Immerse yourself in a truly traditional African cultural experience in the heart of the Mukuni Chiefdom, where you’ll engage with the rich heritage of the Leya people. During your stay, you’ll volunteer in the local community—either at the village clinic, a primary school, or through general community support—while living with a host family and experiencing daily life firsthand. Our African Cultural Experience can be joined as a 2-week (or longer) volunteer project with the first week being a cultural orientation week, or as an optional 1-week cultural add-on, either as a standalone experience or combined with further volunteering in Livingstone town.
| Starting days | Start and end days are Mondays |
| Minimum Requirements | 1 week and longer subject to visa requirements. A minimum age of 18 years old and older. Criminal background check for helping with children |
| Cost | £400 for 1 week and £150 for each additional week |
| What is included | Meeting you at the airport in Livingstone on arrival, airport transfers, stay at the Livingstone volunteer accommodation and Mukuni village host family accommodation, a letter of support for visa if needed, pre-departure admin and support, orientation and induction, in-country staff with 24/7 support, food, a t-shirt, a volunteer card |
| What is not included | Flights, visa costs, travel insurance, laundry and spending money for recreational activities. |
| Best for | Career breakers, those intersted in healthcare, teaching, social studies, anthropolgy and just want to experience a more real African tribal village |
Project description
Mukuni Village is the traditional seat of the Leya people and home to Chief Mukuni, a respected and influential traditional leader with both cultural and political influence. The village offers a deep cultural immersion opportunity for volunteers, with vibrant ceremonies and daily life rooted in centuries-old customs. There are roughly 600 homesteads in the broader area of a population of 12 000 with many headman and elders in different zones- some of these areas we do not place volunteers as they are too rural.
The Leya people are an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in the southern part of Zambia, including around Mukuni Village, which lies near Livingstone and the Victoria Falls. Mukuni Village is one of the oldest and most prominent Leya settlements, and it serves as the royal seat of the Mukuni Chiefdom. The Leya are part of the broader Toka-Leya ethnic grouping. They speak ChiLeya, a Bantu language, although many also speak English and ChiTonga, especially in school and formal settings.
They are mainly subsistence farmers and artisans, known for their warm hospitality, vibrant dances, and deep respect for community life and ancestral customs. Under their chief they have become heavily invested in wildlife tourism, social upliftment their crafts and the environment. Village life is communal, with strong emphasis on family, respect for elders, and cultural traditions. Houses are typically made from mud and thatch, and daily life is centred around small-scale agriculture, craftwork, and social rituals.
The Leya people maintain traditional spiritual beliefs, often honouring ancestors and practicing rituals that connect them to the land and nature. At the same time, Christianity is widely practiced, often blending with indigenous beliefs. Initiation ceremonies, music, dance, and storytelling are important cultural expressions.
Despite being a cultural hub, the village faces challenges such as poverty, limited educational resources, and health care access — areas where volunteers often assist. As a volunteer, you may not only support a local school, clinic and community initiatives but also have the unique opportunity to witness or assist with cultural events and tribal duties, depending on your dates and the level of cultural immersion you want to experience.
Programme details
Week One: Cultural Orientation Week
This first week is a unique introduction to life in Zambia and can be enjoyed on its own as an African Cultural Experience, or combined with additional volunteer weeks helping in Mukuni Village or in Livingstone town.
Monday – Volunteers arrive at Livingstone Airport, where they are met by our local team. The day includes a warm welcome, an introduction to Livingstone and Zambia, and an overnight stay at the volunteer house in town to rest and prepare for the week ahead.
Tuesday to Friday – Volunteers are taken to Mukuni Village, where their cultural orientation begins. Highlights include a visit to the Royal Palace, meeting their host family in the village, learning about daily village life, and participating in community chores and activities. On that Friday evening, volunteers return to the volunteer house in Livingstone.
Saturday to Sunday – The weekend is free for volunteers to relax or take part in optional local activities and excursions, including visits to Victoria Falls, game drives, or cultural markets for their own cost.
The following Monday – Volunteers either return to Mukuni Village to begin their placement in Education Support, Community and Culture, or Clinic Support, or they head to the airport for departure, depending on the duration of their stay.
Volunteer Duties in the Mukuni Chiefdom Community
While staying near or within Mukuni Village, your African Cultural Experience volunteer work may include:
Education Support
- Assist in the primary school classroom with Grade R to Grade 7
- Help with English, Maths, Natural & Social Sciences, Business Studies, and Computers
- Create lesson plans around the Zambian syllabus, tutor small groups, or run literacy support sessions
- Run after-school clubs and activities in art, sports, drama, art or environmental education
- Organise cultural exchange activities, music, or storytelling workshops to engage the learners and inspire them
Community and Culture
- Visit the royal grounds and learn about the structure of the Chiefdom and the many social upliftment endeavours.
