House and Food

We have two houses in Tanzania, allowing us to take more students on this hugely popular programme without losing the friendly, family feel that is so important to the Gap Medics service.

The Rock House is the bigger of the two, with a huge open-plan social space incorporating relaxing, dining and kitchen areas. The seven bedrooms are arranged in separate cotttages around the garden with banana and mango trees and lawns for that all-important sunbathing. Our own favourite feature is the tribal village style barbecue area set among huge rocks - perfect for sitting round the fire under the spectacular African sky.

The Town House is set on a leafy hillside above the Ruaha Valley, just a few minutes walk from the Regional Hospital. It's more intimate than the Rock House, with five bedrooms arranged around a central, cirular living/dining room. Again there's a lush tropical garden for after work lazing.

In both houses, bedrooms are shared between four or five students and all have their own bathroom. Furnishing is simple but comfortable, with bunk beds, wardrobe space, mosquito nets, showers and Western style toilets. All furniture was custom made for us by local craftmen using sustainably sourced, local coconut and mninga wood, inkeeping with our ethical policies.

Iringa is a very safe part of the country, but for total peace of mind both houses have 24-hour security guards, keypad entry locks and window security bars. Our two Caterers, Akiba and Hassan, try to out-do each other with spectacular Swahili meals and epic barbecues, and each house has a full-time housekeeper.