Special Volunteer Conservation Programs

Our special volunteer conservation programs are specialized programs. They are meant for volunteers who want to gain hands on skills in conservation that may be applied in their profession. Some of these programs have been formulated in form of training courses while others are research based.

Our special volunteer conservation programs include:

• Captive Wild Management

• African Biodiversity Related Research Programs For Professionals

•  African Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Training Course

• Bush Craft, Wilderness Survival And Outdoor Leadership Course

• Captive Wildlife Management

Program Title: Captive Wildlife Management

Location: Kenya, East Africa

Placement Field Location: Nairobi Animal Orphanage and Nairobi Safari Walk( within Nairobi National Park).

Duration: 4 weeks minimum (can go for up to 3months depending on participant choice)

Price Per Person: $ 3940 for 4 weeks.

• Pay 50% ( $ 2470) deposit  required to reserve a place for the course

• Pay the other 50% before commencement of the course

• Receive 10% discount if full fees paid three months before the course.

• All meals while undertaking the course provided. Participants to meet cost of extra meals and drinks.

• Accommodation: camping or shared dormitories

• Participants to provide personal effects, clothing and backpacking gear.

• Certificate of completion given after the course

Program details

In this placement, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the management of wildlife under captivity.  Conservation of a wide range of wildlife species under captivity will be explored. Such species include predators including African lion, cheetah, hyena and leopard. Other species under captivity include white rhino, giraffe, zebra, various antelopes, buffalo and more.  Participants will gain practical experience in animal care husbandry, had feeding wildlife, care of abandoned wildlife “babies”, assist veterinary nursing works, rehabilitation of animal cages and cleaning of cages.

• African Biodiversity Research Related Programs for Professionals

Programs for professionals

Programs for professionals may be tailor made to suit the interests of volunteers, however these programs will include (but not limited to) Africa biodiversity related research activities. Participant can carry out research in their interest areas but within this broad thematic area (African Biodiversity Related Research focusing on Mt. Kenya Ecosystem).

Duration: 3 months (12 weeks)                                      

Research Field Location: High altitude, alpine zones of Mt. Kenya

Target Participants: includes Students, lecturers, and researchers and other professionals in the field of biology, ecology, biodiversity, biogeography, nature tourism, and related fields.

Research Output:  Participants will be expected to write an abstract of their research topics, collect quality data, analyze data, produce/publish a research paper, develop research models that can be used by others, make a presentation of their findings and share research findings with Mt. Kenya Conservation Forum and its associates.

Price per Person: US $ 5940

Program details

• Responsible Travel Related Research

• Environmental degradation in mountaineering and wildness recreation

•  Wild fires and wildness recreation in alpine zones

• Effects of  mountaineering and wilderness recreation on wildlife

• Effects of park rules and regulations, and principles of eco-tourism/responsible travel on visitor behavior

• Community Based Natural Resource Management Related Research.

• Community benefits from nature

• Wildlife/ people interactions

• Forest /people interactions

• Water management; uses, scarcity, conflicts and coping strategies

• Natural resource inventory

• Natural resource planning

• Alternative energy and local limitations

• Philanthropy  and community participation in conservation

• Community Conservation Education and Awareness Related Research

• The role of public awareness in building community participation in conservation

• Developing guidelines for the development of community education

• Developing community education tools

• Community Based Nature Tourism Related Research

• Developing a community guide to nature tourism

• Nature tourism benefits to local communities

• Improving local people’s participation in nature tourism

• Impact of tourism on local communities

• African Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Training Course

Course Title: African Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Training Course

Location: Kenya, East Africa

Training Field Location: Mt. Kenya, Aberdares and Lake Nakuru National Parks

Course Size: Minimum 8 Pax; Maximum 16 Pax

Course Duration:  4 weeks

Target participants: Persons interested in studying African wildlife and their habitats as well as those interested in nature and environmental conservation. No special skills are needed.

Price Per Person: $ $ 3940 for 4 weeks.

All meals while undertaking the course provided. Participants will meet cost of extra meals and drinks.

• Accommodation: Bush camping

• Participants to provide personal effects, clothing, tent and backpacking gear.

