Go Volunteer Africa

Hello, I am Todd and my partner Eve. We are both Dental Hygienists from Toronto, Canada. We volunteered in Uganda with Go Volunteer Africa from 15th- May – 2025, up to 30th – May– 2025.

Before leaving for Uganda, Anna at Go Volunteer Africa answered all questions in a very timely manner. We felt slightly un- prepared for what to expect when we arrived but I think it was mostly due to our last minute decision to go.

The airport pick up was excellent!! We arrived late as our flight was delayed but Jacob was still there waiting to great us!! We didn’t have to wait at all. The placement was fantastic. As dental hygienists from Canada we had the opportunity to take part in/see things we wouldn’t normally get to experience at home.

Tororo General Hospital is extremely busy at all times it is fast paced environment but all the dentists that were there are ecstatic to have the extra help! We wish we had had a better idea of what to bring supply wise. We brought gloves, masks, gauze, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

Toothbrushes and toothpaste was exactly what they needed. We also would recommend to future volunteers to bring floss, interdentally aides etc as they are nowhere in Tororo.

Our home stay family was amazing!! Living with a true African family forced us to learn the language, culture etc. that we most likely wouldn’t have done otherwise. Food is another experience all together, Eve is a very picky eater and she was pregnant when we arrived so she battled nausea, stomach problems and the wet foreign food was a challenge.

However there were plenty of “westernized” cafes in Tororo that helped us through our cravings and sick days. The highlights of our placement were the very diverse things we got to see at Tororo General Hospital.

As dental hygienists in Canada don’t have the opportunity to see jaws being wired shut or flap surgeries being done and we had the opportunity to assist here! We also got to extra teach the dentists how to properly clean teeth or sharpen instruments overall just being able to help those who needed help was our highlights!

Living with a family such as Winnie’s was amazing and unique. We also got a brief few minutes to go to an orphanage, which was unique in the sense that you timely get to see firsthand the poverty and seventy of some unfortunate situations.

Safari experience at Queen Elizabeth National Park was amazing. We got to see as many animals we wouldn’t see normally. It’s worth to get a 3-4 days experience!! We would also recommend to other volunteers going to the Murchison Falls as we heard amazing things about it and regret not doing it!

We would definitely recommend this volunteering experience at Go Volunteer Africa to others. It’s a great experience however you have to have an open mind and a” go with the flow” mentality. Winnie in Uganda was amazing. She was helpful and reliable.

I traveled to Uganda, to volunteer with Go Volunteer Africa for 2 weeks. So the first thing I can say is that always apply for more weeks, if you really want to experience the Ugandan culture, and also to enjoy what Uganda has to offer.

It was the best experience I have had in my life so far. My experience was very authentic and valuable to my profession as medical student.

I at some point stayed with other volunteers at the Volunteers’ house but most of the time stayed with a sweet host family in Mukono. The Country Manager, Isaac was so incredibly warm and welcoming. Although I didn’t see him often, but he was always available, when we needed him, he knows every bit of his culture and he is a good resource.

The truth is nobody is prepared to come to Uganda until you come but believe me, after you are ready for everything and you will never want to leave!

I am incredibly grateful to the entire Ugandan team and Go Volunteer Africa for making my experience so rich. Overall, this was a very humbling and realistic way to experience Uganda and the rural culture and healthcare system. Thank you!

Pre Departure: Anna always got back to our team very quickly and answered all our questions that were great and really comforting.

Arrival/Airport Pickup: Isaac in Uganda was there even though our flight was late and that was very good. Isaac was a great driver and stopped for us to get water.

Placement: I really enjoyed working 2 projects, they were both very different but all of the staff members were very welcoming and allowed us to work with the children in the best way possible.

Home stay/host family & meals: The group got to stay together under one roof so we felt really comfortable. The host family was wonderful. The Ugandan family were very friendly and welcoming.

Highlights of your placement: Getting to know the children and teaching my own class at Hope Children’s Academy was really interesting and rewarding. The kids at Mukono were always full of joy and Isaac was fun to be around.

Any unique experiences?: Learning a bit of Luganda, waking up and seeing children waving Mzungu, waking up to roaster crowing, walking the streets by ourselves, and getting to know the wonderful town of Mukono. We saw a lot of animals and the trip was great.

Would you recommend this program to others? Yes, I will let others know about these programs and recommend they go to Mukono. It is beautiful there and the people are wonderful. Thank you so much for everything. I will cherish this experience always and I hope to return someday soon to work with the organization again.
Thank you.

Go Volunteer Africa team led by Anna did such a great job, communicating with us via email and gave us the encouragement we needed to take this step with our family. Thanks so much.

