Tanzania
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Hi! I'm Elizabeth and I am a tourism guide in Kigoma, Tanzania.
Karibu Kigoma, Tanzania! Kigoma is a hidden gem and quickly growing tourist destination on the shores of the extraordinary Lake Tanganyika. Join us for a unique look into real African culture!
Like all great things, we started small. The idea of starting this project came into my mind after seeing an abundance of under-utilized cultural and natural heritage resources in my community. There was no one to provide the information and tours to visitors to our city and surrounding area.
One day in 2018, my young brother returned home with two tourists from France who he met in the street. They had no one to provide them with information about Kigoma and the local community. They spent the night at our home, and the next day they went swimming at Lake Tanganyika and were introduced to local people.
This led to the birth of our grassroots tourism company, a female entrepreneurial startup. Despite the tourism slowdown due to Covid, we continue to operate and create unique itineraries for guests passing through Kigoma.
My tour company specializes in arranging trips to Ujiji Historical Site, Gombe and Mahale National Parks, Kitwe Forest Reserve, MV Liemba, canoeing on Lake Tanganyika, and local cultural cooking experiences.
At this time, we would love to welcome volunteers to help us grow! In exchange, volunteers will get to see and experience our offerings so it will be a mutually beautiful exchange.
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
-Swahili Language
-Local cooking
-visit the local artisans and learn about their process
-visit Lake Tanganyika for swimming, canoeing, or dhow boat tours
-Participate in our arts and designs projects
-Help us with enhancing and improving our social media, creating content that is more engaging for international travelers, and connect us with the right audience online, marketing online
-Help us make our website more SEO friendly, and make improvements to the website as you see fit
-Help with writing blog posts or making videos we can share on our social media for months to come
-If you are interested in art projects/murals, painting walls, or beautifying spaces, it would be most welcome!
-On the side, we knit, do sewing, and other local handicrafts. If you are enthusiastic about getting African creations out there in the marketplace and can point us in the right direction for expanding where we can sell these items, it would be amazing!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
You will stay with us in our family home.
Private room with shared toilet. Double bed with mosquito net.
We use typical bucket showers and Tanzania-style toilets.
You will be provided meals while you're here. You're welcome to use the kitchen to cook for yourself as well!
Time off- Kigoma has a lot to offer! Visit the fish market, taste local coffees and "kasusu" spiced tea, visit the local soapmakers, visit Gombe National Park, 2 hrs away by boat to see the Chimpanzees, spend time at the beach of Lake Tanganyika, go on a cultural day trip designed by Elizabeth to Ujiji, visit Dr. Livingstone Museum, or other local gems!
How to Find Us:
Air: Dar Es Salaam, you can take a flight to Kigoma Airport
Train: Trains from Da Es Salaam take 40 hours...Pole Pole!
Bus: Buses from Dar Es Salaam take 24 hours
Getting around: taking a bajaji (Tuk Tuk) is very affordable and you can hop into one of the many passing by the house to take you to places in Kigoma. Also, many places are in walking distance.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
