Kenya Scuba Expedition

This action-packed and meaningful African adventure will take you from the savannahs of Tsavo, teeming with Kenya’s top wildlife, to the white-sand beaches of Diani where you’ll learn to explore the underwater world.

  • Location Kenya, Africa
  • Duration 4 weeks
  • Expedition Type Scuba

Throughout your time in Kenya you’ll get involved in a range of projects, helping to support education and community development in two rural communities. You’ll become part of the community as you live and work alongside local people, learning about the challenges faced by local people as well as the rich tradition and culture of Kenya. Throughout your expedition, you’ll get up close to some truly incredible wildlife – try to spot some of the Big 5 on land and scuba dive alongside colourful marine life as you undertake your PADI Open Water Scuba Diving qualification in the glistening Indian Ocean.

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A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition cost is comprehensive and covers the incredible activities you’ll be taking part in, as well as the extensive support you’ll receive in the lead up to, and during, your expedition.

Don’t forget you’ll also need your vaccinations, visas, kit and some spending money. You can find guidance on all of these on your personal Traveller Gateway once you sign up.

  • Ongoing pre-expedition support
  • Flights and in-country transfers
  • Travel insurance
  • Food and accommodation
  • Adventure challenge
  • Project costs
  • Leader and staff costs
  • Camps t-shirt
  • Orientation and language lessons
  • 24 hour emergency support
  • Reserve location

This sample itinerary will give you an insight into what you’ll be getting up to. Please note, the exact projects, activities and camps may change closer to the time of your expedition.

Day Activities More details
Day 1 Leave for Kenya This morning you will make your way to your designated meeting point ready to embark on your journey to Kenya.
Day 2 Arrive in Kenya You’ll be met at the airport by one of our awesome Camp Kenya crew who will take you to your accommodation in the city where you’ll spend your first night.
Day 3 Head to your first camp After a good night’s sleep, you will transfer to your first camp of the expedition. Located on the edge of a national park, it truly is a beautiful location and will quickly become your home away from home. On arrival, you will be given a briefing, camp orientation and village tour. After lunch, our project leaders will take you to visit the various project sites. You will gain an understanding of the issues you will be helping to tackle through your project work and we’ll establish your goals and objectives.
Day 4 All about elephants and Maasai Human-wildlife conflict is a big problem in Africa and today you will learn about the most effective ways the local community is looking to combat this. Working alongside local people you will help them make elephant deterrent fences. This is a method regarded by the locals as the best way to stop elephants entering their farms without harming the animals. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in an educational environmental workshop, making paper out of elephant dung to bring a source of income to the community. In the afternoon we’ll head to visit a local Maasai tribe, where you will spend time learning about their traditions and have a chance to join in with the famous Maasai jumping ceremony.
Day 5 – 9 Environmental project work Over the next few days, you will be getting stuck into environmental and wildlife-focused projects. You will undertake projects such as tree planting, and animal de-worming, learning about sustainable solutions to local and global issues.
Day 10 Tumani Women’s Group Today you will be spending time with an inspiring women’s group who we have been working with for many years. You will learn about the challenges faced by women in rural communities and the innovative projects we are supporting to aid income generation. You’ll get to try your hand at some of these projects too, learning to make bead crafts that can be sold.
Day 11 Embark on a safari adventure After an early breakfast, you’ll embark on an unforgettable safari at Tsavo East National Park, one of Kenya’s top wildlife destinations. Keep your eyes peeled and you may be able to spot a variety of wildlife including elephants, lions, giraffes and zebras to name a few.
Day 12 – 18 PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course Head to our coastal camp where you’ll be staying for the next few days to complete your PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course. Take on the challenge of mastering the fundamentals of Scuba Diving. Learn about your equipment and different diving techniques in a confined environment before undertaking a series of open water dives. Keep your eyes peeled for turtles, dolphins and fish of all shapes and colours. In the evenings, you will have time to relax, play games on the beach or catch up on your PADI theory.
Day 19 Travel to your next camp After a week of Scuba Diving, you will transfer to your next camp where you will be based in another small, rural community. You’ll take a walk in the village to get to know the local families before having a full briefing on what your work here will involve. During the briefing, you will learn more about the current situation and challenges faced by the community. Then it’s time to get stuck in this afternoon as we begin project work.
Day 20 – 27 Community project work You will spend the next few days working alongside our locally employed craftsmen, helping to renovate or build a new house for a member of the community.
Day 28 Kwaheri from Kenya We’ll say our final farewells (or Kwaheri in Swahili) before transferring you back to the airport in time for your flight home.