- Work with local women’s groups or elders on language exchanges, or gardening. Helping improve their conversational English, literacy and numeracy is always appreciated.
- Help the local craftsmen with their woodwork while learning practical skills. Makishi masks, animals and household items are crafted from wood for sale whether ornamental or functional. Volunteers can also help with the painting, pyrography or pattern design if artistic
- Volunteer with a background in dance or dressmaking can assist with the local youth cultural dance group
- Help your host family with cooking and gain insight into traditional Zambian meals preparation
- Support community clean-ups or village improvement projects
- Join or assist with preparations for the three annual traditional ceremonies (when applicable)
- As the Leya are subsistence farmers, you can help with their crops like maize, millet, and vegetables or their livestock.
- Help with basic household tasks in host homes (if staying in or near the village)
Clinic Support
- Support nurses and healthcare workers with non-medical tasks such as organising patient files, prepping basic supplies, or guiding patients between areas.
- Help deliver basic health education to patients and community members on topics like hygiene, nutrition, malaria prevention, TB and HIV awareness, and maternal health
- Under supervision and if appropriately trained, assist with tasks such as taking temperatures, blood pressure, and recording basic patient information.
- Assist during under-five clinics or immunisation days by helping with registration, child weighing, or crowd control
- Help with general clinic upkeep, such as organising supplies, keeping waiting areas tidy, and assisting with small improvement tasks when needed.
The three key traditional annual ceremonies
Bene Mukuni Ceremony 25th to the 26th of July 2025
A 2-day festival commemorating the Toka-Leya people’s ancestral migration. Expect traditional dress, music, drumming, Makishi dances, and royal processions.
Volunteer Role: Assist with setup, help with crowd coordination, and support youth groups performing dances or storytelling.
Chandaule Ceremony (Date TBA – usually mid-July)
A rain-giving ceremony held to thank ancestral spirits for seasonal rains and ensure blessings for future harvests.
Volunteer Role: Prepare ceremonial spaces, support elder activities, help children create crafts or decorations.
Basilombelombe Ceremony (Date TBA – December)
A spiritual blessing ceremony that draws from the mist (“spray”) of the Victoria Falls to mark a fresh start for the new year.
Volunteer Role: Assist with logistics, prepare offerings or symbolic items, and observe respectful customs.
To get the most out of your experience and possibly take part in a ceremony, we recommend volunteering around the dates of these important three traditional ceremonies.
Rough daily schedule
The daily schedule’s duties will differ from week two onwards depending if you choose the school, community or clinic option but this is a rough outline for week one:
Daily estimated schedule which can be slightly different depending on the clinic you are assigned too:
06h45- wake up, have a quick wash and help yourself to breakfast.
07h30-your duties start for the day which can vary depending on your interests
12h30-break for lunch and a bit of time to shop at the village shop
13h00- time to continue with the day’s duties
17h00- head back to your host family’s compound
17h15 – help your host mother to prepare a traditional dinner and sit down to eat, enjoy some time with a good book, take a stroll around the village, play with some of the local children, socialise with your host family or visit others in the village. Or just catch up on some handwashing.
Please be aware though as you are in Africa, things might run at a slight slower pace than what you are used too.
Volunteers assist Monday to Friday. Weekends are the perfect time to take in some day trips to visit Chobe national park in Botswana, visit the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or see local Livingstone attractions.
Accommodation
On the Monday you arrive, you will stay at the volunteer accommodation in Livingstone which is in a complex in the quiet residential suburb of Elaine Brittel in Livingstone just outside the main town centre. There is a security guard that keeps an eye on the complex. It has Wi-Fi that volunteers are able to use and the office of the local team is also located within the same building. It is well situated allowing easy access to all the various project sites, shops and markets.
The volunteer house can accommodate up to 6 volunteers at one time with a kitchen, lounge, dining and several two bedrooms, a landing, one bathroom and a guest toilet shared with other volunteers.
Bedrooms are shared with two to three other volunteers of the same gender. Married couples can be accommodated as there are two double beds. Bed linen is provided. The bedrooms do lock and looking after your valuables is your responsibility. There is an electric fans for the summer in the lounge. There is a smart TV so if you have Netflix you can use it plus DSTV satellite channels if you do not. There is a dining room area too.
There is a cleaner once a week and if you do not want to use local laundromats or do your own handwashing, you can ask her to wash some of your clothes for a fee and there is a washing line to hang up washing.
The bathrooms are equipped with a western style toilets and a shower. Volunteers will need to bring their own towels and toiletries.
