ELI is happy to work with a community based organization, the Valley Cultural Group, in Nakuru, Kenya. This group works closely with local governmental and non-governmental organizations.
ELI volunteers will be based in and around Nakuru, the fourth largest city in Kenya, located one and a half hours by bus northwest of Nairobi. The highlights of this rich farming area include the Menengai Crater, an extinct volcano from which you get stunning views of the famous Lake Nakuru as well as archeological sites of settlements that go back as much as 3000 years. But the greatest attraction here is Lake Nakuru National Park, second most visited park in Kenya and renowned for its shallow soda lake, euphorbia and acacia forests, rocky cliffs the huge variety of wild animals: lions, warthogs, buffaloes, gazelles, leopards, baboons, rhinos, hippos and dozens of species of birds. Gates, guides and vehicles (walking is not permitted in the park) ensure safety and keep the area protected from too much human interference.
Kenya's tourism is just now starting to recover from two terrorist attacks, one against the U.S. embassy in 1998, the second against a tourist hotel in Mombassa in 2002. Americans and other westerners are urged caution, especially in the eastern coastal areas popular with tourists. ELI and its Kenya-based partners provide volunteers with coordinators, airport pick-up, escort to Nakuru and on-site support to help you safely become a part this magnificent country and its people.
ELI partners with the Kenya Wildlife Service to create a variety of volunteer and internship opportunities in Lake Nakuru National Park. The national park was created as a bird sanctuary in 1961 and gained full national park status in 1968. Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake surrounded by marsh, grasslands, rocky cliffs, hills, and stretches of acacia forests. Three major rivers, the outflow from Nakuru town's sewage treatment plants, and springs along the shore feed the lake. The Alkaline waters are home to microbes which support thousands of flamingoes and other birds. The lake makes up about one third the area of the national park. The grasslands and forests surrounding the lake are home to lions, cheetahs, baboons, antelope, elephants, zebras, rhinos, and many other animals. The park entrance is only a few kilometers from the Nakuru town center, making the park the perfect location for conservation focused volunteer and internship programs.
WildlifeManagement and Conservation Internship
Interns in the area of wildlife management have the opportunity to become involved in a wide range of projects including taking censuses, monitoring radio collared animals, field research, and community outreach. Many ongoing projects are aimed at managing and reducing human/wildlife conflict through educational outreach, conservation incentives, policy development, and developing infrastructure. Interns can focus either on research and policy development or fieldwork. Tasks for this program are assigned by the KWS staff, but project proposals for work with specific projects are accepted and encouraged. More information on the ongoing activities of the Kenya Wildlife Service is available at www.kws.org.
Sample Orientation
(Please note that your orientation may be a little different, but this is typically what the orientation includes)
Day 1-Pick up from airport and drive to the Terminal hotel either for breakfast or dinner depending on time of arrival.
Day2- After Breakfast, start orientation tour of Nairobi. Visit the former American Embassy which was bombed in 1998 and is now a memorial park. Proceed to the animal orphanage/Nairobi safari walk. Drive to Nakuru, stopping to view the Rift Valley along the way. Arrive in Nakuru in Time for dinner with your host family.
Day 3- Early morning tour of Nakuru National Park. Visit Menegai Crater and Lord Egerton Castle in the afternoon. Tour of Nakuru Town.
Day 4- Report to your project, meet with your supervisor and start your work.
Housing
Participants stay with local host families who provide participants with their own room and breakfast and dinner each day.
Program Includes
* Pre-departure information
* Pick up from the airport in Nairobi and transportation to Nakuru
* Orientation and welcome pack
* Tour of Nakuru National Park
* Volunteer Position
* Accommodation
* Two meals a day
* 24/7 emergency service
Program Does Not Include
*Round-trip Airfare
*Return trip to Airport in Nairobi (the shuttle from Nakuru to Nairobi costs $12)
*Required Travel and Medical Insurance
*Visa Fees
Start Dates
The start dates for the Kenya programs are completely flexible.
How to Apply
To apply for this program, please fill out an application online along with a copy of your resume or CV and the $100 application fee. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable unless we are unable to make a placement matching your request.
