Kenya Impact Service Expedition for Students

This action-packed and meaningful African adventure will take you from the savannahs of Tsavo, teeming with Kenya’s top wildlife, to the white-sand beaches of Diani.

Throughout your time in Kenya you’ll get involved in a range of projects, helping to support education and community development in two rural communities. You’ll become part of the community as you live and work alongside local people, learning about the challenges faced by local people as well as the rich tradition and culture of Kenya. During your expedition, you’ll get up close to some truly incredible wildlife – try to spot some of the Big 5 on safari.

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

Many local schools are in very diplapidated buildings which suffer from erosion and seasonal flooding. You’ll help to build or renovate school buildings so that local children have a clean and safe academic environment. You’ll also get involved in initiatives to promote a peaceful co-existence between the community and the local wildlife, such as improving natural waterholes and planting indigenous trees for habitat and food sources.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Nairobi Upon arrival at Nairobi airport, you’ll be met by a member of our Camps crew who will travel with you to our flagship camp – Camp Tsavo. Here you will be warmly welcomed by our Camp Manager who will run a camp safety briefing and orientation of the camp. Our project leader will give you an overview of what your time here will involve and you’ll finish your day practising some Swahili phrases around the campfire.
Day 2 Project orientation After a good night’s sleep and a tasty breakfast, our project leaders will take you to visit our various project sites. You will gain an understanding of the issues you will be helping to tackle through your project work, and we’ll establish your goals and objectives.
Day 3 – 4 School project work Today you will commence your project work at the local school where you will be helping to improve school infrastructure and facilities. Your work could include building classrooms or toilets, making desks or erecting gabions to counteract soil erosion which threatens the school buildings. You’ll be interacting with local people and school children every day, giving you a chance to practice your newly learnt Swahili phrases, as well as supporting teachers to improve English speaking in the local schools.
Day 5 Elephant projects and Tumani Women’s Group Human-wildlife conflict is a big problem in Africa and today you will learn about the most effective ways the community is looking to combat this. Working alongside local people you will help them make elephant deterrent fences. This is a method regarded by the locals as the best way to deter elephants from their farms without harming the animals. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in an educational environmental workshop, making paper out of elephant dung to bring a source of income to the community. In the afternoon you’ll spend time with the Tumani Women’s group – an inspiring group that empowers local women who suffer from gender-based poverty, violence, illiteracy and health issues, by helping them with alternative income-generation activities. You’ll be learning to make bead crafts for the group which can be sold to generate income.
Day 6 Marungu Hill Trek Following a tasty breakfast at camp you will head off for a full day adventure trek to the Marungu hills where you will have a picnic lunch in ancient caves while enjoying the panoramic views of the Rukinga ranch. Your guide will teach you bush survival skills which have been practised for hundreds of years, such as making a bush shelter, making fire and Bushmen bow and arrow shooting.
Day 7 Tsavo East Safari After an early breakfast at camp, you will embark on your Big Game Safari in Tsavo East National Park – home to a variety of wildlife which includes lions, elephants, birds, zebra and giraffe to name a few. This is sure to be a day to remember!
Day 8 Transfer to Camp Muhaka Today you’ll head to Camp Muhaka where you will receive an introduction to the area and a safety briefing. Being in the heart of the village with the project sites only a short walk away, you’ll be a local in no time!
Day 9 – 10 School and community project work The Muhaka region is home to many vulnerable families. You’ll be getting involved in community and school projects helping improve their quality of life, all while working alongside local craftsmen.
Day 11 Marine conservation Today you will travel down to our Beach Camp where you will spend some of the day working on marine conservation project work. You will help protect the local coastline by clearing the beach of rubbish, before visiting the Marine Conservation Center to learn more about what is being done to protect local marine life.
Day 12 Snorkelling trip to discover marine life Today is a full-day snorkelling trip to a nearby sandbank where you can learn more about the marine life and the coral reefs. You will have some time to relax on the sandbank and swim in the crystal blue waters. Once back on dry land you will have time to freshen up before being treated to a well-deserved beach barbeque and getting a good night’s sleep.
Day 13 Back to Tsavo After breakfast and a chance to say your final goodbyes to the team, you will travel back to Camps Tsavo. Once there you will have some time to chill out, read and relax before enjoying your final dinner in Kenya.
Day 14 Departure This morning you will say your final farewells (or Kwaheri in Swahili) before heading back to the airport in time for your flight home.