Tanzania Scuba Expedition: 3 Weeks

Head to the foothills of Kilimanjaro and the coast of the Indian Ocean on an expedition that blends community service, cultural immersion, wildlife encounters, and scuba diving. This is Tanzania like you’ve never experienced it.

  • Location Tanzania, Africa
  • Duration 3 weeks
  • Expedition Type Scuba

Over three transformative weeks, you’ll step beyond the classroom and into a world of hands-on learning. Work alongside local communities on service projects, trek to stunning waterfalls, and take in unforgettable wildlife on safari. Then, trade the savannah for the sea as you earn your PADI Open Water certification on Tanzania’s spectacular coastline.

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A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition fee covers not just the incredible activities you’ll experience, but also the extensive guidance and support you’ll receive every step of the way. From the moment you sign up through your safe return home, our team ensures everything is organized and supported.

You’ll also need to plan for essentials like vaccinations, visas, personal gear, and a bit of spending money. Don’t worry—we make it easy. Once enrolled, you’ll get access to your personalized Traveller Gateway, with clear guidance and resources to help you prepare with confidence.

  • Round-trip international flights
  • In-country transfers
  • Expedition Leader (qualified and experienced)
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • All meals
  • Unlimited, safe drinking water
  • All accommodations listed in the itinerary
  • All activities listed in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for all included excursions
  • All in-country transfers by private, approved vehicles
  • Project materials, costs, and management
  • 24/7 support throughout the expedition

This sample itinerary will give you a preview of what your expedition could look like. Please note that specific projects, activities, and camp locations may vary depending on local needs and conditions at the time of your expedition.

Day

Activities

More details

Day 1 Arrive in Tanzania and Transfer to Camp Mbokomu When you land, our friendly Camp Tanzania team will be there to greet you at the airport and travel with you to your first camp. Once you arrive, you’ll settle in with a camp orientation and village tour, followed by a briefing from our project leaders. You’ll visit project sites, learn about the challenges local communities face, and set goals for the work ahead.
Day 2-7 School Service Learning Project Over the next several days, you’ll roll up your sleeves at the local school for hands-on project work. Depending on what’s needed, you may help refurbish classrooms, paint, repair floors and ceilings, or restore verandas. You’ll work alongside community members and skilled tradespeople to create practical, sustainable solutions. Evenings are a chance to relax over dinner and reflect on the day’s progress.
Day 8 Cultural Exchange Today you’ll spend time with local families and community members, learning about their way of life, traditions, and values. This is a chance to immerse yourself in daily life, practice some Swahili phrases, and feel grateful for the warm welcome you’ve received.
Day 9 Marangu Waterfall Trip “Marangu” translates to “a place with many streams,” and it’s one of Tanzania’s most popular destinations. Located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in Kilimanjaro National Park, these waterfalls are surrounded by lush rainforest. After a short hike, you’ll arrive at the base of the falls, where the water flows directly from Kilimanjaro’s glacier. Keep your eyes open for monkeys, tropical birds, and other wildlife along the way.
Day 10 Big game safari in Arusha National Park Get ready for an unforgettable safari in Arusha National Park, one of Tanzania’s most beautiful protected areas. With Mount Meru as its backdrop, the park is home to giraffes, zebras, warthogs, elephants, and many other species. Over the course of the day, you’ll have the chance to spot incredible wildlife and experience Tanzania’s natural beauty firsthand.
Day 11 Travel to the Dive Camp Today you’ll head to the coast and settle into our dive camp, where you’ll meet the PADI-certified dive team. You’ll receive a full briefing on what to expect before beginning your scuba adventure.
Day 12-15 PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course Over the next few days, you’ll master the basics of scuba diving. Start by learning about your equipment and practicing techniques in a confined setting before progressing to open-water dives. Beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean, you’ll encounter turtles, dolphins, and colorful tropical fish. Evenings are for relaxing on the beach, playing games, or reviewing your PADI theory with your group.
Day 16-17 Community Service Learning Project For the next two days, you’ll work alongside our locally employed craftsmen, helping to renovate or even build a new home for a community member. Each project is led by the community’s needs, ensuring your efforts leave a positive and lasting impact on the community that has welcomed you.
Day 18 Rest and Reflection After weeks of hard work and adventure, it’s time for a well-deserved day of rest. Relax at Camp Tanga, where you can swim in the ocean, play soccer on the beach, or simply enjoy time with your group as you reflect on how far you’ve come.
Day 19 Transfer to Hotel Today you’ll travel from camp to your hotel, where you can settle in, enjoy a change of pace, and rest up for the final day of your expedition.
Day 20 Explore Moshi Town Spend the day exploring Moshi, a vibrant town at the base of Kilimanjaro. Soak up the sights, sounds, and culture of Tanzania. Take some time to reflect on the incredible memories you’ve made and celebrate everything you’ve accomplished during your expedition.
Day 21 Departure Kwaheri means “goodbye” in Swahili. Today, we’ll say our final farewells before transferring you to the airport for your journey home.

