Giving back to the community

At Zepisa African Safaris, we believe that travel has a unique power. It can open our eyes to new worlds and create unforgettable memories. But we also believe that true, sustainable tourism must create a lasting, positive impact on the places and people who make these journeys possible. For us, “giving back to the community” is not just a slogan; it is a core part of how we do business.

We are committed to investing directly in the people of Tanzania, ensuring that the benefits of tourism reach the grassroots level. We focus on two of the most critical areas for long-term success: empowering young adults with career skills and providing a safe foundation for vulnerable children.

When you book a safari with us, you become a direct partner in this mission. From every confirmed booking, we save $10 to two incredible organizations:

• $5 for scholarships at VETA vocational training institutes.
• $5 to support the Rafiki Yangu Centre for Maasai children.

This is our promise: your adventure will create tangible opportunities and change lives.

Tanzania’s tourism industry is one of the fastest-growing in the world. From the vast plains of the Serengeti to the wild rivers of Ruaha, our country offers world-class experiences. This booming industry creates thousands of jobs, but a significant gap often exists. Many bright, ambitious young Tanzanians, especially from rural communities, lack the specific, practical skills needed to secure high-quality jobs in lodges, camps, and tour companies.

This is where the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) makes a life-changing difference. We are proud to partner with three key VETA campuses:

• VETA Hotel & Tourism Training Institute (VHTTI) in Arusha
• Dodoma Regional Vocational Training and Service Centre (RVTSC)
• Iringa Regional Vocational Training and Service Centre (RVTSC)

These institutes are engines of opportunity. They move beyond theory and focus on the real-world, hands-on skills that build careers and confidence. They offer a direct pathway for young Tanzanians to become leaders in the hospitality sector.

What Students Learn

Whether through short-term training or full certification and diploma courses, learners can specialize in the exact skills the industry demands. Our funding helps students attend courses in:

• Tour Guiding: Training the future ambassadors of Tanzania’s wilderness, focusing on wildlife, ecology, safety, and storytelling.
• Food Production: Developing professional chefs who can create exceptional dining experiences in the heart of the bush.
• Food & Beverage Service & Sales: Mastering the art of hospitality, service, and guest relations that make a safari truly special.
• Front Office Operations: Running the reception and administrative side of a lodge, often the first and last impression a guest has.
• Housekeeping & Laundry Services: Ensuring the highest standards of comfort and hygiene, a critical role in any top-tier lodge.
• Driving & Motor Vehicle Mechanics: A vital skill for safari operations, ensuring guides and vehicles are safe, reliable, and capable of navigating remote terrain.

To make this training even more effective, institutes like VHTTI-Arusha run their own working, three-star hotel. This gives students real-world, practical experience. They are not just learning from a book; they are serving real guests, managing real bookings, and solving real problems long before they graduate. This approach ensures they are fully prepared for employment or even to start their own businesses.

Our $5 donation from your booking goes directly into a scholarship fund to support the most deserving students. We work with our partners to identify and provide full scholarships to young people from two specific groups:

• Orphans: Young adults who have lost their parents and lack the family or financial support system to pursue higher education.
• Students from Poverty-Line Families: We focus on students from rural communities, particularly villages near the Ruaha, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro ecosystems.

These scholarships are all-inclusive. They cover tuition fees, training materials, and accommodation, removing every financial barrier that stands between a talented student and a promising future.

To date, 10 Tanzanian students have successfully graduated through Zepisa African Safaris-funded scholarships. We are thrilled to see several of them now working in professional camps, lodges, and tourism services. They are earning a living, supporting their families, and contributing to the local economies in the very regions they came from.

This is a continuous commitment. We are investing in the next generation by sponsoring 4 new students every year. Your trip helps create a ripple effect of opportunity, building careers and changing lives one student at a time.

Before a young adult can even dream of a career, they first need a safe, healthy, and supportive childhood. Our second commitment focuses on this crucial foundation. We partner with the Rafiki Yangu Centre in Engasumeti, a remote Maasai community in the Simanjiro district.

“Rafiki Yangu” means “My Friend” in Swahili, and the name perfectly captures the spirit of this special place. The center was founded by a German friend, Klaus Bathen, and his local Maasai friend, Saimon, who saw a desperate need in the community and decided to act.

The center cares for the most vulnerable Maasai children—those who are orphans or come from families facing extreme poverty. In this rural region, opportunities are few, and a child without a support system is at great risk. The center provide;

• Their Daily Basic Needs: A safe place to live, nutritious food, clothing, and healthcare.
• A Path to Education: The center funds the children’s education all the way from primary school through secondary school. For those who pass, they are even supported to attend college or vocational training (like VETA).

A separate $5 from every Zepisa booking is donated to help the Rafiki Yangu Centre provide these essential needs. This support ensures these children have the safe and nurturing childhood they deserve, giving them the foundation they need to build a bright future.

When you choose to travel with Zepisa African Safaris, you are choosing a company that believes in sharing its success. Your journey with us is part of a larger story.

That $10 from your booking builds a better future at two critical stages of life. It provides a safe childhood and education for a Maasai child at Rafiki Yangu, and it provides a career-building, professional education for a young adult at VETA.

You are not just a tourist passing through. You are an investor in the people of Tanzania. On behalf of our students, the children at Rafiki Yangu, and the entire Zepisa team, we thank you for being part of this mission.