“Can we visit an orphanage?”
It’s a question I get more often from tourists. People with warm hearts, looking for a way to give something back during their trip. And I understand that. I myself am a father. I understand the urge to want to do something good for children.
But my answer to this question is always: no, we don’t.
Not because I don’t feel compassion. Precisely because I do. Because behind the walls of many orphanages in Tanzania lies a reality that few travelers really know.
Orphanages are not part of our culture
In Tanzania, children traditionally grow up in families. Not only with their parents, but also with aunts, uncles, grandparents and neighbors. That’s how we’ve always done it – and how it’s meant to be.
Orphanages, or “children’s homes,” are not part of our culture. They were often created by poverty, well-meaning foreign aid and the assumption that children would be better off in an institution. But we now know that this is rarely the case.
🎥 In this video by Monique Derrez, president of the “It takes a Village Foundation,” this becomes painfully clear.
She recounts her experiences as a former volunteer and donor to orphanages – and how she became aware of the damage these types of institutions cause.
In her story, she also refers to Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president, who, with his Ujamaa philosophy, always stressed the importance of family, community and solidarity for a healthy society.
80% of children in orphanages have families
According to figures from UNICEF and Lumos, among others, 80% of children in orphanages have at least one parent or relative who – with the right support – could care for them.
So why do they live there anyway?
Because poverty separates them. Because parents believe their child will have better opportunities in an orphanage. And because orphanages depend on donations and visitors. Visitors who often come with the best of intentions, but without knowing what their presence really means.
The painful consequences of orphanage tourism
Orphanage tourism – visiting orphanages during a vacation – seems harmless, but it is not. Children in institutions repeatedly build short, close bonds with visitors … and lose them again and again. This creates:
- Attachment problems
- Anxiety, insecurity, behavioral problems
- Lower school performance and poorer health
- Poorer opportunities for employment, housing and psychological well-being later in life
📚 More than 300 scientific studies point to these consequences.
📗 Download the free booklet: Children without HOME
🎥 Also watch this short animation from Better Care Network: Why not to visit an orphanage
What we do at Naar Dar es Salaam
I believe in tourism that does good – for you, and for Tanzania. That’s why I don’t offer tours to orphanages. But I do like to introduce you to real life here. With pride, respect and an eye for the people.
What you can do with us:
- Visiting local markets
- Eating at family-run and small restaurants
- Meet artists, artisans and musicians
- Historical tours, such as to Bagamoyo – a city full of stories
👉 Read more about the day trip to Bagamoyo
That’s how you really get to know our culture – without causing harm.
What you as a traveler can do
- Do not visit any orphanages during your trip
- Share what you have learned with others
- Support organizations that support families, such as:
In conclusion – from person to person
My name is Ibrahim. I was born and raised in Dar es Salaam. As a guide, I see tourism as a bridge: between cultures, between people. But bridges must be solid – and built on respect.
Children are not an attraction. They belong at home. In a home. With a family. Just like yours.
Want to really get to know Tanzania? Then contact me for a tour that connects, not divides.
