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Itinerary - Gap-Year-Conservation-Uganda-and-Kenya - Africa and Asia Venture
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Itinerary - Gap-Year-Conservation-Uganda-and-Kenya - Africa and Asia Venture
Itinerary
You will be seen off from Heathrow by one of the AV team and will fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, where your Kenya-based AV representative will meet you. You will then travel 65 kilometres by bus to Lake Naivasha (after a short stop at the AV office in Karen, Nairobi) for your Orientation Course. On the way you'll get your first view of the Great Rift Valley!
The Fish Eagle Inn is on the edge of Lake Naivasha. Colobus monkeys play in the trees and hippos wallow in the Lake. Acacia trees shade the spacious grounds and the hotel has a swimming pool. We will discuss the following topics during the course:
- History, customs and culture of Kenya and its people
- Safety, health and security
- Practical advice on likely projects
- Some language training in Kiswahili
You will have the chance to take a boat on Lake Naivasha to see hippos and fish eagles and walk with giraffes, zebra and antelope in a small game sanctuary.
What happens after the Orientation Course depends on the size of your group. We like each country to have groups of up to 12. Larger groups may have to be split, with half going to Uganda and the other half to Kenya, and then swap over after 6 weeks.
Uganda Group
Your journey will be a long one - about 10 hours driving through western Kenya to The Nile High Campsite over the mighty River Nile, outside Jinja. Next day you will be driven to your base camp on the Kangulamira Peninsular, on the western bank of the river, about 30 kilometres north. This is a fabulous location and your home will be more rustic than at Soysambu in Kenya. Nevertheless, it will have all the facilities you want, including a generator and stunning views of the Nile. You will also meet our Uganda representative, Shirray Knight, who lives near Jinja, and will on hand to sort out any problems - or just to chat!
Kenya Group
You will head off on the 2-hour journey to Soysambu, stopping do some food shopping in local supermarkets on the way. You'll be met on arrival and taken to your large house at the north end of the Conservancy. You ought to see plenty of plains game on the way and your house has electricity, running water, lavatories, showers and a large kitchen and living area.
Uganda
The first couple of days will involve familiarisation briefings and trips to the areas you will be working in. You will be given the priorities and asked to get on with it. Help and expertise will always be available when required and you will have a Kenyan guide with you at all times. Likely tasks may include:
- Fencing and preparing part of the Kangulamira Peninsular for the planting of indigenous seedlings for eventual translocation to the islands and mainland banks.
- Reforestation of Mulubisa, Muyanja and Kalagala Islands and the riverbanks.
- Monitoring the bird, primate and wildlife populations on the islands that are home to more than 130 species of tropical birds, endangered otters, Nile monitor lizards, giant fruit bats and many other species.
- Monitoring local fishing practices to encourage the growth and increase in numbers and size of indigenous river fish.
- Cooperation with local village councils to facilitate education programmes to win the support and understanding of the local Ugandan communities and to encourage micro-industries such as horticulture.
- The development of village facilities such as Kalagala Falls Primary School.
- Coaching village children in football skills, and organising and managing a football league for village children.
At weekends you'll be free to try the best white-water-rafting in the world, quad biking on the banks of the Nile, bungee jumping or just chilling out at home or in one of the overland campsites - cold beer, hot showers and someone else to do the cooking!
Kenya
Initially, you will be shown around the conservancy and told what projects are available for you to get involved with. You will also be issued with your own bike, which will be your mode of transport around the conservancy. Then you will be left to get on with it. There will be a Kenyan guide living with you to sort out any problems and act as an interface with the communities you will work with. Projects may include:
- Wildlife monitoring and data collection.
- Removal of snares.
- Community projects of all types.
- Renovating clinics, schools and other buildings.
- Ranch work Africa style.
- Removal of fences.
- Tree planting.
At weekends you will have the chance to relax at home or head off on sightseeing trips - there's a lot to see and plenty of people to advise you how to do it best!
You will be given a date to meet up in Nairobi for your final 6-day safari in an overland safari truck with Gametrackers, our local safari company. Your first destination will be Lake Nakuru National Park where you can see all types of game, less elephant. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a leopard. Then on to Samburu National Reserve for elephants, lions and much, much more! Samburu is not crowded with tourists and is real and remote African bush. By the end you should have seen the ‘Big Five'!
Your accommodation will be in 2 or 4-person, mosquito-proof tents. You will have an experienced guide with you at all times and 2 cooks to provide 3 great meals a day.
Finally, your 3 months of project work will come to an end. It is likely you will already have tried the rafting and other joys that the Nile offers, so here are some other options to consider for your 3 weeks of independent group travel:
- A visit to gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (expensive but very special).
- The beautiful beaches of Kenya, Lamu, Tanzania or Zanzibar. Travel by Arab dhow, windsurf, swim, snorkel or scuba dive in the Indian Ocean or simply sunbathe by it.
- Climb a serious mountain - Mt Kenya or Mt Kilimanjaro. We can help organize both.
- Go on a camel trek in scenic Laikipia - again, we can help with bookings.
Returning from safari you will pass by the AV office, where you will collect your T-Shirt and any stored luggage. You will probably spend your last group evening at the famous Carnivore Restaurant - the biggest bar-b-que in the world!
If you are staying on a bit longer in Africa, don't worry because "Once an AV, always an AV!" We will store luggage for you and help you out if you run into any problems.
Don't underestimate the reverse culture shock of returning home - it is real and can be quite a surprise! But most AVs fall in love with Africa and come back again...and again! And, of course, our Nairobi staff are always delighted to welcome back old AVs.
