If you are a gap year student, keen to escape the lockdowns and be ready to dive into helping out on a farm in Kenya, then this is for you!
Bobong Gap Student placement – 2021
April – July 2021
15th April 2021: All arrive Kenya Airways direct from London arriving Nairobi 5am. Collected at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Nairobi and direct transfer by road to Ol Maisor Ranch, Rumuruti. Accommodation: double tents with beds and bedding and shared toilets and showers.
PROJECT 1: building and re roofing Banda in the camp.
16th April - 1st May: Building work mixed in with football/rugby/netball/rounders/volley ball/new games in the local community school, teaching, livestock work on the farm including updating farm livestock records.
OUTTING/EXCURSION 1. Cycle to Lake Baringo.
1st May – 4th May: Cycle/drive to Lake Baringo and camp in the local campsite.
4th May: return to Bobong, Rumuruti by road. PROJECT 2: building camel crush, environmental education and bee projects.
5th May - 20th May: Farm building work, environmental education and camel and livestock record updating etc. EXCURSION/OUTTING 2: Camel Safari on Soysambu Conservancy.
20th May – 24th May: drive to Lake Elmenteita in the Rift Valley. Meet camels for walking safari (with the option to ride)and camp with them. Enjoy Soysambu Conservancy by foot on a camel assisted walking safari.
PROJECT 3: Soysambu Conservancy environmental projects.
24th to 28th May: any conservancy project at the Lake which may be clearing litter/counting birds/repairing bird hides, etc
29th May: return to farm via Lake Ol Balossit.
30th May: day off at Bobong. PROJECT 4: community projects around Rumuruti.
1st June – 14th June: community projects with Ewaso Narok Swamp / bird conservation work, schools and clinics which could include teaching, cleaning, painting, repairs to buildings, installation of TV and links to computer for education programs.
OUTTING/EXCURSION 3: Masai Mara.
14th June – 19th June: depart Rumuruti by road to Maasai Mara. 6 nights camping safari at Mara West and visiting the Mara Triangle/ Masai Mara Game Reserve.
19th June: return to Rumuruti by road.
19th – 28th June: finish all projects.
Climb Mt Kenya as an optional extra during these dates (the mountain can take between 5-6 days).
28th June: drive to Nairobi and overnight in budget accommodation.
29th June: by train to Mariakani then drive to Kilifi. OUTTING/EXCURSION 4: Kilifi, Kenyan Coast.
29th July – 8th July: Kilifi, Kenyan coast staying in a Private house hosted by George Gasston. Hire own transport and George will advice on things to do and see.
8th July: return by train to Nairobi.
2 nights Nairobi. Options of things to do/see at own expense whislt in Nairobi 10/11th July 2021: depart on Kenya Airways Nairobi - London. *The dates will all be flexible due to bird counts, game counts, flights to Nairobi and return flights. If the gap student wishes to extend his / her time in Kenya then will be free to do so with a written letter to John and Amanda confirming their departure date etc.
*MAX 8 gap students minimum 4 gap students – APPLICATIONS APPLICABLE (see below application requirements)
*The cost of this is £4500 per person. COST IS INCLUSIVE OF:
· Flying Doctors evacuation from anywhere within Kenya for 3 months.
· Accommodation and food, water and soft drinks
· Road/rail transfers between projects/excursions (except during the coast excursion)
· Game drives in the Masai Mara
· Camel safari on Soysambu
· Project materials where required.
COST IS EXCLUSIVE OF:
· Private medical expense, hospitals, for which all students are required to have a medical insurance.
· personal medical insurance.
· anti-malaria medication, or other personal medical requirements.
· Conservancy fees where required in any Conservation area, ie Soysambu, Mugie Conservancy, Masai Mara, Mt Kenya, Watamu marine park at the coast, etc.
· Alcoholic drinks (only over 18 and weekends/excursions)
· Covid-19 related costs including PCR tests, medication or hospitalization
· Mobile talk/data time
· Visa entry into Kenya
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
VISA REQUIREMENTS:
Visa entry into Kenya $51 and they have to do this prior to arrival on e-citizen (http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html) – single entry visa requirements:
MONEY:
· Everybody to download and connect account with World Remit (https://www.worldremit.com/en) to have mobile money to pay for extras and this can link to a local MPESA account.
· Alternately come with £ cash which we will keep safe and they can change from time to time when visiting towns like Rumuruti or Nyahururu.
MOBILES/COMPUTERS:
· There is No WIFI on the farm and mobile signal static on farm but any major towns all have good signal.
· On arrival, you can buy a local SIM card with Safaricom the local mobile network. Please set up an Mpesa (mobile money) account with them too.
COVID-19:
· Keep up to date with whats going on in Kenya: https://www.health.go.ke this is the Kenya MOH site to keep up to date with Kenya or with the UK government: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-nairobi (If you’re in Kenya and you need advice which is not covered by reading our travel advice then you can contact us online.
· If you’re in Kenya and you need urgent help (for example you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +254 (0) 20 2873000 or +254 (0) 20 2844000. If you’re in the UK and are worried about a British national in Kenya, call +44 (0) 20 70081500. Consular assistance is available 24/7. When calling please stay on the line and select the option for ‘calling about an emergency involving a British National’ to speak to a consular officer.
APPLICATIONS:
· ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT TO: olmaisor@africaonline.co.ke / fjhswift@gmail.com / robbie@fuel10k.com with a written overview about yourself, what your goals are, what you would like to achieve out of this placement. Additionally, we would like you to send in a 1-minute video about yourself and why you think this gap position would be suitable for you.
· If you are interested in veterinary or animal science or farming - this position will be well suited to you as it is very farm/animal focused and off the beaten track.