It was great to have Emily at the airport to meet us. The school and Head teacher Moureen - all were excellent. Thank you for being so flexible with us and providing such a fantastic experience for our family.

We will remember it for the rest of lives! Gorretti does a good job cooking for us and taking great care of the house. We felt very fortunate to be well taken care of.

We look forward to keeping in touch with them and the projects they are helping. We are now in Uganda, working on a construction project and we shall also share our volunteering experience.

Our children are involved in tree planting project, very amazing experience so far and they love it, and every day is great.

I decided to volunteer abroad as every now and then I like to do something that puts me out of my comfort zone, so I chose Uganda as I wanted to go somewhere that I had never been before and somewhere I didn't actually know much about, so I would be in a situation that was unfamiliar to me.
I decided to come here after leaving college as I believed the experience would help my confidence and independence for going to university – I figured that if I could go to a foreign country by myself and live with a family I had never met before, then moving out and studying for a degree shouldn't be a problem!
I decided to come with Go Volunteer Africa because of the support that was given. Even before I had made my mind up at to exactly where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do, they were on hand to answer any questions that I could think of.
I have been part of the 4 week special placement, which I have really enjoyed. My host family has some of the nicest people I have ever met. They have made me feel so welcome and comfortable and the food!
The first week I was here felt like a crash course in getting to know Kampala and its history, as it included visits to places such as the Mabira rainforest and source of the longest river in the world- the Nile.
I got to visit and work at the children’s center which many of the children attended. Those children displayed a tremendous amount of energy and love, attaching themselves to you at any opportunity! I definitely felt like a piece of my heart was left behind there.

I am already planning my next trip to Kenya now with Go Volunteer Africa, but it might be more wishful thinking seeing as I am about to become a student! But my advice to those thinking of volunteering is not to think about it too much, obviously planning for your trip is important but try not to get too caught up in what might or might not happen when you're here – just go for it, you won't regret it.

Before leaving for Uganda, I was told by many friends and family that I was about to have the 'experience of a lifetime'. Truth be told, I thought this was an extremely cheesy expression and I didn't seem to share their enthusiasm because at that point I was beginning to question why I was about to put myself through this - at only 18 years old, I was VERY nervous to travel to another continent alone and speak in a different language.

My nerves were instantly put to rest upon arriving in Uganda. The Local Coordinators were there to pick me up and I was instantly greeted with the Ugandan atmosphere - welcoming and so much fun! I can say in all honesty that during this first trip with Go Volunteer Africa, I did not feel homesick for one moment of the two months that I spent. In fact, I was devastated to leave.

When I first met my host family I was keen to see where I would be staying and who with as I had no idea what to expect. I couldn't have imagined a better family and other volunteers to have stayed with during my trip. I found all the local people that I met to be so light hearted friendly and generous, and my host family were no different. I also had two other volunteers staying at the house with me, with whom I became and remain close friends!

I arrived at the house at dinner time, when I was introduced to both my house mates and the local food. Having never eaten a real “organic” meal in my life, it was difficult at first to get used to, but within a very short space of time I was an expert and loved the healthy dishes!!

My daily routine began soon after arrival which for me consisted of a morning at a local hospital and an afternoon spent at a children’s centre. This, I was able to combine two of the projects available and therefore share my time. I loved this as it was two completely different experiences and let me meet so many people.

At 18, I was hoping to go on to study medicine, so the time spent in the hospital was a valuable learning experience and something that was fantastic for my future CV. I was able to help in some tasks and saw many procedures carried out.

The staff in the hospital were really friendly and so keen for me to try what I could. I also visited many different schools with the medical coordinator to tell the children about the importance of brushing their teeth etc. and to help if we could with any ailments they had. This was a great experience as the coordinator was keen for me to learn and even provided me with details of some of the common diseases seen there.

Overall, I think it's obvious that I was incredibly impressed with Go Volunteer Africa and I have since recommended them too many friends. I had a fantastic time in Uganda and in terms of my placements, my host family and the social aspect, they couldn't have been better.

After my volunteer placement in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where I was doing the teaching volunteer project, my next destination was Mombasa, Kenya. I knew nothing about Kenya, so this country was a mystery to me. When I arrived, I was amazed. Kenya is beautiful. The view I got in the plane was mind-blowing and was getting me hyped up for my time there.

In Kenya, I was doing the women empowerment project. So basically, I was working with women on their income generating projects! I worked with a Canadian volunteer called Alyssa. The work was very challenging but also very rewarding and really tested my capabilities.

Like Tanzania, Kenya was wonderful. Not only the people there, but the culture and the country itself were just beautiful. I managed to make more friends in Kenya just like Tanzania, and my host family was the nicest people.

