# Whatever program you choose, volunteering in Kenya will be a highly rewarding travel adventure!
# You’ve decided to make this year’s adventure about giving back to others, and volunteering in Kenya seems like a great way to start your good deeds. In the land also known as the home of the Big Five, you can witness the amazing phenomenon of wildebeest migration, explore tropical beaches and coastlines (Kenya is not all just about the wildlife!), binge on delicious food, step out of your comfort zone, and have a cultural experience to remember.
# We will help you plan a memorable safari alongside your volunteer work, we call it (Volu – tourism)
Karibu Global Expeditions volunteer opportunities in Kenya are available in orphanages, schools, hospitals and community medical clinics. We work directly with the projects where we send you and where your contribution will make a real and meaningful difference. You will be offered a personal and customized placement service. You will be supported throughout the duration of your placement by our qualified members of staff.
Customized placements that volunteers have asked for in the past include volunteering in mobile health clinics, volunteer in mental health clinics, amongst the handicapped, in primary and secondary schools and also church sponsored programs. All these programs are spread across the country but mostly in Eastern Kenya
Volunteer orphanages in Kenya: You will work with HIV/AIDS orphans, many of whom are HIV positive. Others have been abandoned after birth. We have orphanage projects in Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi and other small towns. Orphans in Kenya orphanages and Children’s homes are extremely disadvantaged and encounter a lot of hardships in their life. They are deprived of many opportunities necessary for their development. As an orphanage volunteer, you will help vulnerable children. The children will receive much needed attention, compassion, hope, encouragement, support and love from you. Through the education and compassion they receive from you, the children are empowered to challenge life, poverty and exploitation. Shalom volunteer orphanage placements or voluntary work with disadvantaged children is very fulfilling. Volunteering in orphanages in Kenya will be one of the most challenging positive, life-changing, and rewarding experiences of your life.
Volunteers in this area are given responsibilities depending on their medical qualifications. Qualified doctors and nurses can carry full day to day treatment of various diseases. Medical students work under the supervision of qualified medical personnel. Volunteers who do not have medical training help in packing of drugs, painting etc. The volunteers can work in the areas of maternal health, mental health, surgery, laboratories, counseling and testing. Volunteers can work in clinics located in the slums of Nairobi, or in hospitals located elsewhere.
Volunteers on the teaching program in Kenya assist with the teaching of different subjects in Kenyan elementary and high schools. Volunteer teachers can teach mathematics, science, geography, social sciences, history, business education, English, art and music. Volunteer teachers are not required to have teaching experience but must be from established institutes. Our volunteers work in schools with students who come from very difficult economic circumstances or are orphans. Please note that Kenyan school holidays are in April, August and November 15 – January 3rd. No school teaching will be available during that period unless with prior arrangements
Volunteer opportunities are available amongst the Maasai tribe of Kenya. The volunteer jobs are close to the Masai Mara Game reserve and other counties Volunteers work in a rescue centre which accommodates Masai women and Masai girls rescued from forced marriages and those rescued from forced Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practices. Other volunteer work available includes teaching at both primary and secondary schools located near the Masai Mara. All children at the schools come from the Maasai tribe.
The HIV/Aids epidemic in Africa is unusual in its scope and magnitude. Health workers in Kenya are laboring to cope with an unprecedented surge in the number of HIV/Aids patients. As a HIV/Aids volunteer, you will help us mount an effective response in meeting the needs of our target communities. Your HIV/Aids volunteer service will include homecare visits to the slums bringing vital supplies of food, medicine, and providing basic medical care. HIV/Aids volunteers help decrease the spread of HIV by raising awareness and promoting access to medical care. Volunteers also provide emotional support and foster compassion for people living with HIV/Aids in the community. Volunteers educate and counsel the community, schools and individuals. AIDS orphans are often neglected in Africa. As a volunteer in this program, you will visit HIV/Aids clinics, and help meet the needs of AIDS orphans.
Kenya volunteer programs are available in the cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru. We also have volunteer work in Machakosi, Kitui, Mwingi, Kibwezi, Narok &Kajiando . Many volunteer destinations are available across different parts of the country with special arrangements and budget
You can volunteer for any duration and stay as long as you wish so long as your visa is still valid. You can arrive at any time during the month and the volunteer work starts the following day. We expect you to prepare for tough but worthwhile programs which will also expose you to bush craft and other traditional experiences You will typically work between 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday. Your will spend your spare time shopping, eating out, cinemas, chatting with other volunteers and doing village excursions
We invite individuals, couples, families, students, researchers, and groups (churches, colleges, and student associations) from all over the world. language translators will be arranged for those who cannot speak English Our programs are flexible and volunteers can arrive and depart on any day all year round. We experience tropical weather conditions throughout the year.