• Certificate of completion given after the course

Course Description

This course combines theory with field practical lessons. The course also combines learning with enjoyment. Lectures/talks will be given by renowned conservationists and other wildlife practitioners/trainers in Kenya. Classroom works will combine video shows and evaluation of case studies. You will spend considerable time in the field exploring the natural world and learning about African wildlife with the most experienced instructors and conservationists. The course will cover such areas as benefits of conservation at local, national and international arena, identification of Africa flora and fauna, bird identification, wildlife behavior, wildlife diseases, wildlife/livestock interface, community wildlife management, Wildlife tourism, Problem Animal Management, wildlife management techniques, nature interpretation, human/wildlife conflicts, threats to African wildlife populations, Anti poaching strategies, wildlife utilization, wildlife conservation efforts at national and international platforms, wildlife research, Bush craft, Environmental Ethics and Leave No Trace(LNT) Principles. This course may be administered jointly with another suitable institution.

• Bush Craft, Wilderness Survival and Outdoor Leadership Course

Course Name: Wilderness Survival and Outdoor Leadership Course

Location: Kenya, East Africa

Training Field Location: Mt. Kenya and Hell’s Gate National Parks

Course Size: Minimum 8 Pax; Maximum 16 Pax

Course Duration: 2 weeks

Cost Per Person: $ 1985

• Pay 50% ( $ 993) deposit  required to reserve a place for the course

• Pay the other 50% before commencement of the course

• Receive 10% discount if full fees paid three months before the course.

• All meals while undertaking the course provided. Participants to meet cost of extra meals and drinks.

• Accommodation: Bush camping

• Participants to provide personal effects, clothing and backpacking gear.

• Certificate of completion given after the course

Course description

This course is suitable for people who are seeking exposure to a wide-variety of wilderness leadership skills and training in how to apply them. The remote wilderness of Mt. Kenya and Hell’s Gate National Parks will serve as the field laboratory for our learning expedition. The two national parks are wonderful places to connect with nature. During the training, participants will be spending long days on high altitude mountain trekking, giving participants the best possible experience hiking Africa's second highest mountain -Mount Kenya (5199m or 17058 ft). At Hell’s Gate National Park you will practice rock climbing, gorge walking, trip preparation, back packing and bush camping as a preparation for a major trekking on Mt. Kenya and high altitude camping. In general, the course will offer various wilderness skills needed for survival in the outdoors. Such skills include navigation and route finding techniques in remote mountain terrains, group dynamics, group facilitation, wilderness First Aid, hygiene, identifying wild edible plants and fruits, fire-making, finding and purifying water, bush camping and constructing shelter from natural materials, identifying medicinal plants, wilderness safety, wilderness backpacking, general mountaineering skills, leadership and facilitation sound environmental practice and Leave No Trace Principles.

Tailor Made Programs

Program type: Decided by the client, may include Nature Expeditions to Kenya’s national parks and other natural areas

Program Duration: customer driven, Minimum one week, maximum three months

Price: Depends on the nature of the program

Group Size: Minimum 5 pax

Program details

Our tailor made volunteer programs are suitable for groups from all walks of life in the society and in particular those interested in nature conservation and/or those interested in nature expeditions:  The tailor made programs will target: college  and university students on a summer break, students and their lecturers/teachers pursuing a particular conservation interest in Africa, sports teams, colleagues in an organization, organized groups such as religious groups, corporate groups,  nature enthusiasts, cyclists, mountaineers and many more. Our tailor made programs are customer designed. Tell us what you want and we shall arrange it for you. The program duration can range from one week to several months depending on your time and objectives. All our programs take place in Kenya, East Africa.

Weekend Excursions- Nature Expeditions in Kenya during the Placement (Optional)

Weekends are free. During weekends volunteers have free time to relax. This time may be spent in various ways depending on a Volunteer. During weekends we recommend volunteers travelling to various destinations in Kenya as part of our exciting Nature Expedition Programs at very competitive prices.  Our Nature Expedition activities include: travelling to recreation or national parks areas for wildlife safaris, bird watching safaris, mountain hiking, walking or cycling safaris, cultural safaris, and tour of Nairobi City. Extra activities include: learning Kiswahili, participate in a community environmental activity e.g environmental clean-up, tree planting, participate in a charity event or a conservation/ social development workshop/symposium, playing with children, go to Church on Sundays etc.  Some of the Extra Activities may attract some participation fees. Click here to view our Nature Expedition Programs