United Tansania e. V.

Host and Volunteer, Carnivore Population Dynamics and Conflict Mitigation, Bush camp

2 week- 3 months only. 17 + aged volunteers can be part of this project.

About Us

United Tansania e.V. is a German NGO, registered in 2021, based in Tanzania. We study both hyena species, striped hyena, classed as near threatened by the IUCN and the spotted hyena, threatened by habitat loss, climate change and conflict with humans.....

Why to Choose Us?

● We offer a unique, hands-on opportunity to be a crucial part of frontline research and community-based conservation in one of Tanzania's most vital ecosystems, the Lake Eyasi region.

1. Direct, Impactful Conflict Mitigation

● Unlike general wildlife projects, your contribution directly addresses the critical issue of human-hyena conflict. You won't just be observing—you'll be actively involved in the work that leads to real solutions:
● Field Research: Assisting with hyena population studies (e.g., photo-ID, camera trapping, den searches) to understand their distribution and habitat use in relation to local settlements.
● Community Coexistence: Working on-the-ground to implement and test mitigation solutions with the communities that directly experience livestock loss and conflict.
● Conservation Medicine: Contributing to the overall health and well-being of the hyena population through non-invasive techniques.

2. Focus on Two Hyena Species

● We provide the rare opportunity to study both Spotted and Striped Hyenas, offering a comprehensive understanding of carnivore ecology, behavior, and the different challenges each species faces with human populations.

3. Authentic Field Experience at Lake Eyasi

● Your experience will be a true "vacation with a cause," immersing you in the heart of the bush:
● Hands-On Research: You will be actively participating in day-to-day fieldwork, including potentially overnight stays in the field and listening to hyena calls.
● Live in a Research Camp: Experience life in a dedicated research setting, surrounded by the stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area region.

4. Commitment to Local Empowerment

● We are a German NGO based in Tanzania, founded with a deep commitment to collaboration. Volunteers support our long-term goals of empowering local communities, including supporting girls' education through our partner school, ensuring that our conservation efforts provide tangible benefits to local residents.

5. Gain Practical Skills & Knowledge

● You will gain valuable experience for a career in conservation or biology by learning:
● Carnivore tracking and monitoring techniques.
● Data collection and entry for population analysis (e.g., density and distribution).
● The complex dynamics of human-wildlife conflict resolution in a pastoralist setting.

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● Can look like: ANIMAL TRACKING

● JOIN THE RESEARCH TEAM POST-DAWN TO EXECUTE THE SYSTEMATIC GROUND SURVEY. FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING, LOGGING, AND SAMPLING FRESH ANIMAL SIGN (SPOOR, DRAG MARKS, SCAT) FOR OUR DATABASE. YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT TRACK ID AND HOW TO USE AVENZA

● LUNCH & BREAK

● GET AN INTRODUCTION ON CAMERA TRAPPING PROTOCOLS & PROJECT OBJECTIVES

● DEPLOY NEW RESEARCH CAMERA TRAPS OR SERVICE EXISTING UNITS.

● YOU WILL LEARN THE STRATEGIC PLACEMENT PROTOCOL, CALIBRATE SENSORS, AND EXECUTE THE FULL DATA EXTRACTION AND SECURITY PROCEDURE TO CONTRIBUTE TO UNITED TANSANIA’S ONGOING POPULATION STUDY

● DINNER

● We will be staying in Safari tents equipped with
● Bed & moskito nets
● Closet
● Bath room

Yes

The program fee is
2 weeks: 1400 Euro
4 weeks: 2400 Euro
6 werks: 3300 Euro
8 weeks: 4100 Euro
10 weeks: 4800 Euro
12 weeks: 5400 Euro

We talk people > 17 years old.

● Accomodation,
● 3 meals a day,
● Cooking, laundry & cleaning service,
● Satellite internet,
● Transport at project site.

● Pick up & drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
● International flight
● Visa

● Safari trips to National Parks:
● Manyara
● Tarangire
● Ngorongoro crater
● Serengeti

● Activities around Lake Eyasi

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Guilherme Portugal

Hey! My name is Guilherme Viegas, and I’m a Portuguese engineer working in robotics in the Netherlands. I spent a couple of weeks at United Tansania and couldn’t be prouder to have been part of this project. From walking through untouched bushland to setting up and reviewing camera traps, surveying nearby villages to better understand hyena–human conflicts, and even collecting plastic bottles for a community garden. Every day was an adventure! The campsite, set between Lake Eyasi and Ngorongoro, was scenic and peaceful. The staff, including Judith, were always ready to help, and the tent accommodation was spacious and comfortable. I’ll never forget the magical nights in Tanzania, with hyenas and other wildlife calling as if they were right beside us.

Sara Portugal

Jambo! I’m Sara Oliveira, a Portuguese Biomedical Engineering student living in the Netherlands. In summer 2025, I spent two weeks volunteering with United Tanzania, drawn by their hyena research and focus on human-wildlife coexistence. Having done similar work in Namibia, I wanted to reconnect with that sense of purpose. Hyenas are often misunderstood, yet they are vital to healthy ecosystems as the savannah’s clean-up crew. I was committed to advocating for these intelligent animals who cannot speak for themselves, and at United Tanzania, the team’s passion for hyenas is truly contagious—showing that everyone, even an engineer, can contribute to conservation.

Rik Netherlands

I have had the amazing experience to work on a variety of projects at the NGO during my stay in August 2024! I tried to capture it in 10 bulletpoints: - Teaching form 1 mathematics👨‍🏫🎓 - Daily camera setups with the crew📸 - Bushwalks and pikipiki adventures with tracker Lily🐾🏍️ - The first striped hyena seen on camera at United Tansania🤩 - The waterhole construction 🏗️ ⛲️ - Learning Tanzanian traditions with Julius🇹🇿 - The wildlife seen on cameras and in real-time🐗🦜 - Saying goodbye to the students and teachers from Mang’ola Secondary School 📚📋 - A beautiful sunset at the Lake Eyasi shore🌅

William United Kingdom

After an incredible month in Tanzania aiding hyena conservation, choosing a single favorite memory was tough, but one stands out: a simple hike through the bush on one of my last days. Research assistant Harry and I were scouting a new camera trap location several miles off the dirt track, far from the nearest village. Once off the road, there was no path, and it felt like even local shepherds rarely came here. We likely were the first Westerners in this part of the forest in years. Bushwhacking our way through, I ended up with plenty of scratches, but the chance to explore such raw wilderness—climbing in and out of forested gorges for hours—was exhilarating. The scenery was stunning, the company perfect, the serenity incredible, and knowing we were contributing to conservation made it all the more special.

Orhan Cyprus

I recently spent 10 days volunteering with a project based in a bush campsite near a local village, offering stunning views of the area. Daily activities included checking and analyzing camera traps, conducting field transects to map wildlife, and night bush walks, with the hyena den being a personal highlight. Accommodation was comfortable, and the staff and researchers were friendly and supportive, providing valuable insights into local wildlife and communities. A standout experience was spending a day with the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last hunter-gatherer communities in the world, learning about their culture and joining them on a hunt. This project blends conservation work with cultural immersion, making it a unique and highly recommended opportunity for anyone passionate about wildlife and local traditions.

United Tansania e. V.

About Us

Why to Choose Us?

1. Direct, Impactful Conflict Mitigation

2. Focus on Two Hyena Species

3. Authentic Field Experience at Lake Eyasi

4. Commitment to Local Empowerment

5. Gain Practical Skills & Knowledge

More Details...

More Details...

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