With its rich culture, spectacular wildlife and vibrant people, Kenya is often described as a microcosm of all things African. And while most visitors come to this country to experience the ultimate African safari, Kenya offers so much more.

Kenya’s geography is graced with diverse terrain and breathtaking vistas. Snow-capped mountains such as 17,057-foot Mt. Kenya tower over wildlife-speckled savannas, deserts blend seamlessly into valleys, and the Indian Ocean laps against white-sand beaches.

Equally beautiful are Kenya’s people—a melting pot of Muslims, Christians and more than 70 tribal communities. Approximately 10 percent of Kenya’s 31.6 million residents live in the bustling capital city of Nairobi, while the remaining population is spread out amid smaller towns and villages. Whether urban or rural, Kenyans demonstrate a universal empathy and generosity, and a generally positive attitude and approach to life. Kenyans often travel in groups, appreciate a good laugh and will usually make time for a chat over a cup of chai.

Why volunteer in Kenya?
Kenya is a beautiful country, but unfortunately, it’s also plagued by a notably corrupt government, a high population growth rate (2.6 percent per year), a struggling economy, and an escalating HIV/AIDS epidemic (the virus now affects an astonishing 15 percent of Kenyan adults). The effects of poverty can be seen everywhere, from the overcrowded streets and squalid shantytowns of Nairobi to the tiny impoverished tribal villages dotting the countryside.

Poverty and disease have also had a devastating effect on the country’s wildlife. While Kenya is home to some of the world’s most diverse wildlife parks and reserves, many of the parks’ animals—especially monkeys, elephants and a range of predators such as lions—have become increasingly threatened. Every day Kenya’s wild animal population continues to decline, mostly because of hunting, snaring, poaching and disease. According to researchers, if these practices continue at the current rate, many species in Kenya could face extinction.

No conservation solution in Kenya can work unless it addresses both the human and wildlife crises. That is why our partner organizations there have dedicated themselves to the research and conservation of Kenya’s wild animals through community development and education. Through these efforts, our partners promote sustainable tourism while providing volunteers with the opportunity to protect threatened animal species and support local communities.


Project Location: Amboseli National Reserve
Located in southeastern Kenya, near the Tanzanian border, Amboseli National Reserve is the country’s second most popular wildlife park (Masai Mara is the first). Travelers and safari-goers are drawn to Amboseli for its wide range of wildlife and spectacular vistas of Africa’s largest peak, 19,563-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. The 151-square-mile reserve is relatively small but offers a huge variety of wildlife, including buffaloes, lions, gazelles, cheetahs, wildebeests, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, baboons and elephants.


Project Location: Tsavo West National Park
About 60 miles from neighboring Amboseli is Tsavo National Park, Kenya’s largest protected wildlife area, spanning more than 5.5 million acres. The park is so big, in fact, that it has been divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West. Our project is located just outside Tsavo West, considered the more scenic half because of its diverse landscape that ranges from swamps and natural springs to volcanic hills, rocky peaks and wide-open savannas.

Tsavo National Park and the surrounding area is known for its thick undergrowth, which creates great hiding places for lions, leopards, zebras, hippos and hundreds of other animals, but also makes spotting them more of a challenge. The flipside is that the landscapes here are more dramatic, the animals slightly wilder, and tourism not as prevalent as in Amboseli and Masai Mara.

Project Location: Kitobo Forest
On the outskirts of Tsavo West, you’ll find the local Taita tribe’s Kitobo Forest. The 200,000-acre piece of land is located on the Tanzanian border, only 12 miles from Mount Kilimanjaro, and is home to one of the country’s most significant populations of colobus monkeys, as well as blue and vervet monkeys, baboons and other wildlife. 

Project Location: Nairobi
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is a city of contrasts. Still the safari capital of Africa, modern-day Nairobi has evolved from a frontier town to a multicultural metropolis. The city is home to wealthy suburbs, flower-lined streets, a temperate climate, and plenty of nightlife. But amid the many shops and markets there is crime, corruption, filth and poverty. More than a mile above sea level, Nairobi is home to many immigrants from former British colonies, including India, Somalia and Sudan. This cultural diversity is highlighted in the array of churches, mosques, temples and gurdwaras speckled throughout the city.