Assist with the conservation of Kenya's coastal forests and Colobus monkeys

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Shuga from the Shimoni Youth Conservation Project

Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Live in a traditional Swahili village where your participation as a volunteer will directly support community-based conservation initiatives and local economic development. Learn diverse survey techniques and contribute to vital research that will be used to increase environmental awareness and provide conservation management.

Our Colobus monkey volunteer project brings you to Kenya’s remote and beautiful Shimoni peninsula on the Indian Ocean. This area is home to globally important coastal forests and incredible wildlife.

There will assist us with our work on one of Kenya's most critical populations of Angolan black and white Colobus monkeys and help conduct biodiversity surveys in the forest on the rare Zanj elephant shrew, birds and butterflies.

Life on the Program

You will start your days before sunrise in the forest, conducting dawn bird surveys in which you are likely to see trumpeter hornbills, the endangered spotted ground thrush or even fish eagles. During the day you will carry out a variety of other research work on butterflies, elephant shrews and of course primates. You may also conduct forest night walks where you might see bushbabies, suni antelopes and other nocturnal species.

You will stay in shared dormitories in a local style house in Shimoni Village and share responsibility for the domestic duties around the house. Shimoni is the gateway to Kenya's finest coral reefs and most important dolphin populations. It is also near to the stunning white beaches of Diani, so you will have plenty to explore in your free time.

Program Details

In Shimoni, GVI is supporting a community-led conservation program and conducting the following research:

Dawn bird surveys
Primate transect surveys (Angolan black and white Colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys)
Colobus monkey behavioral research
Butterfly trapping and sweep netting
Habitat surveys (surveying fruiting and flowering plants to assess food availability)
Small mammal surveys

Collecting data on biodiversity and species populations is the first essential step in raising local and global awareness of the pressures that threaten sensitive animal populations and their habitat. Our work provides local communities and other stakeholders with the information they need to balance conservation efforts and human resource needs responsibly.

Volunteer Testimonials

I spent a total of four weeks volunteering on two separate projects in Kenya; two weeks in Shimoni doing wildlife surveys followed by two weeks teaching primary school in Mombasa. It was a truly...

Matthew Sherman, Australia

I spent a total of four weeks volunteering on two separate projects in Kenya; two weeks in Shimoni doing wildlife surveys followed by two weeks teaching primary school in Mombasa. It was a truly memorable experience, allowing me to see a totally different world while at the same time providing me with the opportunity to make a small but valuable contribution.

Working daily in the Shimoni forest for two weeks was incredible; a must for lovers of nature and the great outdoors. I can say without a doubt that the work GVI is doing in Shimoni - in partnership with the local organisations - is truly important for the preservation of the forests unique biodiversity. The residents of Shimoni are also unfailingly kind and friendly, making for a great place to spend a couple of weeks.

Teaching at Olive's and Precious in Mombasa offered similarly unique and enjoyable experiences. Managing a huge class (45!) of 12 year-olds was certainly a challenge - even for two teachers - but the students were genuinely interested in learning and lots of fun. Again, the contribution being made by GVI to both the facilities and the curriculum at these schools cannot be overstated.

All-in-all it was an awesome experience; and I can't wait to do it all again!

Sean Smith, United Kingdom

Waking up and having your breakfast whilst watching Sykes monkeys in the trees or fish eagles gliding overhead, then clambering up and down over logs and bushes of this lush-green forest, hopefully finding Colobus monkeys, yellow baboons, or more Sykes monkeys was all amazing. Doing butterfly sweep nets catching, identifying and holding a butterfly in your hands was unbelievable. Inputting the data from the day and having the afternoon/night to do anything you want was great. Most nights I chose just to sit and watch the unbelievable stars! Then going to bed knowing you get to do all that again tomorrow was just fantastic!