Kenya family volunteering & safari
| country: | Kenya |
| departures: | This trip can be booked at any time throughout the year to suit your requirements |
| price: | From £2000 per standard tent (2-3 beds) - £2600 per family tent (4-5 beds) (10 days) excluding flights. Maximum group size 21. Minimum age 8. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
We have created a 10 day experience that gives your family the chance to work and play together in an extraordinary environment, rich in culture and new experiences. We have kept this itinerary uncomplicated as we also have families and understand that sometimes a timetable is the last thing you need. We also feel that often the really rewarding experiences are the simple moments where you just get time together, as a family, away from it all. Our camp has a total of 21 beds and this trip is suitable for children over the age of 8 and adults of all ages.
The activities we have chosen are both educational and exciting and will enable you and your family to immerse in the culture of Kenya, with opportunities to view culture and wildlife.
Highlights
Community development volunteer programme designed for volunteer families Learn about African Family values (includes basic Swahili lessons) Hands on wildlife and education training Creative Art & African Design workshops for children Day safari to the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Relax and play on the white sands of the Indian Ocean
The activities we have chosen are both educational and exciting and will enable you and your family to immerse in the culture of Kenya, with opportunities to view culture and wildlife.
Highlights
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Mombasa – Mukurumuji Camp. Arrive at Mombasa Airport where you will be met by a member of our team and transferred via a short scenic drive to Mukurumuji Camp in the Sable Valley for lunch. After settling in to your tented accommodation, you will be given a full briefing orientation and chance to relax before dinner. |
| Day 2: | Bushwalk and Community. We start the day with a wildlife safety briefing after which we enjoy a guided Bushwalk to spot elephants (which roam freely in the area) and learn more about the natural use of local bushes, shrubs & trees. In the afternoon you will visit the local community and school and participate in our school and community development programme - it's great to see your kids playing alongside the local children. After dinner you will be given a basic Swahili lesson and don't be too disappointed when your children to straight to the top of the class! |
| Day 3: | Cultural day. In the morning we will visit a traditional local homestead of the coastal Swahili people, led by a specialist guide for a 'hands on' cultural experience. This could include basket weaving, roof thatching, and local food harvesting, preparation and cooking techniques. In the afternoon you & your children will learn all about goat herding skills and assist the local community in their techniques, this is one of those simple 'life moments' we mentioned earlier! |
| Day 4: | Projects and Wildlife. In the morning you will continue your participation in the local volunteer programme at the school, followed by an interesting afternoon with our local guide, teaching you all about Reptile, Bird & Mammal Identification. |
| Day 5: | Shimba Hills National Reserve & Mwaluganje Elephant Safari. This beautiful Reserve of lush scenery has a unique and botanically rich coastal rainforest. It is most famous for its Sable Antelope that are found nowhere else in Kenya and is also a haven for the endangered Angolan Black and White Colobus Monkey. We enjoy a Game drive and a picnic lunch before transferring to Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. The Sanctuary boasts the highest density (per km 2) of elephants in Africa. We will learn during game drives about elephant behaviour and the threats they face. |
| Day 6: | African Design workshop. A creative day for your children (and you!), creating 'Jua Kali' (artisan) local kids toys. Join your children or support the school with project work. |
| Day 7: | Ocean day. Diani Beach takes your breath away and is the perfect setting to simply enjoy a great family day on one of the best beaches in the world. This is also an opportunity to check out some of the local shops and restaurants. Definitely a chance for adults to kick back and relax while your children enjoy the beach. |
| Day 8: | African Art workshop, nature skills & outdoor activities. Another day of creative design, using local plants, leaves & seeds in combination with colours. Learn all about footprint casting and wildlife tracking techniques. You can join your children or support the school with project work. |
| Day 9: | Community project. Enjoy your last family day amongst the local community and the children at the school supporting them with our volunteer project work programme. You make friends quickly in Kenya and even after 10 days it can be tough saying goodbye. |
| Day 10: | Departure. Transfer to Mombasa International Airport or Pinewood Village Resort. (Mealplan to suit departure) |
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you are looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Highly Commended in the Responsible Tourism Awards 2007, Best Volunteering Organisation category, we own our ground operation, which means we have complete control over the integrity of our projects and the quality of the experiences we provide. We additionally subsidise our philanthropic objectives through additional funds raised by our Charitable Trust.
Your families’ participation on this tour provides a significant contribution to indigenous communities, environment and wildlife in the Shimba Hills. Our school development plan has enhanced educational facilities in the area by building school desks, providing clean water for the children, sourcing instructional materials, and encouraging environmental conservation. Achievements include the construction of a new water supply at Mukurumuji village and an initiative at Stephen Kanja School to construct a school kitchen which is used to prepare food daily for 110 nursery children to sustain them through their school day. Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is a community-based initiative that was launched in 1994 to reduce the increasing human elephant conflicts in the area and provide protection for the now endangered elephant. More than 200 families have voluntarily contributed land to the reserve, agreeing not to farm this important elephant habitat. Today they live nearby and manage the sanctuary, earning more from tourism than from farming. Valuable revenue from ecotourism and gate entrance fees has also enabled the community to build school classrooms and enjoy a steady water supply and better roads. Although the Sanctuary is relatively small, it is has been home to the highest density of elephants (per km2) in Africa. Our Team in Africa originate from the host country and their passion for sustainable development of their communities and environment is inspiring. Camp managers such as Patrick in Kenya are the local guys that make our experiences unique. They provide advice on conduct, language training and skilled Project Managers such as Sammy will make camp feel like home. This interaction creates a unique bond between the community and leaves you feeling a guest not a tourist. 100% of fresh produce and project materials are sourced from sustainable local supplies and group sizes are kept small to reduce any negative impact. Our programmes combine Community work and Wildlife Conservation in an uncompromising way Our commitment to the environment does not stop in Africa our UK office is dedicated to saving energy and have systems in place to deliver shredded recycled paper to local pet shops for bedding! In short, our commitment to local people and the environment is not a by-product of our programmes but core to everything we do - we adhere to the Responsible Tourism code of practice and encourage everyone we work with to do the same. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |