Fair Trade Information:

The following information should be used as a guide only. All project activities are subject to change and may vary depending on the time of year, resources available and changing priorities.

After transferring to camp, you will be introduced to the team and given an informal introduction to the surrounding area and communities, the work done by Camps International, pertinent conservation issues as well as a thorough safety briefing. This will give you a good idea of what you can expect to accomplish during your stay.

Community Projects

Improvement of a rural Primary School - Many schools in the area surrounding Camp Tsavo are in varying states of disrepair. Many classrooms are built without foundations or adequate structural reinforcements. Others are missing doors, windows or concrete flooring and do not contain any furniture. This means that children are either taught outside, underneath the shade of a tree, or are simply given a large stone to sit on during classes. Many of the kitchens are also in poor condition, often just a shack with an open fire inside. 

Over the next few years, our community project activities will include the following:

• Reconstruction and refurbishment of a rural primary school
• Improving access to the school
• Construction of sports and play facilities
• Providing teaching assistance with particular emphasis on environmental education 

By providing tangible benefits to those communities that live alongside wildlife, children will learn to appreciate the economic value of animals and this should help to alleviate conflicts.

Promoting local micro enterprise initiatives - You can assist on various potential retail projects designed to provide means of alternative income generation for the local communities instead of being solely dependent on farming or environmentally unfriendly activities such as poaching and charcoal manufacturing. 

Agriculture Day - You will spend the day with local families engaging in various daily chores in order to gain a deeper understanding of Kenyan rural life and the issues people have to deal with including human wildlife conflict.

Craft and Culture Day - This offers you the opportunity to learn about the cultures of Taita-Taveta District and the surrounding area. You will be working alongside local artisans, making traditional African crafts including baskets, beadwork, jewellery and simple furniture.

In the afternoon, you can visit a traditional Masai village to learn about their culture and traditions before joining in with traditional songs and dances.

Environmental Projects

Environmental Workshop - This workshop will be a mix of theory and practical work with the aim of educating volunteers on the Tsavo ecosystem and appreciate its importance for the people and wildlife living here. Work may include animal survey techniques, collecting zoological samples and improving educational displays for the centre. 

Habitat Management - You will participate in various activities around the sanctuary designed to optimise this area as a wildlife refuge. Water activities in the sanctuary will ensure that water levels remain higher during the dry season and play a vital role in the survival of the wildlife in the area. Activities may include excavating waterholes and improving inflow channels. Other activities may include tree planting and establishing an indigenous hardwood tree nursery.

Wildlife Research Projects

Waterhole usage monitoring - The Tsavo ecosystem is very dry, receiving less than 20 inches (50 cm) of rain each year. Therefore, the availability and distribution of surface water highly influences the diversity, density and distribution of wildlife, livestock and human settlement in the area. Small groups of volunteers spend part of the day monitoring the usage of selected waterholes by wildlife to monitor numbers of animals within the sanctuary.

Wildlife viewing and recording - You will get the chance to go on a number of game drives within the ranch (depending on the length of your stay) and will be asked to complete your own species checklist. This information is important for monitoring wildlife population fluctuations throughout the year. This also gives you the chance to improve your animal identification skills! The day should be finished by having an informal discussion of the pros and cons of wildlife tourism.

Elephant Identification - The Tsavo ecosystem has been shaped by elephants more than any other animal, and supports more elephants than anywhere else in Kenya (up to 10,000). During game drives, you will identify known elephant populations and monitor age/sex classes. This information can then contribute to our understanding of the social structure and movements of these animals. 

Bush skills Day - An outward bounds day where you learn and practice authentic bush skills in a safe and controlled environment. Activities may include orientation and map reading exercises, animal tracking, fire making, and the use of medicinal plants.