Work the World elective placements in Mwanza, Tanzania
Mwanza sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world's second largest freshwater lake. Although just a short flight from Arusha in the North West corner, the contrast between the two cities could not be more pronounced. Mwanza, whilst closer to the Serengeti, remains largely off the tourist trail and has a far more traditional feel, rich in Sukuma tribe culture. And whilst world-class safari sits on the cities doorstep, a boat trip to Rubondo National Park or Ukerewe, known locally as "Little Zanzibar", provide that indescribable feeling of discovering a true "travel gem".
Although not a tourist hub, Mwanza is a commercial centre and are home to the countries second largest referral hospital (after Dar es Salaam). Taking an elective here allows you to get off the beaten track but remain close to all the action, as well as benefit from excellent placements in a large hospital. It is the perfect middle ground between our placements in Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
Where will my healthcare elective be?
As Tanzania's second biggest city, people travel from across the whole region to Mwanza for its wide ranging health facilities. The large tertiary referral hospital offers more advanced treatments than the regional hospitals of Arusha, ultimately offering you the chance to be far more specific about your preferred placement areas. The increased number of patients also offers more opportunities to work in specialist areas that simply don't exist in the smaller hospitals.
Along with the tertiary referral hospital, we also work with a large government hospital, that offers a great contrast to the teaching hospital and provides a less-resourced setting and many different opportunities. We have also developed a Village Healthcare experience that will give you the opportunity to live in a rural Sukuma tribe community, take part in local activities and help deliver primary healthcare.
Where will I live?
The Work the World house in Mwanza is built up on the hillside overlooking the lake. The same huge granite rock formations that pepper the city and lake make up part of the walls of the house, and from the balcony and barbecue areas it is easy to see why it wins our prize for the best view! You are just a short dala-dala ride away from most placements and the local spot bar is practically outside your gate!
The house accommodates up to 27 people in rooms of 4, 5 or 6 and there are big common areas to relax or brush up on your Swahili lessons. All meals are included during your healthcare placement and the terrace is a fantastic spot for our caterer Diana's weekly Tilapia fish barbecues. Programme Manager Barny, a member of the Sukuma, will happily show you traditional dances or join you at the local spot bar.
What can I do in my free time?
Mwanza is a big city and it is easy to find bars, restaurants, markets, shops and internet cafes. Where Arusha offers the tourist hotspots, Lake Victoria will show you how real Tanzanians relax after a day at work - most of our students have found themselves enjoying beers and dancing with the locals at a spot bar or two!
For those wanting to get out of Mwanza on weekends, there are some amazing travel opportunities. Lake Victoria is a National Park and its islands offer a distilled version of all that is great in Tanzania - countless wildlife opportunities and beautiful beaches. If you want something a little more mainstream, the Serengeti is only a couple of hours away, and a hop across the border into Uganda offers the opportunity of seeing mountain gorillas. There are also regular flights to Arusha, Mt Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
