Overview
Your time will be split between our tented camps at the coast and in the Shimba Hills at the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. In both locations you’ll get stuck into a series of sustainable conservation and community projects that will make considerable differences to the lives of local communities and their environments.
The first camp is in the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. Located in the Shimba Hills with a 360-degree view over the Sanctuary and herds of elephant. It has the densest population of elephants per square mile for anywhere worldwide and we are fortunate enough to have a mobile camp inside the sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is community owned and you'll play an instrumental role in developing initiatives aimed at reducing the human-wildlife conflict. The journey to Mwaluganje is a 45-minute drive from the beach that winds through stunning landscape. You'll work alongside the Wildlife Rangers, local communities and of course the elephants!
The second is a short distance from Diani Beach on the south coast of Kenya, famous for its shallow, warm, reef protected water and tropical beaches. A variety of restaurants, water sport centres, internet, shopping and other facilities are close by. 10 minutes away is Ukunda town, home to the indigenous Digo people providing local culture and colourful market stalls.
How you help
Helping Who
Help to change the lives of children in Makongeni Village and in the community schools and play a key role at the Mwaluganie Elephant Sanctuary.
Helping How
You usually start at Mwaluganje followed by Makongeni, or the other way round, depending on the communities needs.
Diani Beach - 4 weeks
Makongeni Village
- Here you will teach English and sport to the local children at Makongeni School and other nearby schools during term time. Assistance is also required to help with the construction and improvement of fresh water facilities, paint murals, build classrooms and micro enterprise development.
- Work alongside the local children to produce organic charcoal briquettes.
- Tree Planting: The local community and students from N’Gonzini Primary School are pioneering a tree nursery project in a local forest sanctuary, aiming to show the importance of forest conservation. You’ll help in a variety of ways: from landscaping, cultivating native tree species and planting seedlings.
- The possibility to assist with an orphan outreach programme - helping orphans and other vulnerable people
Rafiki Kenya
We help this small Foundation ‘Rafiki Kenya’ to provide valuable support to the community in a number of ways: medical, ‘a bed for a child’, improving infrastructure – classrooms, medical centre, ablution blocks and empowering women’s groups with income generating schemes.
Marine Mangrove Conservation
Helping women's groups develop their fish culture business by constructing fishponds in the mangroves.
Shimba Hills, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary - 2 weeks
- Help to maintain and improve the roads and fences as well as school development programmes.
- Then there’s something else you’ve probably never done before... produce a range of quality elephant dung paper products that can be sold to increase revenue for the sanctuary; and improve the gift shop’s overall merchandising and attractiveness to customers.
- In recent times there has been extensive reintroduction of indigenous trees to the sanctuary – an initiative you’ll help carry on. You’ll also play your part in monitoring the reporting of any illegal activities and assisting the Kenya Wildlife Service with the elephant identification research.
- Monitoring of elephants and identification on game drives
- Develop wildlife education programmes for the surrounding communities.
Your base
Your Team
The maximum size of a team is 40 volunteers per departure and a minimum size of 6. During the day you’ll be split up into project groups of about 10-14 with one appointed leader. Anyone between 18 and 27 years.
Accommodation
Your coast camp is next to Makongeni Village about 25 mins from the coast and is a permanent tented camp with large walk-in safari tents that accommodate 4 to 6 people. Ablutions are comfortable with showers and believe it or not, a sit down flushing loo!
Meals are taken in a mess tent or thatched banda within camp and evening drinks enjoyed around the camp fire. The Coast camp has a pool table and you can play football against the school kids in the evenings.
At the Elephant Sanctuary you’ll camp in sturdy frame tents (normally 3 to a tent). Cotton sleeping slips are provided but it is recommended to bring a sleeping bag and inflatable pillow. Tents are mosquito proof. You will be provided with bedding rolls (which are like mattresses). Shower and lavatories while camping will be mainly bush showers and pit latrines.
Food
When in camp three meals a day will be provided and served in the camp dining area or a packed lunch with be provided, if out on location. Basic breakfast of bread and butter or cereal, tea, coffee. The main meal will be a meat dish with pasta, rice, vegetables. From time to time, at all locations, you may be given Kenyan food such as ugali, and beans. We will cater specifically for any vegetarians. Lunch will be a light meal. Drinks: water, squash, tea, coffee will be provided. Drinking water will be boiled and filtered.
As far as feasibly and practically possible, produce will be sourced and bought locally to benefit the local community. If a volunteer has a special dietary requirement we will do our best to accommodate them. You will have to pay for all soft drinks, beers etc. The kitchens are available if you wish to purchase and cook your own food, in addition to what is already supplied.