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

School improvement

Kenya – School improvements and conservation work

Many local schools are in very dilapidated buildings which suffer from erosion and seasonal flooding. You’ll help to build or renovate school buildings so that local children have a clean and safe academic environment. You’ll also get involved in initiatives to promote a peaceful co-existence between the community and the local wildlife, such as improving natural waterholes and planting indigenous trees for habitat and food sources.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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Zero hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

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Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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Reduce inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

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Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

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Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

housing and welfare

Kenya – Community development and coastal forest protection

Muhaka village remains one of the poorest communities in Kenya. You will help to support community development projects such as traditional house building and school improvements. You may also work on our reforestation projects within the sacred Kaya forest, an important habitat home to many species of monkeys.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

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Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

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Reduce inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

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Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

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Life below water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

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Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are the heart of our expeditions. Built and staffed by locals in the traditional style, and located within the heart of communities, they are the perfect place to relax after a day of project work. You’ll get to stay in a number of camps during your expedition, which could include those featured below.

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Camp Tsavo

Camp Tsavo gives you the chance to experience life in the real African wilderness. Surrounded by the picturesque Marungu Hills that lie close to the world famous Tsavo National Parks, this area is famed for its wildlife and providing a safe haven for elephants, lions, cheetahs and other amazing animals.

The camp itself is situated in the heart of the charming local village, where you will experience authentic African culture and hospitality so welcoming that you won’t want to leave.

  • Location: 3-4 hours drive from Mombasa Airport, 6-7 hours drive from Nairobi Airport
  • Accommodation style: Traditional bandas
  • Bed type: bunk beds with comfy mattresses and bedding.
  • Toilets: Long Drop Eco Toilets
  • Showers: Modern showers and sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity backed up by generator (between 18:30 – 22:00). British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Amazing views from camp. Camp fire, football pitch, small bar and gift shop, town nearby
  • Signature dish: Our chefs delicious chapatis will be one of the highlights of your whole trip – they are that good!
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Camp Muhaka

Camp Muhaka will quickly become your home away from home. With stylish traditional buildings and a great social scene, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Being in the heart of the village also has its perks; all your project sites are only a short walk away and you can walk with the children to and from school so you’ll be a local in no time!

  • Location: 1.5-2 hours drive from Mombasa Airport
  • Accommodation style: Traditional bandas and tents
  • Bed Type: Comfy mattresses and bedding.
  • Toilets: Modern toilets
  • Showers: Modern showers and sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity backed up by generator (between 18:00 – 22:00). British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Based right in the heart of the community, in walking distance to project sites and a short drive to the beach. Chill out zone with camp fire and pool table
  • Signature dish: Ugali & Rice

Kenya was completely unique and such a brilliant experience. Between the work, locals, fellow travellers and scuba diving there was never a dull moment. One of the best choices of my life.

Mark, Camp Kenya 2018

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by members of the community who will make you feel like a local in no time. These legends will make your expedition spectacular and will show you the very best of their home country.

Eric Kivuva

I am truly honoured to have been working with Camps International for over 10 years, driving our travellers in my ‘Disco Truck’! I enjoy taking everyone safely to project sites and seeing how they are helping to change peoples lives. I love what I do!

Interested in this expedition?

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