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

Housing improvement

Tanzania – School and housing improvement

The traditional fishing community near camp suffers from high levels of unemployment and a lack of funding for local schools, forcing children to walk many miles each day just to get an education. You will help by building or renovating school buildings to create inspirational and stimulating learning environments, as well as building sustainable housing for needy families.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty Icon

No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

4 Quality Education

Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5 Gender Equality

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

8 Decent work and economic growth

Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

10 Reduced Inequalities

Reduce inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Conservation work

Tanzania – Conservation work

Human-wildlife conflict is an ongoing and significant issue here, threatening the future for many important species such as elephants. You’ll get involved in initiatives to promote a peaceful co-existence between the community and the local wildlife, such as improving natural waterholes and constructing elephant deterrent fences to safeguard the future for these incredible animals.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

13 Climate Action

Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

15 life on land

Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are at the heart of every expedition. Built in traditional styles and staffed by local community members, they offer an authentic place to rest and recharge after a day of service learning project work.

Depending on your itinerary, you’ll stay in several of our camps. These could include those featured below.

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Camp Mbokomu

Camp Mbokomu is an attractive rural camp located in the foothills of the mighty Kilimanjaro within a typical Chaga community. On a clear day you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular views of the mountain the minute you step outside your tent. This camp also benefits from being situated only 10 minutes drive away from Moshi town where there’s a wide range of facilities available.

  • Location: 45 km (around 1 hours drive) from Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Accommodation style: Tents
  • Bed type: Comfy mattresses & bedding.
  • Toilets: Modern toilets
  • Showers: Modern showers & sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity backed up by generator (between 18:00 – 22:00). British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Camp fire, town nearby
  • Signature dish: Machalari & Kiburu
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Camp Tanga

Camp Tanga is located in the coastal village of Boma Subutuni and is less than 5 metres from the beach, offering you a peaceful, beautiful location to chill out and lap up the warm ocean breeze and breathtaking views of the tropical Indian Ocean. One word. Bliss!

  • Location: 500 km (9-10 hours drive) from Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Accommodation style: Tents
  • Bed Type: Comfy mattresses & bedding
  • Toilets: Modern toilets
  • Showers: Sinks & bucket showers
  • Power: Generator (between 18:00 – 22:00). British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Beach games, Camp fire, gift shops & drink area
  • Signature dish: Chapati & Chicken stew. Even learn how to make your own chapatis!

BEST experience I have ever had. From the moment we left till the moment we got back…it was a trip that just kept getting better and better (even when you thought it couldn’t).

Julie, Camp Tanzania 2019

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by local community members who will quickly make you feel at home. These amazing team members bring each expedition to life and share the very best of their country with you.

Hassan

Tanzania is such a great country with a mixed culture of Swahili and Bantu people you will experience a community like no other. You will get to experience first-hand the amazing work we do within the community and you’ll get to enjoy a safari in one of East Africa’s most famous National Parks!

Interested in this expedition?

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