They treated me like their own and this not only helped me with my Swahiri but I got to know their way of life. The Go Volunteer Africa local staff was so helpful throughout our stay.

After everything, Tanzania & Kenya were unbelievable beautiful and I was very sad to leave. Tearful goodbyes and long hugs from the family, and before I knew it I was flying to my next and final, destination.

Now, I was supposed to be there on the 22nd December 2024. However I misplaced my passport which delayed my travels to Uganda. So I left for Uganda on the 2nd January 2025, just after New Year.
My final destination is Mukono, Uganda. Where I am spending my final 4 weeks, with another host family and I taking part in coaching various sports to local children. Sports is something I love doing in my free time so this work is extremely fun!

I am teaching young kids how to swim, and because swimming is my favourite sport, I have no problem in the pool! Mukono itself is a very small but beautiful city with green villages.

From visiting the source of River Nile, and taking part in zip-lining it was a fantastic time! I attempted a bungee jump but the nerves got the better of me! The weather itself here is a bonus.

Go Volunteer Africa is a fantastic organization. On my parents behalf I can say they are extremely helpful and supportive. Doing a Gap Year has not only made me grow up, but has changed my views on life and made me think about my future.

At my volunteer internship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania my life was changed. I had one of the most eye opening experiences possible. Day-to-Day I worked under the doctors and nurses at the local government hospital. I was able to assist and learn from the staff and over time felt completely at home there.

My host family went above and beyond to make me feel welcomed and safe. Through them, I was able to experience the true culture of Tanzania. The staff of Go Volunteer Africa were always there to make you feel safe and have fun with.

They planned outings for all of the volunteers and were a good ear to listen to our worries and expectations. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in volunteering or learning about medical procedures in Africa.

I loved my volunteering experience with go volunteer Africa, I only wish I had volunteered for longer than just 3 weeks! It's left me wanting more and I’m already hoping to return.

I stayed in Arusha, with 2 other volunteers (younger than me) and this children support care project made me realize how blessed I was and how great it was to make an impact in the lives of other children, after raising my 2 children. I came home knowing that I truly made a difference in the lives of the children I was involved with.

The group leaders did a great job of keeping us informed of what was going on and I didn't feel out of the loop as some people might feel when starting on a new project. I was very involved with everything and my group leaders were there every step of the way to help the volunteers out.

If you are looking for a volunteer experience that is legitimate, sustainable and enjoyable all whilst making a truly valuable impact then look no further, than this organization.

I spent half my time supporting teaching at a children’s centre in a local Arusha township and the other half - a truly incredible project that supports grandmothers to provide after-school care, fun and food to children.

I learnt more than I could have imagined, not just about the culture and lifestyles of the communities, but also about the nature of volunteering abroad itself. It's about offering support whilst remaining completely sustainable, less about the hand outs and more about enabling and empowering others. This means that your impact is truly lasting and unforgettable.

At the children’s centre you will meet some very special children who will fall in love with you as soon as you walk in through the front door! Their squeals of joy and the songs they will teach you will buzz around your head forever. I spent most mornings reading stories, teaching English and supporting their play.

I do have a lot to share and I don’t think this space will be enough, all I can say, I recommend this wonderful organization for connecting me to the perfect volunteering experience. Although I am 54 and most of the other volunteers were young people, I enjoyed my time with everyone.

I really did have such an amazing trip in Tanzania with Go Volunteer Africa and would absolutely recommend it to anyone. I chose them primarily as they were the cheapest organisation I found, but honestly they cut no corners.

Go Volunteer Africa were very helpful with my questions beforehand and managed to get me sorted even though I only enquired 3 weeks before my departure date! Everything needed was given to me in writing which was a comfort and was very accurate information.

The pre-departure support from Paul and his local team was so useful. Arrival was very easy on my part and the volunteer house in Dar-es-Salaam is perfect! I settled in so quickly as all the in-country Go Volunteer Africa staff were so lovely and helpful as well as the other volunteers being amazing.

I spent 4 weeks in Tanzania and I wish I had gone earlier and stayed longer as the experience just gets more enjoyable as you get to know the other volunteers and the staff. The accommodation is relatively basic - there was no Wi-Fi while I was there (not always the case) and the showers aren't consistently warm - but it was extremely social, comfortable and I wouldn't change anything major.

The staff in-country are fantastic and there is always someone available to chat to and ask any questions or reports any concerns. I did a Childcare and Urban Farming placements and a member of local staff escorted us on the first day to show us the journey and introduce us to projects staff.

I made some great friends in the time I was there, as we spent loads of time together in the house and on the weekend trips. All I can say is the more you put in, the more you get out of your experience.