Towns/Area
At the coast you are close to Diani (30 – 40 minute drive) which has banks, bars, nightclubs, internet cafes and restaurants. It is a thriving tourist location and situated far enough away from your accommodation so you will not see tourists during your project phases but close enough for you to access some down time.
Wildlife
Wildlife: Elephants, Buffalos, Antelopes, Giraffes, Zebras, primates, Warthogs, Dik Diks, Impalas, Lions, hyenas.
Birdlife: Eagles, Kites, Owls, Hornbills, Starlings, Hoopoe, Sunbirds, Swallows, Storks
Weather
The coast is hot and humid and usually gets it’s rain later, between July and August, and is normally for a few hours in the early morning.
Time In/Out
Time In
You will all be met and transported from Mombasa Airport to the project site where you’ll receive a full induction during the first 48 hours.
Generally activities on the projects will take place 5 days per week for 6 - 8 hours. Saturday and Sunday are free with the exception of the Elephant Sanctuary where you will work for the middle weekend of your 2 weeks stay. This may be subject to alteration if local circumstances dictate, but it is to be taken as the norm.
Time Out
You will be able to enjoy the amazing coastline and all it has to offer, including windsurfing, deep sea fishing, dhow safaris, snorkelling over the coral reefs and learning to scuba-dive amongst whales and dolphins.
In the bush you will see all the main wildlife. Additionally you can visit Tsavo East National Parks at weekends or travel further and visit the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve (of Big Cat Diary fame). You can also bungee jump or go white water rafting in Kenya or down the White Nile in Uganda.
These activities are not included in the cost but can be paid for in-country or prior to your departure.
• Safari Tsavo East (2 nights) min 3 person - £160
• PADI Open Water Scuba Course (5 days) - £280
• PADI Advanced Scuba Course - £260
• Mt Kenya (5 day trek) - £420
• Kilimanjaro (7 day trek) - £950
• IKO Kite Surfing Course - £175
• Zanzibar 10 days B & B and includes a snorkelling trip and spice tour - £275
Camp Zanzibar is an awesome location and is essentially a chance for you to chill out and live it up on the beaches at Paje. Highlights: Explore and shop in the alleyways and night markets of Stone Town, snorkel in the Indian Ocean and search for wild dolphins to swim with, Spice Tour, Scuba Dive in the Indian Ocean (optional).
Mt. Kenya, Kilimanjaro transfers and Zanzibar prices do not include transfers or visas. Transfer rates to Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro are available on request.
Costs/Dates
Dates
2012 for 6 weeks
July 2nd
2013 for 6 weeks
July 1st
Costs
Up until 31st August 2012
6 weeks £1803
Up until 31st August 2012
6 weeks £1803
Includes:
Donation to the project trust – currently £80 per person
Selection and briefing on all aspects of the scheme
Management and support by UK team and in-country Placement Manager
24 hour emergency back-up both in-country and the UK
Safety and induction course on arrival
Airport pick up and transfer to and from the placement locations
Full board/food and accommodation including water throughout
All park fees – whilst working
Not included:
International flights, internal flight, visas, travel insurance, medical expenses (reclaimable through travel insurance), soft drinks/beer etc. Volunteers will be responsible for any independent/weekend travel expenses e.g. food and accommodation whilst away from the placement location and any excursions not listed above. We are happy to arrange flights through STA Travel (ABTA 99209 and IATA 9122411) who are well known for offering good value.
Donation To The Community
Included in the cost of the scheme is a donation set at the level indicated above. A one off volunteer donation of £80 is made to the Camp International Trust and dedicated to community-based conservation throughout Kenya Company & Trust work towards assisting communities to live in harmony with wildlife and to appreciate and preserve their natural environment. Trust funds are divided amongst the projects you assist ensuring that your contribution benefits everyone where they need it most. Given the average monthly wage is approximately £35 per month the donations go far and in the past Leapers have paid for a child’s school fees, bought materials to build medical clinics etc or playground equipment.
Exchange Rates:
Please note that as the project hosts are converting the pound sterling we pay them into Kenya shillings/US Dollars to cover all in-country costs, and the cost of the placement is set so far ahead, if there is a big change in the exchange rate or fuel increase then we reserve the right to increase the cost of the scheme, as per our Booking Conditions, but will absorb any minor fluctuations, and will give plenty of warning if we have to raise prices slightly.
