Volunteering in Kenya in 2024 through Educational Tours

EDUCATIONAL TOURS INFORMATION BY KENYA VOLUNTARY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Contents
• General information
• Background and history of Kenya
• Geography
• Practical information
• Language
• 3 Days Maasai Mara Game Reserve Plan
• 4 Days Maasai Mara Game Reserve-Lake Nakuru National Park Plan
• Nairobi National Park & Giraffe Centre
• Lake Nakuru National Park
• Maasai Mara Game Reserve
• Contact details

General Information

Welcome to Kenya. Kenya is a travellers’ paradise and it is with a tremendous pride that we offer marvelous Tour information covering tour operations and great Safari Packages and any other useful travel and safari information guide necessary for travellers to Kenya and its resources’.
Over centuries, Kenya as a country has been shaped by Unique qualities of landscape, people and cultures, providing vibrant cultural diversity, History as well as wildlife, providing unforgettable magic providing outstanding natural beauty, adventure destinations and diverse landscapes.
Kenya is attributed to Wildlife. Zebras and Wildebeests that cross the Mara River during the Great Migration. Those on Bird watching Safari flock the country to view the vast range of species especially the flamingos around the salt lakes. This beautiful country offers a wide range of extraordinary opportunities, services and facilities for travellers which can only be experienced firsthand.

Background and history of Kenya

Kenya, a sensational tour destination, covers an area of 583,000 sq km and straddles the Equator. Around 13, 600 sq km are covered with Inland water which is part of Lake Victoria.

The country dominated by the Rift Valley, is bordered by Sudan and Ethiopia in the North, Uganda and Lake Victoria to the West, Somalia and the Indian Ocean to the East, and Tanzania to the South.

Kenya received its independence in 1963, and Jomo Kenyatta became the first President and ruled until his death in 1978. He was succeeded by his Vice President Daniel Arap Moi in 1978, and ruled Kenya for 24 years.

And in 2002, Mwai Kibaki became Kenya´s third President after elections, and he was inaugurated on 12 December 2002. He ruled Kenya until April 2013. Uhuru Kenyatta became the fourth president of Kenya after the March 2013 election.

He took over the mantle of leadership on April 9th 2013. He was re-elected as the President for his final term in October 2017 General Elections.

Geography

• Land Area: 538,000 sq km
• Location: lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa.
• Capital: Nairobi
• Rainfall: Mid March to May (Long rains) and October to November (Short Rains)
• Average Temperature: Vary from 10°C to 28 °C
• Altitude: 1,524 m and 300 miles inland.
• Terrain: Low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
• Vegetation: tropical rainforest at the shores of Lake Victoria, the savannah in the Rift Valley and Highlands, and the north and northeast is sparse and primarily consists of thorn bush.
• Land use: Arable land: 8.08% permanent crops: 0.98% other: 90.94%
• Natural Resources: Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
• Main Exports: Cement, Chemicals, Coffee, Fruit and Vegetables.
• National Parks and Reserves: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Aberdare, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo, Meru, Marsabit National Park and Reserve,
• Rivers: Athi/Galana which empties into the Indian Ocean, and Tana which hits the coast between Lamu and Malindi, Mara River cutting across the Maasai Mara.

Practical Information

• Time: 3 hours ahead of GMT.
• Currency: Kenyan shilling (Ksh)
• Main Health risk: Malaria
• Electricity: 240V running at 50Hz.
• International telephone country code: +254
• Airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)-Nairobi, Moi international Airport (MBA)-Mombasa, Kisumu International Airport (KIS)-Kisumu
• Nearest seaports: Mombasa, Dar es Salaam

Language

The official language in Kenya is Swahili and English, and it’s widely spoken. Most Kenyans use Swahili as it is spoken widely.

It’s also good to note that the different tribes in Kenya have their own unique languages that are spoken mostly at the community level.

Nairobi National Park & Giraffe Center

Visit the only park in the world within the proximity of a capital city. Nairobi National Park has a wide variety of animals and bird species. Among the animals that may be seen are lion, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, gazelles and antelopes.

The savannah ecosystem comprise of different vegetation types. Open grass plains with scattered acacia bush are predominant. The western side has a highland dry forest and a permanent river with a river line forest.

To the south are the Athi-Kapiti Plains and Kitengela migration corridor which are important wildlife dispersal areas during the rainy season.
A few minutes’ drive is the Giraffe center, in Karen, where Karen Blixen wrote her famous book ‘Out of Africa’.