I would definitely recommend this experience if you're willing to be spontaneous and settle into the 'pole pole' lifestyle in Tanzania :) I also think that going in June/July time is perfect as there are always other volunteers around and the weather isn't too hot.

It's difficult to describe how it's so enjoyable but it is definitely worth doing through Go Volunteer Africa. Go Volunteer Africa will totally look after you, so go with a totally open mind and you'll have a trip you will not forget.

I've been checking out Go Volunteer Africa for a few years now before I finally decided to take the leap. Simply reflecting back on my time volunteering here in Uganda makes me tear up. I had the most amazing life changing experience I could have ever asked for.

I had a genuinely meaningful, fulfilling, and enjoyable time on my first trip. The youth support project is based here in Mukono, east of Kampala the capital and largest city in this nation.
I connected well with both fellow international travellers, but the rich local community, too. This was the deepest, most profound educational experience is the hands-on volunteering.

The placement was ideal for me, as it allowed me to deploy my love for / experience with young children and enabled me to help the promotion of education for young women from disadvantaged communities.
Overall, I developed a deep connection with the country and community, while also diversifying my interactions and experiences with a unique, cosmopolitan group of travellers staying in the hostel.

It beyond exceeded my expectations. The support of the Kenyan and Ugandan team had me at ease, the local team is very amazing, and the accommodation and food is incredible.

Mukono is an incredible place – the nightlife is wonderful – I will miss it a lot. I can't say enough good things about Go Volunteer Africa and the experience I had volunteering. I can't wait for my next adventure!

I volunteered with Go Volunteer Africa in Uganda for two months and had the most amazing experience of my life (so far). I decided to travel with GVA for personal reasons. I was born in Uganda, adopted by American family and brought up in the States.

I wanted to visit my birth country but did not want to go back as just a tourist. While visiting, I wanted to experience the culture and give back if I could. Go Volunteer Africa offered everything I was looking for; cultural immersion, a chance to meet new people and friends, a great place to stay, and opportunities to volunteer.

This trip was worth every penny! I met amazing people and went to incredible places. Furthermore, words cannot explain just how amazing the in-country GVA staff is! They were helpful, always a pleasure to be around and became a second family to me.

I cannot thank them enough for such an incredible time. Choosing to travel with Go Volunteer Africa was and still is the best decision that I have ever made. I 100% recommend this program! I learned a lot about myself and the world outside my world. I bet you will too! I enjoyed every second of my trip and plan to volunteer with GVA again.

I have had the best four weeks of my life. The Go Volunteer Africa staff made me feel so welcome from the start. I enjoyed staying in the volunteer house in Mukono and felt like part of the team. On my project I got to meet some inspirational people, travel to the rural most community of Uganda and improve my communication skills.

I would recommend Go Volunteer Africa in Uganda to all my friends and am thinking of doing another project next year. I have not got a negative thing to say about my experience and I am sad to be leaving. The project exceeded all my expectations. At the weekends we got to travel to many different places and I have made memories I will never forget.

I was expecting much more basic accommodation, but it was a nice surprise. A small beautiful lovely house with showers, big comfortable beds (no bunkers).

It's a fun project in a great location with lots to do outside the project activities if you want to. I had wanted to visit Uganda since my teenage years. As a keen photographer of the elephants I also wanted the opportunity to photograph them in the wild and see them roaming freely, I did that during the safari experience to Queen Elizabeth Safari Park.

I have been in Madagascar for 2 months now and love it. It is truly a unique place to visit, in terms of culture and wildlife. On my first day we went on a snorkel on home reef, saw loads of anemone fish, a giant puffer and a hawksbill turtle.

We then went for a walk to a local village, on the way spotting a family of black lemurs and a Chameleon. Not too bad for the first day! Since then, I have been able to explore further afield through science work and seen even more wonderful creatures.

The local village that we live next to have a strong sense of community, inviting us to parties, celebrations and even a carnival! Out here you get sun, sea, sand and science! Perfect combination!

Working within the marine staff here has been an absolute eye opener and one which has allowed me to experience many new things. From the moment I arrived on camp I was taken away by the beauty of our surroundings- the green forest surrounding the back of the camp and our views out over the ocean and the surrounding areas.

The diving is not the most amazing in the world but there is a wide variety of extremely colorful fish, rays and occasional turtles. I have genuinely enjoyed every dive I have done here and some of the dives have amazing coral formations so I would not overlook Madagascar as a diving location.

Being able to carry out science whilst on the dives is also a really enjoyable experience and has allowed me to learn more about the reef fauna and flora in the area. The marine crew are also extremely fun to work with and the mixture of people on camp means that there is plenty to learn and never a boring moment.