From the Tuesday when you start at the Mukuni village, you will stay with a host family.
During your stay in the Mukuni Village area, you’ll live like a local and experience traditional Zambian village life. This includes fetching water, using outdoor toilets, eating home-cooked meals, and settling into the relaxed rhythm of rural living. It’s a unique opportunity to disconnect from modern distractions and connect with a culture that is warm, grounded, and community-focused.
The homes will vary between brick (for those helping at the school or clinic) or a mud hut compound (for those helping in the village) but are modest but clean and secure, with a private room for each volunteer. Facilities are basic—there’s no running water, and showers are done with a bucket and the toilet can be what we call in Africa, a “long drop”—but your host family will ensure you are comfortable and well looked after throughout your stay.
Zambian hospitality is truly special. Your host family will welcome you as one of their own, involving you in everyday life, shared meals, and sometimes even in local events or celebrations. This creates a sense of belonging that many volunteers find to be the most memorable part of their trip.
As part of your cultural exchange, you’ll likely pick up a few words of the local language, and share stories with your host family. This gives you a deeper insight into the traditions and daily life of the Leya people, who are the main ethnic group in this region.
Food
Food is provided for your first night in Livingstone to prepare yourself dinner and breakfast. From then onwards you will eat with your host family in the Mukuni village and help them prepare and cook traditional meals that usually include nshima (a thick maize porridge), along with green leafy vegetables, sweet potato, beans, okra, groundnuts (peanuts) and sometimes beef, fish or chicken often with a flavourful tomato-based stew. These are hearty, wholesome dishes, and you’re welcome to help with cooking if you’re curious to learn more.
Livingstone and its surrounding villages offer a variety of delicious local fruits, many of which are seasonal and found in home gardens or markets. Common fruits include mangoes (in season from October to January), bananas, guavas, papayas, and wild fruits like masuku, marula, baobab (mawuyu), and tamarind. These fruits are enjoyed fresh, in juices, or as snacks, and are an important part of local diets and traditions. Volunteers often get to taste them during their stay with host families.
Tea time is also a social moment, where family members or neighbours may gather for a chat. While coffee is less common, tea is widely consumed and often offered to visitors as a gesture of hospitality and often served with milk and sugar.
Location
Livingstone, Zambia is a vibrant and adventurous destination known as the gateway to the world-the famous Victoria Falls—one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Nestled on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, Livingstone offers an unforgettable mix of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and thrilling activities. From white-water rafting and bungee jumping to serene river cruises and wildlife safaris, there’s something for every traveller. The town also boasts museums, local markets, traditional villages, and warm, welcoming locals, making it the perfect place to experience both the wild heart of Africa and its deeply rooted traditions.
The people of Livingstone, Zambia are known for being warm, welcoming, and friendly. Hospitality is a strong part of the culture, and volunteers often comment on how open and helpful the locals are.
Livingstone has a strong sense of community spirit, with people generally respectful, polite, and proud of their town’s history and cultural significance. Whether you’re walking through the markets, visiting a rural village, or eating at a local restaurant, you’re likely to be greeted with a smile and genuine curiosity about where you’re from. Volunteers are often made to feel not just like tourists, but like guests. We also encourage our Healthcare volunteers to try some of the tradtional meals available at tradtional restaurants around the town.
Livingstone has something for everyone—nature, culture, adventure, and relaxation.
- Victoria Falls & Devil’s Pool: View the stunning Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls or swim at the edge in Devil’s Pool (seasonal).
- Adrenaline Activities: Try bungee jumping, gorge swing, zip line, or bridge slide from the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge.
- River Adventures: Go white-water rafting or riverboarding in Batoka Gorge with expert guides.
- Scenic Flights: Enjoy breathtaking aerial views on a microlight or helicopter “Flight of Angels.”
- Safari & Wildlife: track rhinos on foot, view elephants and more wildlife on safari drives in Mosi-oa-Tunya or visit Chobe National Park nearby.
- Wildlife Encounters: Dine at the Elephant Café, visit crocodile parks, or track rhinos on foot.
- Museums: Explore Zambia’s past at the Livingstone and Railway Museums.
- Cultural Immersion: Visit Maramba Market, dine local-style, enjoy traditional performances, or spend a week in Mukuni village for a real tribal experience.
- Zambezi Cruises: Relax on a sunset cruise with the Lady Livingstone or African Queen, or join the lively Lion King boat with music and drumming.
- Offbeat Fun: Horseback riding, quad biking, tiger fishing, or fine dining aboard the Royal Livingstone Express.
For more information or to book, either fill in the contact form or please email info@volunteerinternationaladventures.com. You might also be interested in our HealthCare Helper project in Livingstone