Application Fee: USD 200$. Application fee covers communication, cost of collection from the airport and transfer to your program centre
Kenya Volunteer Fees in USD:
The volunteer in Kenya program fee covers in-country orientation, training, meals and accommodation in homes & moderate hotels, and supervision. Alternative costing can also be done based on ones need.
# Please note that these rates are indicative and keep changing depending on situations, kindly enquire for updates
Kenya is in East Africa and its neighbors include Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. Nairobi is the capital and stands at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,500 feet). Its population is about 34 million. The languages spoken here are English, Kiswahili and about 40 indigenous languages. About 85% of the population is Christian. The remainder comprises of indigenous religions and Muslim. The currency is Kenyan shilling. Kenya lies directly on the equator and elevations vary from sea level at the coast to 7,000+ ft. Generally, the days are warm and pleasant and the nights are cool. Summer clothes are worn throughout the year. In some areas, nights can be chilly. In the northern region, days are quite hot. The coast is hot and humid. There are two rainy seasons; the long rains in April and May and the short rains in November and December. The hottest periods are from January to March and August to November. The coldest months are in July and the beginning of August. Average temperatures in Kenya range from10 Celsius to 35 Celsius.
No immunizations are required by law to enter Kenya. If you are traveling from a country where yellow fever is present you will need to take a yellow fever vaccination. Several vaccinations are highly recommended, they include:
Contact your doctor several weeks before you travel and seek advice regarding the vaccinations to take.
You will fly into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). You will be met on arrival. Flights to Nairobi terminate at Jomo Kenyatta and it is the largest airport in Kenya. The airport is 17 km (10.5 miles) to the city centre. If you want some cash upon arrival, banking services, automatic teller machines (ATMs) and 24hr foreign exchange (forex) bureaus are available at the airport. Mombasa International Airport in Mombasa is the second largest international airport in Kenya. You will not need to fly there unless you are volunteering in Mombasa.
The schools in Kenya operate on a trimester basis. Classes start in January to March with April being a school holiday month. Schools open again in May to July with August off and then September to November. December is a school holiday month. Volunteers who are in Kenya during the school holidays can attend to other projects such as the orphanage, medical or Community volunteer program.
Make sure your doctor knows you are traveling to Kenya (don't just say Africa) so they can prescribe the right anti-malarial medication. Malaria prevention medication should be taken according to your doctor’s instructions before, during and after a visit to affected areas. Malaria is a serious tropical disease, which is spread by night-biting mosquitoes which transmit a parasite. Avoiding getting bitten is important and usually the most effective means to prevent the disease. Long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn in the evenings and insect repellent can be used in areas with mosquitoes. If the area you are volunteering has mosquitoes, use a mosquito net at night. The most effective are those treated with an insect repellent. It is important to treat malaria as soon as symptoms arise. Its symptoms include chills, fevers, headache, nausea and vomiting. If you suspect you have malaria, see a doctor as soon as possible even if you have the treatment for malaria with you so that a correct diagnosis can be made.
Make sure your doctor knows you are traveling to Kenya (don't just say Africa) so they can prescribe the right anti-malarial medication. Malaria prevention medication should be taken according to your doctor’s instructions before, during and after a visit to affected areas. Malaria is a serious tropical disease, which is spread by night-biting mosquitoes which transmit a parasite. Avoiding getting bitten is important and usually the most effective means to prevent the disease. Long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn in the evenings and insect repellent can be used in areas with mosquitoes. If the area you are volunteering has mosquitoes, use a mosquito net at night. The most effective are those treated with an insect repellent. It is important to treat malaria as soon as symptoms arise. Its symptoms include chills, fevers, headache, nausea and vomiting. If you suspect you have malaria, see a doctor as soon as possible even if you have the treatment for malaria with you so that a correct diagnosis can be made.
Foods served during your volunteer period include traditional Kenya foods like ugali and sukuma wiki (corn meal and greens), githeri (maize and beans), irio as well as chapatis. Kenyan meals also consist of other universal dishes such as beef, fish, rice and pasta. French fries, burgers, sandwiches etc are available in restaurants and hotels. Breakfast usually consists of bread, eggs and at times bacon, sausage, and baked beans. Fruits and vegetables are plenty in Kenya and feature frequently in menu preparations. Kenyan-grown coffee and tea are common beverages. Dessert is generally not served in homes.