I would recommend Madagascar with Go Volunteer Africa to anyone, but be prepared for basic living standards! This is genuinely not a problem and I believe it has added to my experience here- but maybe bring a few luxuries from home with you!! Enjoy!

Thank you, Paul, Herbert and the entire Go Volunteer Africa for making this happen!

We have just come back from our amazing trip to Tanzania. Leaving on the ferry to our first stop, then a bus ride to the fantastic village of --- it was right by the beach and the kids went to get us coconuts while we watched the local rugby game at the school.

We went to church, all dressed up in our kitenge on the Sunday, we all introduced ourselves and sang with the choir. After the kids took us around the beach and showed us the fish, we came back to a feast!

Tanzania has been an eye-opening experience for us. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time there and made some amazing friends with the other volunteers and staff alike. The medical camp is right on the beach which means we have amazing views of the sunset. All the staff are very welcoming and the locals are friendly and always willing to teach you some swahili.

Joanna & I, had one of the most enjoyable and exciting times of our lives. We have learnt a lot about the healthcare in Africa and doing rounds at the hospital which was very useful to us. Overall Tanzania is an amazing place to be a Go Volunteer Africa volunteer and we have had a brilliant time here. Traveling with Go Volunteer Africa was the best choice and its best and most affordable volunteer company

My initial impressions and thoughts of this trip have been surpassed by what I have experienced in these past six weeks. As soon as I arrived at the airport in Arusha I felt a warm welcome, with my fellow travelers, friendly staff and an impressive accommodation.

I arrived in the country early so had a few days to relax before I met up with the others on the project site. We spent a couple of days with the coordinator who took us around and showed us the community and the projects supported by Go Volunteer Africa.

For me the experience of being on a project in a group and with the young people was much better than what I thought it would be, the project was very well run and there were lots of activities available to do in the evening if you chose to.

The most enjoyable part of the project was being with the youth soccer team preparing for the regional tournaments. The project is not only for youngsters there is no age limit and no matter what age you will love it here.

I was impressed by the organization of the sports and athletics project, and straight away I was involved in coaching activities. Thanks to Paul my contact at Go Volunteer Africa, who made everything possible.

I had an amazing 3 weeks in Nairobi, Kenya. I went for a volunteering experience working in the slums of Kibera. I was placed at a community outreach center. It was enriching and the best possible way to spend a summer break. I loved the opportunity to not be a tourist, but actually, immerse myself in a culture completely unlike mine.

At work, I had a lot of self-direction in what I did, but some of my larger tasks included; researching and drafting a grant proposal, writing a weekly newsletter, overseeing fundraising. I also chose to work with the kids in the Early Childhood Development Center when I had some free time. I was always learning something new at work and felt completely welcomed by the entire staff. I was touched and left in happy tears on my last day of work as the staff gathered to say goodbye and gave me a lovely handwritten letter with notes from everyone at the staff.

In my free time I explored Masai Mara with other volunteers, I also visited Mombasa, the Masai markets, surfing. and seeing as many sunsets as possible. All the other volunteers were lovely, it was sad saying bye, but exciting having a network of friends all across the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the childcare and welfare project in Nakuru, Kenya. Everyone, volunteers and locals alike, were highly friendly and many locals would attempt to stop on the street to chat with you.

The accommodation was basic but suitable. Everyone had their own bed and the food each night was delicious! The tap water was not suitable to drink, which meant that you spend some money on bottled water.

The project itself was enlightening, and very worthwhile. Sometimes the work could be hard with the little children, as you would see issues that would be very unlikely to arise in the Germany, but the people /staff made everything worthwhile.

The weekends were packed full of tourist-safari trips, and it was very interesting to see the difference between "Locals-Kenya" and "Tourist-Kenya".

The project was an amazing and rewarding time of my life, and I made friends with people whom I hope I stay in touch with. The project felt well organized but also was relaxed and enjoyable.

Overall, I enjoyed my project and would volunteer with Go Volunteer Africa again in a heartbeat. The staff at GVA, especially Paul was very helpful in making the arrangements.

For the record, I went to Tanzania recently and loved it. The program was everything I expected. The orphanage I worked at was amazing and I would highly recommend this program to anyone.

Tanzania is a beautiful country full of wonderful people. I learned a lot about myself as well as about another culture. The work was full of challenges, but was incredibly rewarding. Overall Go Volunteer Africa offered great support and is connected with a very good organization. If you are considering, just go!

I volunteered with two other companies in the past but Go Volunteer Africa was by far the best. Best program and best value for money - DO IT! Best experience of my life. I'm guessing the other volunteers rubbishing GVA probably didn't even volunteer with them.

