Millie's Camp Kenya Experience

Written By Millie

A Journey of Growth and Discovery

When signing up to this trip to Kenya, I was excited to experience the different cultures, wildlife and environment in Kenya compared to England, as well as meet the local children.

However, as the trip got closer, I got more apprehensive and anxious. I remember asking Mum if I could pull out because I didn’t want to go. However, I reminded myself that this trip would be changing lives for the better and making a difference. This reminder to myself helped me during times I felt wobbly, and I am so thankful that I didn’t withdraw, because this trip was the most amazing experience of my life and I am so glad I went and took that step out of my comfort zone! I wish I could go back and re-live it again with my team.

Feeling Right at Home

The Camps International staff are the kindest, most welcoming people you will ever meet, and each camp is so unique and instantly becomes your safe, happy place.

I have also made amazing friendships, as well as a long-distance best friend.

Upon arrival at each camp, you have camp orientation and briefing. You will have many briefings on your adventure; team briefings, safety briefings, project briefings, etc.

Daily Life on Expedition

Rough timings of the day* are:

• Breakfast at 7/7.30am
• Project 9am to 12pm.
• Lunch at 12.30pm.
• Project 2pm to 4/4.30pm.
• Snack at 4pm/4.30pm.
• Dinner at 7/7.30pm.
• Lights out at 10pm.

*Some daily timings may vary per group

Group Activities

Team Sungura had a routine every evening where we did sticker nominations, hat nominations, and our team journal.  This was one of my favourite parts of each day. Stickers were nominated by peers for random acts of kindness. Hat nominations for the Silly Simba hat were awarded to those who had done something stupid and made a fool of themselves. It was very entertaining! The group journal was written each day by a different member of the team. So, each night, the next person would be selected to write the next day’s journal entry.

First Stop: Camp Muhaka

Our first camp in Kenya was Camp Muhaka and this ended up being my favourite camp! The accommodation was bunk style rooms which had electricity and fans. The toilets were normal, the showers were cold, monkeys ran around camp and there was a campfire.

Our project on this camp was to build Mama’s house. The structure of the building had been put together by a previous team. Our task was to build the walls of the building by the end of our stay. We completed this and managed to start the flooring within the 3.5 days we had. To build the walls, we dug red soil up from the ground, collected water and mixed them together to create a muddy mixture! With this mixture, we formed balls which we carefully placed on the structure. Stones were placed between layers to provide support. After these walls dried, we created a looser consistency of the muddy mixture which we splatted to the walls to cover the stick structure. Other activities we did at this camp were climbing a coconut tree, trying coconut and coconut milk, making coconut rice and chapattis, visiting markets and visiting a tailor’s and playing football with the local community.

Sun, Sea and Scuba

Our second camp in Kenya was Diani Beach Camp. The accommodation was bunk style rooms, which had electricity, fans and Wi-Fi. The toilets were normal, the showers were hot, monkeys ran around camp, and there was a pool. Our projects on this camp involved a beach clean-up, a turtle talk, a microplastic survey and a flip flop craft activity. This weekend was less intense than other camps as we had to rest ready for scuba diving the following week. We had a rest day at the beach where we played team games in the Indian Ocean, saw camels walking on the beach, went to the markets and even out for lunch!

Scuba diving on my Kenya Scuba Expedition was next, at Camp Firefly. For some people, this was a highlight while for others it was a challenge and took a lot of perseverance. We slept in tents, but they were big enough for us to stand in! Once again, monkeys roamed freely around the camp. The PADI team were patient, kind and reassuring. Personally, I really struggled with training in a group so after conversations with my team teachers, leader and the PADI team, adjustments were made so I could work in a smaller group. I loved relaxing around the firepit and on the sofas with my team.

Exploring Tsavo

The fourth camp was Camp Ndoto, next door to Camp Tsavo. We stayed here for a week. The accommodation was bunk style rooms which had electricity. The toilets were long drop, the showers were cold, there was a firepit and the dining area was inside. Our projects on this camp involved working on a primary school, livestock deworming, elephant deterrent fences, visiting Rukinga Wildlife Conservation, going to Tsavo East National Safari Park and going on a trek up the Mangaru Hills.

At the local school we worked on flooring, building/laying bricks and painting. School had finished for the summer, so there weren’t many kids there (which was a little disappointing) but the children who were there were very friendly and keen to get involved. Goat deworming was my favourite project, everybody was working collaboratively, and we managed to deworm 94 goats but 6 ran away from us! We also danced with the local children and camp staff.

Elephant deterrent fencing was interesting and required the use of multiple skills. At Rukinga Wildlife Conservation we did two safaris, one which included a survey and talk from the staff. We also saw a beautiful sunset. It was exciting and interesting to learn about wildlife and the laws in place to protect them. The safari at Tsavo East National Park was amazing! We saw towers of giraffes, dazzles of zebras, elephants, impalas, giraffe gazelles, different species of birds, lions and a hippo! We then visited the Maasai Tribe afterwards, which highlighted the differences in our cultures. I found the trek (Eco Trek Marungu Hills) fun, despite the mini workout it was, and loved the views. We saw giraffes from the top of the hill! It still remains one of my favourite memories.

Final Stop: The Wildlife Foundation

Our final camp was at The Wildlife Foundation. We stayed here for 4 nights. The accommodation was bunk style rooms and there was a firepit, volleyball pitch, outdoor seating and an indoor dining area. Monkeys and baboons could be spotted on camp! There was only student access to electricity between 7 and 9pm, and there was no signal. Projects on this camp included a nature walk and camera trap installation, tree planting, gabion making, culture talk, making lion bomas, camera trap retrieval and a market visit.

The nature walks and camera trap installation and retrieval were so interesting. We learnt so many facts about the local area and Nairobi National Park. For example, Nairobi National Park homes 4 out of 5 of the big 5 since the elephant’s migration route got disrupted by humans. Gabion making and lion bomas required lots of skills which had yet to be used on camp. My favourite project at this camp was the culture talk since it highlighted the huge differences between our lives and the local people’s lives. It made me feel privileged for the luxuries I have. The final night at camp we had a campfire and sang songs and danced with the local staff. It was the best ending to the most amazing expedition.

Thinking of Going on a Camps International Expedition?

My advice to anyone who is considering signing up or has signed up is to ‘take on the world’ and ‘say yes to every opportunity’! You will only get this opportunity once, and I promise it is worth every second of it. I would do anything to go back.