You can send your application to us at:
ELI Associates
2828 N. Speer Blvd. Suite 230
Denver, CO 80211
ELI is happy to work with a community based organization, the Valley Cultural Group, in Nakuru, Kenya. This group works closely with local governmental and non-governmental organizations.
ELI volunteers will be based in and around Nakuru, the fourth largest city in Kenya, located one and a half hours by bus northwest of Nairobi. The highlights of this rich farming area include the Menengai Crater, an extinct volcano from which you get stunning views of the famous Lake Nakuru as well as archeological sites of settlements that go back as much as 3000 years. But the greatest attraction here is Lake Nakuru National Park, second most visited park in Kenya and renowned for its shallow soda lake, euphorbia and acacia forests, rocky cliffs the huge variety of wild animals: lions, warthogs, buffaloes, gazelles, leopards, baboons, rhinos, hippos and dozens of species of birds. Gates, guides and vehicles (walking is not permitted in the park) ensure safety and keep the area protected from too much human interference.
Kenya's tourism is just now starting to recover from two terrorist attacks, one against the U.S. embassy in 1998, the second against a tourist hotel in Mombassa in 2002. Americans and other westerners are urged caution, especially in the eastern coastal areas popular with tourists. ELI and its Kenya-based partners provide volunteers with coordinators, airport pick-up, escort to Nakuru and on-site support to help you safely become a part this magnificent country and its people.
ELI partners with the Kenya Wildlife Service to create a variety of volunteer and internship opportunities in Lake Nakuru National Park. The national park was created as a bird sanctuary in 1961 and gained full national park status in 1968. Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake surrounded by marsh, grasslands, rocky cliffs, hills, and stretches of acacia forests. Three major rivers, the outflow from Nakuru town's sewage treatment plants, and springs along the shore feed the lake. The Alkaline waters are home to microbes which support thousands of flamingoes and other birds. The lake makes up about one third the area of the national park. The grasslands and forests surrounding the lake are home to lions, cheetahs, baboons, antelope, elephants, zebras, rhinos, and many other animals. The park entrance is only a few kilometers from the Nakuru town center, making the park the perfect location for conservation focused volunteer and internship programs.
WildlifeManagement and Conservation Internship
Interns in the area of wildlife management have the opportunity to become involved in a wide range of projects including taking censuses, monitoring radio collared animals, field research, and community outreach. Many ongoing projects are aimed at managing and reducing human/wildlife conflict through educational outreach, conservation incentives, policy development, and developing infrastructure. Interns can focus either on research and policy development or fieldwork. Tasks for this program are assigned by the KWS staff, but project proposals for work with specific projects are accepted and encouraged. More information on the ongoing activities of the Kenya Wildlife Service is available at www.kws.org.
Sample Orientation
(Please note that your orientation may be a little different, but this is typically what the orientation includes)
Day 1-Pick up from airport and drive to the Terminal hotel either for breakfast or dinner depending on time of arrival.
Day2- After Breakfast, start orientation tour of Nairobi. Visit the former American Embassy which was bombed in 1998 and is now a memorial park. Proceed to the animal orphanage/Nairobi safari walk. Drive to Nakuru, stopping to view the Rift Valley along the way. Arrive in Nakuru in Time for dinner with your host family.
Day 3- Early morning tour of Nakuru National Park. Visit Menegai Crater and Lord Egerton Castle in the afternoon. Tour of Nakuru Town.
Day 4- Report to your project, meet with your supervisor and start your work.
Housing
Participants stay with local host families who provide participants with their own room and breakfast and dinner each day.
Program Includes
* Pre-departure information
* Pick up from the airport in Nairobi and transportation to Nakuru
* Orientation and welcome pack
* Tour of Nakuru National Park
* Volunteer Position
* Accommodation
* Two meals a day
* 24/7 emergency service
Program Does Not Include
*Round-trip Airfare
*Return trip to Airport in Nairobi (the shuttle from Nakuru to Nairobi costs $12)
*Required Travel and Medical Insurance
*Visa Fees
Start Dates
The start dates for the Kenya programs are completely flexible.
How to Apply
To apply for this program, please fill out an application online along with a copy of your resume or CV and the $100 application fee. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable unless we are unable to make a placement matching your request.
You can send your application to us at:
ELI Associates
2828 N. Speer Blvd. Suite 230
Denver, CO 80211