The orphanage and the kids have been my highlight. Before I got to Tanzania, I was worried there would be no other volunteers but I have met a lot of really nice people from around the world. GVA having a big program (lots of volunteers and placements) is another big benefit of going with them.

Although they were some glitches here and there, overall, I had a great experience and would recommend the program 100%!
Chloe

I spent three weeks volunteering with Go Volunteer Africa in Rwanda after hearing about the organization from a previous participant in Botswana. Cindy had spent two months with Go Volunteer Africa and was full of great stories and enthusiasm for the project. I had wanted to visit Rwanda since 2018 and after returning home from Botswana, Cindy's tales stayed with me. As a keen photographer of wildlife, I also wanted the opportunity to photograph Gorillas in the wild and see them roaming freely.

I was met in Kigali by the very friendly John and Agatha and immediately felt at ease in their company. We set off on the 2-hour journey to Musanze, where I worked with the women training them about financial literacy and computer skills.

John was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions about the country and the projects. The project was a new experience. A lot of hard work but I think it's something that builds character. I'm happy I did it, I feel a lot more world wise. After this I can do anything and eat anything!

Sitting down with women and talk about women-matters was by far the most enjoyable activity of my stay. Visiting the local schools was also a great highlight. The kids were so gorgeous, with friendly, open and curious smiles.

John showed them some nature videos as well as one about the work that Go Volunteer Africa does. The headmaster seemed very pleased the whole exercise and was also keen to have the children exposed to things outside of their daily lives.

He became very interested in my practice of yoga and so we decided I would teach about 50 of the students a thirty-minute yoga practice. Agatha and I put together a short video presentation about yoga, its history etc., to show them before the practice.

On the day the kids were great, although the girls remained in their skirts which meant a quick rethink of poses! But they were very enthusiastic, and eager to please, and did really well. It was great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to give something to the school.

Everyone on the project was so accommodating and friendly and I felt very well taken care of. The food was absolutely delicious and I don't think there was a single dish that I didn't love. And our trips into the lovely national park provided lots of great wildlife photography and viewing.

All in all, it was an unforgettable experience and I left feeling that I have contributed just a little to the great work that Go Volunteer Africa does. I will definitely be back.

The biggest problem was that the program still has NOT paid the host family for the time I stayed with them and the meals that were supplied and I have finished my trip a month ago. Most of the money paid does not go to your expenses and what does has yet to make it to the poor people who allowed me to stay with them. When I have emailed Go Volunteer Africa about this issue they would give excuses and say they were working on get what they are suppose to pay. That is when they bother to respond, I have several emails to them that they have not responded to. While most of what I paid u assume was going to cheap coordinate with the volunteer organization in the country they are even terrible at that. They ended up changing things several times since I sent them my money to help coordinate and one change was about a week before I go to Africa. The only reason I knew about this issue was that the host that they originally had me working with informed me so I could then email Go Volunteer Africa. They are terrible at communicating with their volunteers, worst at properly coordinating with the groups and not paying the people that take in their volunteers. This group should not be used and I would recommend looking at different NGO that are actually helping the people in Africa nit stealing from them.

I have been in Kenya with Go Volunteer Africa for 2 months now and love it. It is truly a unique place to visit, in terms of culture and wildlife. The location of projects is beautiful; situated on a white sandy beach and clear waters of Indian Ocean.

The project is within a small village where all the locals are very friendly. They have a strong sense of community, inviting us to parties, celebrations and even a carnival! Out here you get sun, sea, sand and life! Perfect combination!

The group of other volunteers and the local team have been great, after just 2 months I feel like I've known them for years and everyone really pulls in and helps each other out. The accommodation is basic, but it’s also so much more interesting than staying in a standard hotel.

There is quite a large group of us here at the moment, it is a very busy period and everyone tends to be all over the place. Although I strangely miss home already, the time is going quickly, especially when I am teaching and I have made many friends here. Everyone is so friendly....Can't recommend it enough!

Truly Horrible Scam. The contactee Paul simply connected me to the host Family and did nothing else. Not too mention just for connecting me to my Hosts he pocketed nearly 80% of the program fee and paid the Host family a measily 200$ the Gracious host family certainly lost a lot of money by taking me in for this rate. This organization is total an utter thieves using their connections in Africa to totally scam and rob people. An absolutely evil company getting rich off the divide between 1st and 3rd world and disguising themselves as humanitarians. One of the most evil organizations I have ever worked with.

My family and I want to thank you all at Go Volunteer Africa for the most wonderful experience in Kenya. We will recommend your organization to anyone interested in volunteering and will also consider working with you in the future. You did an excellent job in every aspect and my children loved every bit of the experience.

