Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport, you will be met and driven to the city hotel for the night. (BB)

Drive to the Masai Mara, one of the best safari destinations in Africa, with lunch en route. Dinner and overnight will be at a tented camp run by individuals in the area as a part of an eco-lodge initiative program. Learn what this approach is all about and how it benefits the local community. Meal plan: (B,L,D)

Spend the day in Masai Mara, Kenya’s most popular game sanctuary in which you will have the best opportunity of spotting the Big Five – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant as well as many other animals. You will go out with picnic lunch boxes to spend an entire day in the park on three game drives and also visit a local Masai village. Students will meet Masai warriors and wives garbed in colorful red and blue wraps, and perhaps practice throwing spears or learning how to bead jewelry. All meals and overnight will be in the tented camp. Meal plan: (B,L,D)

Since Nairobi is the hub for most travel in Kenya, we will return there before embarking to other destinations. Upon arrival, the group will proceed to Machakos where we will visit The Akamba Peace Museum, a part of the World Peace Museum network. Our day’s plan also includes a visit to a village and a local school. Students may bring books to read, school supplies, soccer balls or other group contributions. Overnight at the Machakos Garden Hotel. Meal plan: (B)

Depart in the morning for the drive to the Tsavo area. The national Park of Tsavo, which is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West, is one of the biggest parks in the world, if not the biggest, at 20,812 kilometers. Part of Mombasa’s supply of drinking water comes from Tsavo. Tsavo is a volcanic area so we will sometimes cross lava flows and study geological formations. In Mzima Spring in Tsavo, we are likely to encounter large herds of elephants and enjoy sightings of crocodiles and hippos from the safety of a submerged observatory. We will overnight at the Kenya Wildlife Services Hostel. (B,L,D)

“Shimoni” is a Swahili word that means “the place of the caves.” These unique formations are located approximately 80 kms. south of Mombasa on the Kenyan Coast. This area of stunning natural beauty is famous because of its magnificent Kisiti Marine National Park. Although Shimoni has a negative past association with the slave trade, now it is a simple, rural fishing village. In this special place, everything works in relative harmony to maintain the natural beauty of the local environment. We will stay in cottages in Tiwi. (B,L,D)

Spend the day along the coast enjoying water activities such as dolphin viewing and snorkeling as well as studying coral reef preservation. We will overnight in cottages in Tiwi. (B)

We will travel for Malindi on the North Coast. During the next two days, we will visit the Sokoke Forest (a coastal forest) and the butterfly farm which is a part of The Gedi Ruins of the 15th century. We will be staying at the Arocha Centre which was set up to conserve endangered wildlife found in the area and also to train the local people to appreciate wildlife. In Malindi, we will stay in dormitory-style accommodations. On the evening of January 6th, our group will fly to Lamu, a colorful coastal island where people dress conservatively. Upon arrival, we will be met and transferred to a special accommodation in Yumbe House on Lamu Island for overnight. (B,L,D)

Meet our group’s sailors and explore their dhows as we sail from Lamu to the beautiful remote island of Kiwayu where we will arrive in the evening. Dhows have been described as the most graceful of sailing vessels. For centuries these boats have plied the western trading routes of the Indian Ocean and were prime links in commerce between Asia and Africa. Kiwayu, where we will pitch our camp, is part of the Kiunga Marine Reserve which has wonderful beaches and stunning coral reefs. There we will continue to study marine biology. We will camp in a local village. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, visit a local school and play a game of soccer and participate in

other community-based activities such as sharing traditional songs and games. Then spend the afternoon learning to surf or snorkel or just enjoy the sparkling ocean in this small unspoiled area. We will continue to camp in a local village. (B,L,D)

Leave the island on dhows via Matondoni Island, a small village where we will see traditional dhows being built and repaired. You will have a chance to pass through some of the islands in this beautiful area. Return to Lamu for an overnight. (B,L,D)

Depart Lamu on your flight to Nairobi and make a connection for flight back home. (B)

Download pdf itinerary file  24 KENYA PROGRAM FOR UNIVERSITY