Kenya Elephants Experience

Kenya - A unique opportunity for your entire family to help wild African elephants.

Away from the hustle of Nairobi and crowded central safari routes, this experience of eastern Kenya is one of the most inviting combinations to the region. 

Itinerary (13 nights / 14 days)

Day 1, Mombasa
Arrive in Mombasa . Tonight we stay in a lovely hotel situated on the pretty beach of Bamburi . In the evening meet your tour leader and other members of the group.

Day 2, Mombasa - Mukurumuji
Transfer to Mukurumuji camp situated within the Shimba Hills. Enjoy a guided bush walk, learning how to identify wildlife tracks and the local fauna. If we are lucky we may even see elephant and buffalo roaming in the hills. (BLD) Approx 2 hours driving

Day 3, Mukurumuji
A day to relax in this tranquil camp and enjoy the magnificent views of the rainforest. We explore the local village and there is the opportunity to take part in a river walk in the Shimba Hills. (BLD)

Day 4-8, Mukurumuji - Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
Transfer to Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary which boasts the highest density (per km2) of elephants in Africa . No other place can offer as much chance to see elephants this close up in the wild. We spend the next 5 nights camping in the sanctuary as we take part in our volunteer programme. (BLD) Approx 3 hours driving

A Typical 6 Days at the Sanctuary

Day 1, Arrival
Arrive, settle in to the campsite and enjoy a game drive within the sanctuary. We discuss the workload for the coming days over dinner. (LD)

Day 2, Game Drive - Volunteering
Enjoy an early morning game drive. You may see a range of wildlife including wart hogs, impala, monitor lizards and of course, elephants! Later today we collect and boil elephant dung for papermaking.

Day 3-5, Volunteering
Each day we will be working at Mwaluganje alongside staff from Camp Kenya . Our project work could involve recording elephant data, or repairing signs, bridges and fencing site within the sanctuary. We continually listen and look out for the mighty elephants wandering nearby. There is plenty of opportunity to explore the sanctuary and get close to the elephants that roam wildly in the area.

Day 6, Departure
Satisfied with our volunteering achievements we say farewell to the elephants and continue with the tour.

Day 9-10, Diani Beach
We transfer to the gorgeous white palm fringed beaches and coral clad seas of Diani Beach . We stay in chalet style beach huts located right on the beach front and enjoy some time for rest and relaxation. Approx 2 hours drive

Days 11- 12, Tsavo East National Park
We enjoy game drives in Tsavo East National Park, one of the largest national parks in Kenya and is also home to some of the largest herds in Kenya. Game includes elephant, lion, leopard, crocodile, waterbuck, kudu, gerenuk and zebra. In the evenings we take night game drives hoping to spot some of the creatures that are hard to see during the day. Driving times on Day 11 are 5 hours from Tsavo National Park to Taito Ranch(BLD)

Day 13, Tsavo East National Park - Mombasa
Early morning game drive before transferring to Mombasa . Driving time approx. 3 hours. (B)

Day 14, Mombasa
Tour ends after breakfast. (B)

General Tour Information

Style: Volunteer
Maximum group size: 12
Staffing and Participation: Fully escorted by tour leader , services of local guides within National Parks and Reserves.
Transport: Fully equipped safari vehicle, bus
Accommodation: 9 nights camping in classic safari-style tented units, 2 nights hotel, 2 nights beach chalet.
Activities: Day and night game drives, bush walk, volunteering at Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, optional coastal activities.
Meals: As per itinerary (B- Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
Tipping: Please allow approximately US$20-30 for tips to people who assist you during your tour. Your tour leader will advise you of the most appropriate amounts for tipping. This guideline does not include a tip for the tour leader, which is entirely at your own discretion.

The Volunteer Programme - Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary in Partnership with Camp Kenya

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
The Elephant Sanctuary is a community-based initiative that was launched in 1992, largely to reduce the increasing human / elephant conflicts in the area and provide a safe haven for the elephants. More than 200 families have voluntarily contributed land to the reserve, agreeing not to farm this important elephant habitat. Today they live nearby and manage the sanctuary, earning more from tourism than from farming. Valuable revenue from ecotourism and gate entrance fees has also enabled the community to build school classrooms and enjoy a steady water supply, as well as better roads. The area off the Shimba Hills escarpment in Kwale District is connected to the elephant migratory route leading into Tsavo East National Reserve.

Volunteer Programme Hosts - Camp Kenya
Camp Kenya Trust is a charitable trust dedicated to providing financial support towards sustainable community development and conservation initiatives throughout Kenya and East Africa . The charity primarily supports existing conservation and community programmes, but also aims to establish and support long term conservation programmes involving local communities and international participants in capacity building, research, and education.

Volunteer Programme General Information
We camp on top of a hill inside Mwaluganje elephant sanctuary. There are flushing toilets, running water and a makeshift shower. Our personal cook will prepare all our meals and there is clean filtered water available to drink. The tents have mattresses, and come equipped with towels and small blankets however a sleeping sheet/bag is useful to bring. The camping area is exclusive for our volunteers use. There is no electricity, so candles and torches are useful. Volunteer duties can involve making improvements to the safari tracks that run through the sanctuary, tracking elephants and recording data, developing the information centre and gift shop, or even assembling picnic areas. The work is allocated depending on the need at the time. No specialist skills are required from volunteers just a willingness to help.

What does your donation cover?
100% of you donation goes to the Camp Kenya Trust. It is used to cover the costs for volunteers to stay at Mwaluganje, including, food, accommodation and staffing. The rest of the money goes towards projects covered by the trust, including conservation projects at Mwaluganje.

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