Kenya Conservation Volunteer With Binoculars

Conservation Volunteer Work in Kenya

Live in the Kenyan wilderness and join our efforts to protect the endangered Rothschild Giraffe and other African wildlife

Destination

Kenya

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Lodge

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,795 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Protect endangered species

Contribute to the protection of lions and the endangered Rothschild Giraffes, living in the heart of the Soysambu Conservancy.

Support vital research

Conduct wildlife surveys, monitor animal behaviour, and collect valuable data to inform and guide continual conservation efforts.

Learn camera trapping

Set up and monitor camera traps to track species movement and population dynamics or maintain waterholes to ensure water access for nearby wildlife.

Support community engagement

Work with local communities to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about conservation, protecting vulnerable species for generations.

Discover African landscapes

Immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of the Great Rift Valley and witness incredible wildlife on the African savannah.

What you need to know

Overview

This project is great for anyone passionate about protecting wildlife in Africa, and who has an interest in working in the great outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to have an off-the-beaten-track adventure.

Pursuing a career in conservation? This project offers a perfect balance between research and doing hands-on work. You will learn directly from conservation experts, giving you a good all-round experience to add to your CV. You can use this experience in interviews and talk about what you learned and the challenges you faced.

A Day in the Life

You will usually work five days a week. Depending on the activities, you may be required to start earlier, finish later, or work over the weekend.

Work is divided up among all the volunteers using a weekly schedule. On a typical day you can expect to work from 8am to 12pm. Then, you will have a break with some time to eat, sleep, read and relax. After this, at around 2pm, you will go back out to work in the afternoon, when the heat starts to abate.

Workdays are usually split into physical and non-physical days. You’ll alternate between days for digging, cutting, and general physical labour. This is followed by days for collecting data, GPS mapping, and species research.

Evenings are spent cooking and eating, playing games, and preparing for the following day.

Trained local staff are on hand to supervise activities and provide support, and will accompany you wherever you go on the reserve. You will also be able to take part in workshops designed to teach you about different aspects of the project and the environment.

Since you will be sharing accommodation with your fellow volunteers, you will be able to spend your evenings and weekends getting to know each other better.

Activities

As an environmental volunteer on our Savannah Conservation Project, you’ll support the work of local conservationists to protect wildlife in the Soysambu Conservancy. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do:

Projects Abroad conservation volunteers in Kenya observe Giraffes during their Giraffe and Lion Conservation project.

Research the Rothschild giraffe and other threatened animals in the savannah

Projects Abroad Giraffe and Lion conservation volunteers help with re-forestation activities in Kenya.

Conduct community outreaches, tree planting and installing eco-stoves for communities

Projects Abroad conservation volunteers help remove invasive plant species in Kenya during their Giraffe and Lion conservation project.

Remove invasive species

Your work will be divided into five main categories:

Threatened species research

Our primary focuses are to:

Research the ecology of the Rothschild’s giraffe
Monitor lion movement in relation to livestock
Document lion population structure and interaction with other carnivores

We then share this knowledge with other reserves. This is pioneering research for giraffe and big cat conservation in Africa that could determine the fate of this species and subspecies, as lion populations fall and only a couple of thousand giraffes remain in the wild.

Our giraffe and lion conservation work in Kenya goes a long way in maintaining a habitat where the wild animals can flourish and breed in peace. It also allows for a better kind of interaction between humans, livestock, and wildlife.

Set up camera traps

As most animals, especially lions, are very active by night, camera traps help us study their natural habitats, behaviours, and movements. You will be involved in setting up these cameras around the reserve. This will also serve as the perfect way to do mammal inventory. Inventory helps measure the success of our efforts, when counting a populations’ potential growth. This is important for giraffe and big cat conservation

Community outreach

In addition to working in the reserve, you will also participate in a community outreach once a week on a Thursday. The outreach activities vary upon the needs of the community at the time. They could include:

Teaching children about the importance of protecting the environment
Playing sports like football
Installing eco-stoves

Invasive plant removal

Alien plant species are a big problem in Kenya. They destroy endemic plants that provide a habitat for the local wildlife. You’ll help remove these plants. You’ll also help clear and maintain trails to make sure visitors don’t wander off the dedicated paths. This helps protect indigenous plants.

Maintaining natural water holes for animals

You will help maintain water holes and boreholes. This will ensure that water is constantly stored for the animals, and is vital to their survival during times of drought.

Map & Location

Welcome to the “Cradle of Humanity” and a land of contrasts. Here, snow-capped mountains meet rolling savannahs, where lions roam and elephants graze. While famous for safari experiences, there’s much more to life in Kenya.

Home to the Maasai Mara National Park and the second-tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya, this East African gem is a bucket list item for nature lovers worldwide. Witness the Great Migration, taste delicious coffee, and be welcomed into a traditional way of life.

Soysambu

The Soysambu Conservancy, located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, is a vast wildlife haven of over 48,000 acres on the shores of Lake Elementaita. It protects a diverse ecosystem, including grasslands, acacia woodlands, and the lake itself.

Soysambu is home to a variety of wildlife, including giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and over 450 bird species. With stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and commitment to animal protection, Soysambu is the perfect place for real conservation work.

Food & Accommodation

Live in the heart of the savannah with everything you need for an incredible Kenyan conservation experience, including a comfortable bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water. Our team will also handle your transport to and from your accommodation.

You’ll stay in a clean, safe, secure shared house with other Projects Abroad participants on the Soysambu Conservancy. Wake up to picturesque sunrises over the plains, herds of giraffes grazing on your doorstep, and the roar of lions on the air.

Your meals will be prepared by an in-house chef with a communal dining area to rest, relax, and get to know your fellow participants. Who knows, you might even make lifelong friends with the people you meet on your travels!

Free Time and Leisure

Volunteering or interning in Kenya is the perfect opportunity to explore this extraordinary country. With a vast array of activities, you’re sure to find plenty of ways to fill your evenings and weekends.

Of course, no trip to Kenya is complete without a safari. Explore the savannah by jeep and spot incredible creatures like elephants, lions, and even the endangered Nubian giraffe in the wild. This is an experience you will never forget.

Our projects are based in Nanyuki, which is known as the gateway to Mount Kenya. With this majestic mountain on your doorstep, it’s definitely worth taking a day to hike around the base.

You can spend evenings at buzzing restaurants, listening to live music and trying local dishes. Kenya also has must-see markets, with bright textiles and hand-carved sculptures.

You can spend your free time exploring independently or travelling with a group. With so many volunteers and interns joining us throughout the year, you’re sure to make new friends and travel buddies during your trip.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Kenya Arrival Procedures page.