We had some concerns and reservations because of the little children and weren’t sure if they would fit in and love the experience. We really enjoyed working alongside other volunteer families we met. My family will cherish all memories of the people we met and the experiences we had. It was one of the best decisions I ever made for my family.

Kenya was amazing, the culture, landscapes, and great hikes all in one trip, and, on top of that, we made several wonderful friends! The local team is doing some amazing work in Nairobi. Thank you so much Paul, for organizing this family trip. You were very responsive to our many questions and gave us useful information.

We had an amazing family experience as volunteers with Go Volunteer Africa in Kenya. We loved the whole experience and we miss the time with the local kids. My wife and I decided to travel with Go Volunteer Africa after reading so many positive reviews from past volunteers.

Of course we had a few reservations since this was our first time to travel abroad with our little children 5 & 9. We wanted to visit and explore Kenya but did not want to go as just tourists. While visiting, we wanted to experience the culture and give back if we could.

Go Volunteer Africa’s Paul organized everything we were looking for as a family. Cultural immersion, a chance to meet new people and make friends, a great place to stay, and affordable safari deals. This trip was worth every penny!

Herbert (the head of in-country staff) is such a wonderful guy and we promised him to leave a positive review because of the fabulous work he does. He was helpful, always a pleasure to be around and he has an amazing touch towards children.

Maddie and I cannot thank you enough for such an incredible time. Choosing to travel with you was and still is the best decision that we made last summer and we shall do it again next summer. We highly recommend this organization for family volunteer experiences due to our personal positive experiences with them! They are local, so they know where they need the help. Our kids learned a lot about themselves and the world outside.

Ever since I was really little, it has always been my dream to travel to Kenya because of its wildlife, and with Go Volunteer Africa I was given the perfect opportunity.

In July 2022, I spent three weeks at the conservation program in Mombasa in Kenya. I had the most incredible time of my life. The volunteer placement is located in a beautiful, very safe area of the island and was walking distance from beaches which all us volunteers loved.

Mombasa itself it is a lovely place. The locals are extremely friendly and after a day you feel like you've known the coordinators and other volunteers for your whole life. Participating in the wildlife conservation was a unique experience, especially releasing them back into the wild on my last day there.

My only regret is that I didn't stay longer. Paul my Program Supervisor at GVA did an amazing job organizing the trip and getting me in contact with the local team before I left. They answered all questions quickly and provided modules to prepare for the trip and make it easier. I was nervous since it was my first trip alone, but I loved it and plan to return next summer.

The accommodation is lovely and so is the food. The beach is just a five-minute walk away, and there's a medical centre right next to the accommodation in case of an emergency. Overall, GVA is an incredible and affordable option for people like me who love adventure and traveling with a purpose. Its indeed the best volunteer program in Kenya and Africa.

Everything was well-organized and I felt supported throughout. I felt that it was all worth the money and was by far the cheapest volunteer program out there! I would strongly advise anybody to travel with Go Volunteer Africa, especially on the Kenya wildlife project, its awesome!

I volunteered in Rwanda for 2 weeks with Go Volunteer Africa. Paul was our coordinator and he did a fabulous job with everything planning. He was very supportive and always available for help.

Before I made my decision to volunteer I managed to talk with some of the past volunteers through a connection. I received varieties of feedbacks some were very positive and some were partially positive.

But one thing I learned from all participants is that the projects associated with GVA are positive life changing and the hosts are very nice and honest. They will go out of their way to help you and make your stay smooth.
I really enjoyed my hospital experience because I got to rotate through all the different departments in the hospital on different days including surgery, pharmacy, pediatric care, primary care etc.

It was great to have this hands on experience. Since I had already traveled to Uganda and Kenya for safari, I spent the weekend volunteering with children. It was a lot of fun playing with the kids. Our host family was great.

I shared a room in the same host family with another volunteer. It was also pretty easy to navigate the bus system between the family, the school and the hospital. I highly recommend this program.

I volunteered in Rwanda for 2 weeks with Go Volunteer Africa. Paul was our coordinator and he did a fabulous job with everything planning. He was very supportive and always available for help.
Before I made my decision to volunteer I managed to talk with some of the past volunteers through a connection. I received varieties of feedbacks some were very positive and some were partially positive.

But one thing I learned from all participants is that the projects associated with GVA are positive life changing and the hosts are very nice and honest. They will go out of their way to help you and make your stay smooth.

I really enjoyed my hospital experience because I got to rotate through all the different departments in the hospital on different days including surgery, pharmacy, pediatric care, primary care etc.

It was great to have this hands on experience. Since I had already traveled to Uganda and Kenya for safari, I spent the weekend volunteering with children. It was a lot of fun playing with the kids. Our host family was great.

