Tanzania, Malawi or Madagascar volunteering and travel

Hi all,

My friend Greg and I are flying to Tanzania in Oct without too solid a plan. We're definitely going to Malawi and Madagascar but maybe some other countries as well. We've both travelled separately quite a bit; me in Asia and North Africa but still, East Africa is new and exciting for us!

Just hoping for some tips on volunteering, but of course any other tips on good guesthouses/campsites/hostels is most welcome. In terms of volunteering, I feel a bit bogged down by the sheer amount and diversity of projects, but mostly by the price. I understand that there has to be some administration/management costs for charities but I'm struggling to tell who's ripping me off or not.

Also, I'm really keen to make sure that my money is pumped into the local economy and not Western pockets. A few of my friends have advised me to just find a genuine project when I'm out there, but I'm worried I might not come across one, and it's something I really want to do. Ideas?

Many thanks,

Jem

Oh and we'll be away for roughly 4 months, hoping to volunteer for at least a month.