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Topics covered.
Coastal Ecology, Savanna Ecology, Forest Ecology, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Behavior and Ecology, African History, Cultural Geography.
Group to be accompanied by 3 faculty. Each class can take between 15 and 24 students.
Day 1: Nairobi- A visit to the National Museums. Lecture on African Ornithology and Cultural History. Afternoon at Nairobi National Park. Lunch with the Education Director at Kenya Wildlife Service. Talk on conservation measures in Kenya by KWS.
Day 2: Samburu National Reserve. Arrive at Samburu Intrepids Club. Lunch at Club and later depart to field for Wildlife Behavior studies.
Day 3: Samburu National Reserve. Day spent in the field conducting wildlife behavioral ecology and savanna ecology studies.
Day 4: Samburu National Reserve. Some Savanna Ecology in the park. Afternoon visit to a nearby trading centre for Cultural Geography and Cultural History.
Day 5: A Laikipia Ranch. Group to arrive in early afternoon. Afternoon study on wildlife specie identification and censuring, including wildlife tracking techniques. Various Savanna specie characteristics. Evening collection of data on species population numbers exercise.
Day 6: Aberdare National Park. Wildlife species observation. Comparison between Savanna specie and Forest specie. Observations to be made in fixed positions overnight, main target is nocturnal mammals.
Day 7: Aberdare National Park. Drive to the moorland (10,000’ to 12,000’) to observe forest and mountain specie living on this altitude.
Day 8: Lake Nakuru National Park. Arrive in the park in time for lunch. Afternoon drive for observation of the avian ecology (Flamingoes and other birds).
Day 9: Elsamere Conservation Centre. Meeting with research staff at the centre. Afternoon meeting with faculty to review data collected so far.
Day 10:Hells Gate National Park. Group to be accompanied by warden to talk on wildlife management issue facing the park. Tour of the geothermal plant and study on its effects on environment. Some view about the conflict between the Maasai, the park and Geothermal plant.. Afternoon walk in the park for some plant identification technique.
Day 11:Maasai Mara National Park. Afternoon lecture on Maasai Wildlife Cultural traditions from renowned Maasai Scholars. Wildlife observation sessions in the evening.
Day 12:Maasai Mara National Park. Morning field wildlife ecology and biology data observations. Afternoon meet with a local Maasai host family, later stay overnight to experience life in a Manyatta.
Day 13:Morning meeting with the Warden for lecture on wildlife management techniques. Afternoon meeting with a researcher for a talk on human-wildlife ecology and effects of grazing in the reserve to wildlife numbers.
Day 14:Nairobi. Arrive Nairobi and stay at Fairview Hotel. Afternoon can be spent walking Nairobi with a Kenyan Guide and Students from the University of Nairobi.
Day 15:Malindi. Settle in at a Malindi Hotel. Afternoon spent on the beach relaxing.
Day 16:Gedi Ruins. Talks with the director on cultural aspect of the ruins. Afternoon walk on the ruins and the town of Malindi. A visit to some traditional Swahili homestead.
Day 17:Full day of cultural activities with the Swahili people. Possible participation of some cultural activities at the coast.
Day 18:Mombasa. Drive to this Coastal city. Local coastal lunch dish. A visit to an Hindu temple. Afternoon depart Mombasa for south, stay at the Southern Palms Hotel. Relaxation in the afternoon.
Day 19:Fort Jesus- Mombasa. Talk with the director about this fort built by Portuguese in 1590. History lecture. Afternoon, back to hotel. Free for Scuba Diving, Windsurfing, Snorkeling, and Dhows etc.
Day 20:South Beach- Day free. Dinner at the Ali Barbour’s- restaurant built in a coral reef cave.
Day 21:Nairobi. Arrive Nairobi late afternoon. Stay at the Hotel Boulevard for the night.
Day 22:Free day to shop in Nairobi. Students escorted by Kenyan faculty and students/guides from University of Nairobi. Afternoon students can start summarizing data compilation. Dinner at an Indian hotel.
Day 23:After breakfast, class meeting with faculty to review data collected and prepares a formal paper. Once exercise is over, day free to mix with Kenyan students, or a visit to the University of Nairobi Zoology Department. Talk with the Chairman of Department.
Day 24: Early morning departure at the airport to your destination.