The center is dedicated to save the Rothschild Giraffe. Here you come into close contact with these tall graceful animals and even get opportunity to feed them.

Safari Program

The safari to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center is a full day adventure safari with daily departures.
08:00 hours Departure to Nairobi National Park
08.30 hours Arrival in Nairobi National Park followed by a 3 hour game viewing
11:30 hours Proceed to the Giraffe Center with lunch on the way
14: 00 hours Arrival at Giraffe Center
16:00 hours Departure back to your accommodation

Safari Prices & Accommodation
All prices shown below reflect the minimum safari fee based on the required number of participants and the program as described above. Any additional activities have to be paid extra.

Cost: 180 Euros

The package include:-Transport; Meals while on safari; Accommodations; Services of an English speaking driver/guide; A cook; Park fees; Game drives; Government taxes; Camping fees (if you choose camping)

The package excludes/ what to bring:-Drinking water; Toiletries; Torch for the tent; beer or sodas; Tips; Personal spending money; Sense of humour; Sleeping bags (available for hire here in Nairobi); Insect repellent; Enough films.
Minimum 3 people for the safari to be feasible
Accommodation: Nairobi offers numerous accommodations for all budgets, from simple youth hostel with dormitories to five star luxury hotels.

Likewise you can choose to stay at the KVDA Residence in Karen before and after the Safari experience Lake Nakuru National Park Commonly referred to as an ornithological paradise; the view in Lake Nakuru National Park is simply spectacular.

The ecosystem comprises of the lake, surrounded by mainly wooded and bushy grasslands.

Here you can see the world’s biggest flamingo colony with thousands of pink birds ringing the lake. The fish eating pelicans as well as over 450 other bird species are also found here.

Furthermore Lake Nakuru is ideal for game viewing of the rare white and the black rhino, buffaloes, waterbucks, Rothschild Giraffes, impalas and gazelles. The Park lies on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, only 2 hours northwest of Nairobi.

One Day Safari Program
• The safari to Lake Nakuru National Park is a full day adventure safari with daily departures.
• 07.30 hours Departure from Nairobi
• 10:30 hours Arrival in Lake Nakuru National Park, start of game viewing drive
• 13:00 hours Lunch served as a picnic during a break, Game drive continuous afterwards until 15:00 hours
• 15:00 hours Departure back to Nairobi
• 18:00 hours Arrival at your accommodation in Nairobi

Safari Prices & Accommodation

All prices shown below reflect the minimum safari fee based on the required number of participants and the program as described above. Any additional activities have to be paid extra.
Cost for this safari is 250 Euros per person.
The package include:-Transport; Meals while on safari; Accommodations;
Services of an English speaking driver/guide; A cook; Park fees; Game drives; Government taxes; Camping fees (if you choose camping)
The package excludes/ what to bring:-Drinking water; Toiletries; Torch for the tent; beer or sodas; Tips; Personal spending money; Sense of humour; Sleeping bags(available for hire here in Nairobi); Insect repellent; Enough films.

Minimum 3 people for the safari to be feasible
Accommodation: There are different accommodation options in and around
Lake Nakuru National Park if you wish extend your safari and stay overnight.

They range from five star game lodges / Hotel and luxury tented camps to budget tented camps, hotels and guest houses. Likewise you can choose to stay at the KVDA Residence before and after the Safari experience.

Maasai Mara Game Reserve

Take a journey into nature in its purest by visiting Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The park is an awesome natural wonder, where Maasai warriors share the plains with hunting lions. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of zebra, giraffe, topi, kudu and impala. Herds of elephants and buffaloes can be seen wallowing in the swamps.

In Mara River crocodiles and hippos swim and laze by the banks unperturbed by the visitor. Maasai Mara -the Maasai country – is also host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the annual wildebeest migration

3 Days Safari Program

Day 1: Nairobi -Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Your Safari to Maasai Mara National Park will start in the morning from Nairobi. From here you will be driven across the floor of the Great Rift Valley and the Loita Plains to arrive in Narok town for lunch then proceed to Maasai Mara. In the evening you can enjoy a game viewing drive till 06:00 pm. Afterwards dinner will be served in the camp for your overnight stay.

Day 2: Maasai Mara

On the second day you have a full day game viewing drive with picnic lunch along the Mara River watching the crocodiles. You will return to the camp in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Maasai Mara -Nairobi

Day three starts with a pre-breakfast game viewing drive in the early morning to see the predators hunting. Your own breakfast will be waiting for you when you come back to your camp. Afterwards you depart back to Nairobi with a stopover for lunch on the way. In the late afternoon you will arrive in Nairobi.

