Kenya – Summer Cultural Exploration
Program Summary
- Dates: July
- Accommodation: Various
- Location: Kenya
- Academics: Kenyan Culture, Ecology, & Environment; Community Service
- Excursions: Mt. Kenya, Lamu Archipelago, wildlife safari
- Language: No language requirement
- Age: 14–18 years old
- Cost: $7,850 (2009)
- Application Deadline: March 31, 2009
Explore
This program is all about exploration of Kenya's bounty of unique ecosystems and cultural treasures. Intrax will introduce you to as much of it as possible: climbing Mt. Kenya and traversing the equatorial glaciers that crown this 17,156 foot volcano; an exotic wildlife safari to view and learn about birds, elephants, hyenas, zebra, elands, Cape buffalo, and more; a trek and service project with the Maasai, a fast vanishing indigenous culture, known the world over for their bright traditional garb and nomadic way of life; and an exploration of coastal villages, beaches and remote islands of the Indian Ocean on a traditional dhow—one of the oldest sailing vessels in the world.
Learn
On each leg of this magnificent adventure, your guides will be teaching you how to appreciate and navigate these diverse locales. As you climb Mt. Kenya, you will learn mountaineering and survival skills. While on safari, you will learn migration patterns, animal and bird behavior and wildlife ecology, as well as the threats the modern world places on this ecosystem. Among the Maasai people, your traditional Maasai guide will teach you bush skills that will allow you to hike through their wonderful world safely. You will also engage in meaningful service projects to help their community and give you a unique insight into their way of life. Finally, as our group sails among the islands of the Lamu Archipelago, they will learn about marine ecology and local culture. Snorkeling in the crystalline waters and disembarking to practice their new KiSwahili languages skills in local markets will reinforce these lessons and bring them to life.
Experience
This program is for those students who embrace new situations and challenges, for those who seek to set themselves apart and achieve above and beyond those around them. From hiking to a mountain's peak to learning to make a toothbrush and toothpaste from the wild herbs, memories of this program will last a lifetime. There will be immersion experiences in both a Maasai village and the culture of the Lamu Archipelago. Intrax intends to enroll a several local Kenyans to participate in the program along with our American students, making this a truly cross-cultural experience.
Travel
Intrax's Kenya program is a travel program unlike any other. Your group will strike the perfect balance between traveling to diverse parts of the country and staying long enough in each place to get to know it. From arrival in Nairobi, your group will travel overland to the base of Mt. Kenya. You will experience your safari from the back of specialized safari jeeps, and your travels among the Maasai will be the most traditional form of all: on foot. Finally, your group will fly to the coast, and their board the dhow for your Indian Ocean, island-hopping adventure.
Accommodation
Intrax Study Abroad participants will stay in a variety of accommodations on this adventure—all will be basic, but safe, secure and comfortable. Students on this tour will be closely supervised by an On-Site Coordinator and our local friends and professional guides.
Program Information
| Length | Dates* | Cost | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | July | $7,850 (2009) | March 31, 2009 |
Requirements
- 14–18 years old
- 2.5 GPA or higher (4.0 scale)
- Flexible and mature personality; desire to be challenged, ability to remain open-minded and tolerant of cultural differences
