet with consults and surgery. 

 

As well as working on site at the clinic, you will also travel around the island treating animals in their homes, both those who belong to clients, and those who are strays but living well on the beaches. Every Saturday the clinic is inundated with local livestock and a few pets during the busy 'open hours', so it is all hands on deck vaccinating, dipping, treating and helping the animals. 

KEY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

 

Husbandry Work

 

  • Kennel cleaning

  • Dog walking and grooming

  • Maintenance of clinic and kennels

  • Building enrichment for the cattery

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Veterinary work

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  • Spays and castrates

  • Vaccination programs

  • Emergency call outs

  • Routine house visits

  • Treating all the animals presented to the clinic

  • Busy Saturday clinics

 

There is only basic medical equipment available on Zanzibar, so the style of work  is often a very new experience for people coming from first world countries.

 

Please be aware that this is a busy clinic is a genuine working charity, with a varied annual schedule and workload. We love hosting volunteers, and you will gain a lot of experience with us, however this is not a student or surgery training course. Please come prepaired to join in with all aspects of the work, and do not expect your days to be solely based around surgery. At the clinic the animals always come first, so you may work very long days if we are in the middle of a sterilisation drive, or spend many hours on the road when animals in need are far away. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the project, including medicine, animal rescue and inpatient care. As with all placements, the more you put in to your time with us, the more you will get out of it. 

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Those without prior veterinary training will be educated and trained in the following jobs and will then be able to assist the clinic each day by:

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  • Changing bandages

  • Providing medication to animals on long term treatment

  • Bathing animals suffering with parasite or skin problems

  • Assisting the team with cleaning kennels

  • Nursing sick animals under the vet's guidance

  • Gain a knowledge of fluid therapy and anaesthetic monitoring

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Those studying veterinary nursing or medicine will work alongside our experienced vet and learn academic and clinical skills as they do the following:  

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  • Participate in supervised surgery with the vet 

  • Help spay and castrate animals

  • Develop skills in wound care and management

  • Scrub into soft tissue surgeries

  • Develop clinical confidence by participating in consultations

  • Understand how to diagnose, manage and treat tick and mosquito bourne diseases

  • Learn to triage emergency cases

ACCOMMODATION

 

Volunteers live on the spice farm, which is next to the clinic building. There are three charming round buildings (called 'rondavels') which the volunteers call home. The rooms are basic, but have nice beds, mosquito nets, bedding and towels provided. The rooms are shared (single sex, unless otherwise arranged) and have an en suite bathroom with hot running water and a toilet.

 

There is a little kitchen for volunteers to store and cook their meals. It is very easy to buy fresh sea food, meat and vegetables in Stone Town's markets and shops. If cooking doesn't sound right for you, why not treat yourself to dinner at a restaurant, or a cocktail on the beach, as you live as a local on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

LOCATION

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Zanzibar is the largest island in the Zanzibar archipelago.

 

Situated less than 50km from the coast of the African country of Tanzania, it is renowned worldwide for its stunning white sandy beaches and blue waters. The clinic is located in the middle of a spice farm just 20 minutes drive from the islands capital, Stone Town. Stone Town is a UNESCO world heritage site with endless old winding passages selling spices fruits and rich textured fabrics.

PROJECT COST

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Want to know what’s included? Great news, it is pretty much everything! Including your:

  • Pre-departure assistance

  • All airport collection and returns 

  • All accommodation 

  • 24 hour support on every project and at the volunteer accommodation by onsite staff

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OUR PRICES EXCLUDE:

  • Food

  • Visa

  • Medical and travel insurance

  • Flights to and from Zanzibar or Dar-Es-Salaam

2 weeks £ 608

3 weeks £ 812

4 weeks £ 1116

5 weeks £ 1220

6 weeks £ 1374

7 weeks £ 1528

8 weeks £ 1682

9 weeks £1836

10 weeks £ 1990

11 weeks £ 2114

12 weeks £ 1298

START DATES

 

This project starts every Sunday the year. Volunteers arrive and depart on Sunday. You will be picked up from either Zanzibar airport or Zanzibar ferry port.

WHAT NEXT?

 

We want you to join us in Zanzibar, to help the animals and have the adventure of a lifetime. Sound good?

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Just email us, follow the 'book now' button or the 'contact us' page and we will be in touch to discuss your project further. Don't forget to check out the project leaflet at the top of the page to find out more.

Project Photos