Overview
Wildlife Research and Community Development in Kenya

This East African expedition combines wildlife conservation and research with community work. Based in the exotic Shimoni Archipelago, on the coastal border between Tanzania and Kenya, you will divide your time between the island Wasini, Shimoni village and satellite camps on the borders of national parks. Here you will take part in dolphin, turtle, and humpback whale research, as well as primate research with Angolan Black and White Colobus monkeys in the coastal forest.

There is also work on community development projects, teaching English and helping to develop sustainable tourism, making this one of the most extraordinarily varied volunteering opportunities. College credit may be available for those attending this expedition. Consult GVI’s college credit page for helpful tips and advice.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

The best ten weeks that it is possible to have – so many sights, so many activities! You can do more in this time than most people do in their entire lives, and it’s of direct benefit to others and the long term conservation of the region. Who wouldn’t want to do it?

Sophie Greatwood, 2006

What Difference Does This Expedition Make?

The GVI Kenya Expedition is making a difference by supporting our partners, including Kenyan Wildlife Services, in three focus areas; cetacean research, community development and Terrestrial ecology studies. Through education, environmental awareness and current wildlife monitoring studies, our collaborative work has been building capacity within the communities, assisting them in developing sustainable tourism practises and protecting cetacean and primate species within the area.

Highlights

Assisting local and international researchers to monitor wildlife; camping out under the African stars; living on an African island; developing your knowledge of marine studies, including about dolphins and whales; experiencing the amazing mega-fauna of the island that includes whale sharks and manta rays (seasonal), snorkelling some of Kenya’s finest coral reefs, studying primates; gaining some bush and tracking skills; travelling through beautiful national parks that are filled with a variety of spectacular flora and fauna; spending a week with former wildlife poachers and helping them conserve Kenya’s big game, integrating deeply with the local community and learning some Swahili.

Location

If you are looking to go on an adventurous expedition that takes you to a truly exotic location, this is the one for you! Shimoni is a peninsula located next to the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Protected Area, which lies at the tip of the Pemba Channel. With scattered islands covered by coastal forest, mangroves, rocky shores, sandy bays and fringed by coral reefs, Shimoni is a tropical haven and divers’ paradise. The expedition’s main base is located on Wasini Island, which is situated alongside the famous Kisite National Marine Park. A satellite camp is held at Shimoni Village where expedition members can study primates in the coastal forest, a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

See Life on the expedition page for more information

Field Conditions

Accommodation is in shared housing that has a large communal banda where expedition members can eat and have lectures. The communal area has a beautiful view of the channel and Mkwiro beach. The base camp will have limited electricity, powered by solar panel and backed up by a generator. Expedition members can wash either in the ocean or using bucket-style showers on the base. Wholesome and varied meals will be cooked on a rotational basis

See Life on the expedition page for more information

Internships

A 10 week internship is available to qualifying expedition members

See Internships page for more information