Safari Prices & Accommodation

All prices shown below reflect the minimum safari fee based on the required number of participants and the program as described above. Any additional activities have to be paid extra.

Cost for this safari is 400 Euros

The package include:-Transport; Meals while on safari; Accommodations; Services of an English speaking driver/guide; A cook; Park fees; Game drives; Government taxes; Camping fees (if you choose camping)

The package excludes/ what to bring:-Drinking water; Toiletries; Torch for the tent; beer or sodas; Tips; Personal spending money; Sense of humour; Sleeping bags(available for hire here in Nairobi); Insect repellent; Enough films.
Accommodation options in Maasai Mara Game Reserve range from five star game lodges and luxury tented camps to budget tented camps. For this type of safari you will be accommodated in self contained tented camps.

Maasai Mara Game Reserve – Lake Nakuru National Park

Take a journey into nature in its purest by visiting Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The park is an awesome natural wonder, where Maasai warriors share the plains with hunting lions. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of zebra, giraffe, topi, kudu and impala. Herds of elephants and buffaloes can be seen wallowing in the swamps.

In Mara River crocodiles and hippos swim and laze by the banks unperturbed by the visitor. Maasai Mara -the Maasai country – is also host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the annual wildebeest migration!

Commonly referred to as an ornithological paradise, the view in Lake Nakuru National Park is simply spectacular. Here you can see the world’s biggest flamingo colony with thousands of pink birds ringing the lake. The fish eating pelicans as well as over 450 other bird species are also found here.

Furthermore Lake Nakuru is ideal for game viewing of the rare white and the black rhino, buffaloes, waterbucks, Rothschild Giraffes, impalas and gazelles. The Park lies on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, only 2 hours northwest of Nairobi.

4 Days Safari Program

Day 1: Nairobi -Maasai Mara

Your Safari to Maasai Mara Game Reserve will start in the morning from Nairobi. From here you will be driven across the floor of the Great Rift Valley and the Loita Plains to arrive in Narok town for lunch then proceed to Maasai Mara.

In the evening you can enjoy a game viewing drive till 06:00 pm. Afterwards dinner will be served in the camp for your overnight stay.

Day 2: Maasai Mara Game Reserve

On the second day you have a full day game viewing drive with picnic lunch along the Mara River watching the crocodiles. You will return to the camp in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Maasai Mara – Nakuru

Day three starts with a pre-breakfast game viewing drive in the early morning to see the predators hunting. Your own breakfast will be waiting for you when you come back to your camp. Afterwards you depart for Nakuru with lunch served on route where you will have an overnight stay in a budget hotel.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park -Nairobi
Day starts with breakfast in the hotel then followed by a drive to the game part for game viewing until lunch hour when you break for lunch. In the afternoon at around 1500 hours you depart for Nairobi arriving in Nairobi in the evening.

Safari Prices & Accommodation

• All prices shown below reflect the minimum safari fee based on the required number of participants and the program as described above. Any additional activities have to be paid extra.

Cost for this safari is 650 Euros

• The package include:-Transport; Meals while on safari; Accommodations; Services of an English speaking driver/guide; A cook; Park fees; Game drives; Government taxes; Camping fees (if you choose camping)
• The package excludes/ what to bring:-Drinking water; Toiletries; Torch for the tent; beer or sodas; Tips; Personal spending money; Sense of humour; Sleeping bags(available for hire here in Nairobi); Insect repellent; Enough films.
• Accommodation options in Maasai Mara Game Reserve range from five star game lodges and luxury tented camps to budget tented camps. For this type of safari you will be accommodated in self contained tented camps. While in Nakuru you will be accommodated in a budget hotel for an overnight.

Tour Itinerary

This will be arranged according to the schedule of the applicant and it works well when the tour is undertaken by someone who is travelling to Kenya to undertake other missions unless circumstances are different for the participant who is not interested in undertaking voluntary services while in Kenya

Those wishing to undertake longer tours, there are the opportunities to tailor make the program in consultation and come up with the costs.

Do you want to have an Educational Tour?

The spectacular safari experience in Kenya organized by KVDA that is awe inspiring?

Please contact us through:

Executive Director,
Kenya Voluntary Development Association,
P.O. Box 48902-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 721 650 357
Email: kvdakenya@yahoo.com, and info@kvdakenya.org
Website: www.kenyavoluntary.org