Assist with research on dolphins and terrestrial wildlife, and teach in rural schools in East Africa

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Live and work with a team of volunteers from around the world in the beautiful Shimoni Archipelago and experience the areas amazing coral reefs, white sandy beaches, coastal forests and friendly local communities. Our work here is multi-focused which is ideal for those looking for experience in marine research, primate research and community development.

The marine work involves researching dolphins in and around the Kisite-Mpunguti marine protected area where you may occasionally spot visiting humpback whales and snorkel with turtles. You will also spend time assisting with primate research in the coastal forests, home to a rare population of Black and White Angolan Colobus monkeys. The community work involves teaching English and helping the local community with sustainable tourism initiatives.

You may also have the opportunity to journey in-land to the heart of East Africa’s savannas, working alongside rural communities to develop livelihood alternatives to wildlife poaching and so protect Kenya’s big game.

Life on the Program

During your time on the expedition you will rotate around the different projects according to the schedule.

No previous experience is required as you will receive detailed comprehensive training on: oceanography, marine mammal identification and behaviour, turtle biology and identification, terrestrial environments, threats and conservation, primate survey techniques, biodiversity and human impact surveys, English language teaching techniques and certification, and an internationally-recognised first aid course.

The expedition’s main base is located on Wasini Island and there is another base in Shimoni Village where the primate work takes place. You may also spend a week camping and working on the edge of Tsavo National Park to work with former wildlife poaching community groups. Accommodation is basic, so expect limited electricity and bucket showers.

Program Details

GVI is assisting the local communities in the three main areas of marine conservation, terrestrial conservation and community development. Below are examples of the work you will be expected to participate in:

Collecting population and distribution data on marine mammals
Assessing human impact on marine mammals
Assisting partners in developing a ‘code of conduct’
Aiding wildlife conservation projects around the national parks
Reducing community conflict with wildlife
Running environmental education programs and teaching English
Developing sustainable tourism practices

The expedition’s ultimate aim is the self-financing of conservation through regulated ecotourism and resource use and this can only be done by collaborating with local conservation groups, tourist operators and local villagers.

Volunteer Testimonials

I arrived in Kenya excited and anxious about the 10 weeks ahead of me, and it ended up being the most rewarding 10 weeks of my life. Participating in community development work and conservation...

Jessica Conway, Australia

I arrived in Kenya excited and anxious about the 10 weeks ahead of me, and it ended up being the most rewarding 10 weeks of my life. Participating in community development work and conservation was a great way to see an amazing part of Kenya. I feel like I gained so much from my time with GVI, I went to Kenya looking for something different and found it and I am now looking at jobs in international aid work and working with GVI inspired me to do this.

The communities that I lived with during the expo were so welcoming and by the end of the trip they felt like family. If anyone is looking to travel and immerse themselves in something different I would strongly recommend going with GVI. Teaching in the schools was so rewarding, I got to Kenya thinking I would never be able to stand up in front of a class of 30 kids and teach them English but the GVI staff gave me tools and the knowledge to be able to and by the end it all I wanted to do was get into a class room.

A highlight of the trip was the week we spent at Satellite Camp in Kasasni where we slept on the floor of a hut with no roof, but every morning we would wake up to a view of Mount Kilimanjaro . We were teaching ex-poachers alternative livelihoods and I had never met a bunch people so happy. The week was amazing and stargazing was one in lifetime.

Jennifer Vitello, USA

I was impressed with the website - it provided a lot of information and looked professional, which made me more confident in the program. I also was interested in doing an expedition with a variety of activities, which GVI provided. Overall, I appreciated the diversity of the projects and the people. The location went beyond my expectations, and I enjoyed moving back and forth from Mkwiro to Shimoni to Kidong. I really appreciated GVI's dedication to sustainable development and conservation. Personally, I enjoyed learning new skills that I would otherwise not have had an opportunity to use.

I just recently returned from Kenya and was very impressed with GVI. All of the programs are very dynamic and seem to be extremely effective. In particular, the program in the Taveta region is...

Jennifer LeClair, USA

I just recently returned from Kenya and was very impressed with GVI. All of the programs are very dynamic and seem to be extremely effective. In particular, the program in the Taveta region is spectacular and the people are amazing! I will be making ongoing donations to this program to help the communities, and purchase needed supplies for the products they are making, such as jam pots, sugar, beads, kangas, etc. My hope is that in a couple of years I can come back to this region and see what progress has been made.