It is generally recommended that you drink bottled water during your volunteer stay in Kenya both in Nairobi and whilst upcountry or on a safari. You can buy bottled water from any supermarket and most shops in Kenya. The most common water-borne diseases in Kenya are typhoid, cholera and dysentery. Other less common ones include gastroenteritis, amoebiasis and dysentery.
Kenya is one of the safest countries in Africa. We ensure you are placed in safe environment and you will be very well looked after while volunteering in Kenya. The Kenyan people are very warm and friendly towards foreigners. However, it is essential to take simple precautions and other volunteer abroad safety tips. Do not carry your valuables around. Take a copy of your passport and visas to carry with you. Leave your passport, credit cards, debit cards and other valuables such as cameras and laptops at home.
Nairobi is a major metropolitan area and the largest city in Kenya. Like any big city, it has criminal elements. Common criminal incidents involve snatching of purses, watches and jewellery. It is safe to shop in most sections of the city. We shall recommend and guide you regarding appropriate areas to shop and visit during your volunteer orientation and training. While out, do not wear any expensive clothing and jewellery; leave all your jewellery at home. Avoid dark alleys and take a taxi at night.
There is poverty in Kenya. You are likely to be viewed as very rich. You will probably attract souvenir hawkers as well as street children and beggars in smaller towns. Be sure to take some precautions such as:
Bring along some comfortable, casual and semi-casual clothing: sweat shirts, shorts, jeans, skirts and any other clothing that you would ordinarily wear. Include warm clothing for nights, especially if you volunteer in July and August. Avoid flashy items. When out in the community, it is good to follow local etiquette. Female volunteers need to wear pants and/or long skirts. Dressing in Nairobi is quite liberal. However, approach it with cultural sensitivity in mind and you will be fine. Please ask when you are not sure what is and is not appropriate. Footwear can be hiking boots, old sports shoes or open-toed sandals.
Volunteers need to bring their own towels, face towels and other personal effects. Volunteers are responsible for their own laundry. It is safe to bring your laptop, cameras, video cameras, hair dryers, shavers and other electrical products.
Other suggested items:
Before traveling to Kenya, you need to know the type of electric plug and socket in your destination and also the voltage of the electric power, the frequency (Hertz) and any special requirements like fuses or earth connections that may interfere with the use of your equipment. The electricity supply in Kenya is 220/240 volts/50 Hz (240V 50 Hz D & G). The electric sockets are three-pin square (British-type). Remember that simple adapters do not convert voltage or frequency. Incorrect use may keep you from using your equipment, damage it and even cause personal injuries. Using a plug adapter just changes the shape of the prongs. Countries with different voltages and frequencies may use similar plugs. Check to need if you need a power converter and not simply a plug adapter.
Most visitors to Kenya need to obtain a visa (mostly online) including Europeans, Americans and nationals from Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the UK. Volunteers need to obtain a tourist visa to enter Kenya. Visas are valid for three months from the date of entry and can be purchased upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International in Nairobi.
You can also get a visa before you travel from Kenyan diplomatic missions overseas. You should apply well in advance, especially if you are doing it by mail. Click here to get the address of the Kenyan Embassy or Kenya High Commission in your country. If you are planning on visiting just Kenya, a single-entry visa is all you need. If your travel plans include visiting Uganda or Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or visit the Serengeti, then you will need a multiple-entry visa if you wish to re-enter Kenya again.
The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling. The shilling comprises 100 cents. Coins are in denominations of 50c, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 shillings. Bank notes are in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 shillings. Importation of foreign currency is unlimited and does not have to be declared on arrival. You only declare if over 10,000 USD The value of the shilling fluctuates. Check the value of the shilling with a currency converter just before you go. Do not change too much money at one time and use the banks not the money changers.
Major credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa are accepted. American Express, Discover, Solo, Switch and Diners Club are often not accepted. ATMs will mostly accept MasterCard, Visa and Visa Electron cards. Major credit cards are accepted at supermarkets and expensive restaurants and hotels. However, it is advisable to carry some cash
We are a registered travel & tours company in Kenya with affiliate partner agents operating within the East African region, Most African Countries, Egypt, the Middle East (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), Europe, USA and Asia. We are experienced enough to offer broad based travel solutions to any part of the world on tours, Photography Safaris, Student Expeditions, ticketing, hotel bookings, car hire and conference solutions.
© 2024 Karibu Global Expeditions. All rights reserved | Site developed by Tunya Systems Limited