I shared a room in the same host family with another volunteer. It was also pretty easy to navigate the bus system between the family, the school and the hospital. I highly recommend this program.

I have been in Rwanda for one month working within the women support staff here and it has been an absolute eye opener and one which has allowed me to experience many new things. From the moment I arrived on camp I was taken away by the beauty of our surroundings- the green forest surrounding the back of the camp and our views out over the green tea farms and the surrounding areas. Stunning.

Living within a local community has also been a real eye opener, seeing their way of life and how they have adapted to live in this small paradise has been amazing- specially the way that they have allowed us to fit into their village and are willing to help us with anything we may need.

I have genuinely enjoyed every aspect of the program I have done here and I am so grateful to Go Volunteer Africa for making this arrangement. The local crew are also extremely fun to work with and the mixture of people on camp means that there is plenty to learn and never a boring moment.

I would recommend Rwanda women empowerment program to anyone, but be prepared for basic living standards! This is genuinely not a problem and I believe it has added to my experience here- but maybe bring a few luxuries from home with you!! Enjoy!

Go Volunteer Africa is a legit volunteer travel company. I’ve just got back from a project in Uganda- can’t believe how quickly it went, the whole experience was amazing and I’m gutted to be home already. I’m already missing the crew out there loads, everyone got on so well and I’ll definitely be meeting up with some of them for a night out soon. The place itself is like something out of a film- unbelievably beautiful and the weather is bloody amazing- which meant the night parties were very cool!

Even working at the school which I thought would be boring was an unexpectedly mind-blowing experience- the culture is so different from what any of us were used to but the people were legendary- really friendly and so appreciative of our work. Would definitely recommend Go Volunteer Africa and no problems in terms of organization.

My flight was delayed which meant I would have missed my pick up with the staff and I arrived late at night. But when I got in contact with Emmanuel, he was very helpful in making sure I got a driver for the night and he made sure I make it to the volunteer house that night.

When I arrived, I was immediately welcomed by Emmanuel, the Go Volunteer Africa, Country Coordinator of the Rwanda projects. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The work we did with the women was very important and educating. We have learned a lot during our stay, and would definitely love to come back to this project.

The arrangement was above and beyond my expectations. I felt very welcomed to the group, didn’t take long to get settled. There is a very good mix of professional work and having fun. The staff clearly care about the project, are passionate and were happy to help with any of our needs.

I felt like I really contributed to the local projects which is very fulfilling. We all felt like one big family after a week or so which not only made the program life fun and enjoyable but also made everyone look out for each other and push each other to do better in the projects. It was a nice mix of work and fun.

I had an amazing time and really enjoyed this project it was a culture shock when we first arrived however we were very well informed of what to do and where to go. I recommend future volunteers make sure that you really discuss with the local teams to understand what you are going to do, to get the best out of the program.

My husband and I decided to do a humanitarian trip in Kenya, so we submitted an application to Go Volunteer Africa. We were then contacted by Paul, who told us that we would need to submit a payment of $360 as a placement booking fee to reserve our spot, and then we would be able to pay the remaining $920 in cash upon arrival to our project. We paid the booking fee and withdrew $920 in cash to pay the rest when we arrived, and Paul sent us our information packet which had all the information we would need for our trip, along with the contact information for the program director in Nairobi, Josephat. Then we booked our flight, got our vaccinations and had everything ready to go. A few weeks before our departure, Paul changed his mind and said we would have to send him the program fee electronically before we left. We explained to him that this would not be possible because we had already withdrawn the cash to pay on arrival. We even offered to pay half electronically and the other half on arrival. Apparently Paul didn't like this idea so he completely ignored us.

Three weeks before our departure, we still had not received responses to any of our messages to Paul, so we looked through the packet he had sent us and found the program director's contact info, so we reached out to him and explained the situation. He said it would be fine if we just paid in person on arrival. Three weeks later we left on our trip. (We still had not received any message whatsoever from Paul). We turned out to have a very poor experience with the organization of GVA, so once we concluded our trip, my husband left a completely honest and truthful review to warn other travelers about the program. Immediately we received several threatening emails from Paul, calling us liars and stating that he would use our personal information from our application against us. He said that he had our home address and emergency contacts' information and planned to use them to retaliate.

If the President or Person in charge of Go Volunteer Africa is reading this, please reach out to either me or my husband so we can send you copies of our correspondence with Paul. I am positive he is not the kind of person you want representing your organization. As for everyone else who is thinking about a humanitarian trip to Africa, do it! Just stay as far away from GVA as you can. Dealing with them is about as stressful as it gets.