WHY THIS PROGRAM?
KENYA WOW FACTORS
• Get involved in on-going projects
• Meals included for the entire program
• Service Learning and hands-on experience
• Environmental Studies
THE ATHENA TOUCH
What makes this Athena?
• LOCATION: The most amazing African flora and fauna
• SIZE: Smaller customized Africa option
• PERSONAL: Engage with Kenyan locals
ACADEMICS
ACADEMICS in KENYA
WHY WE PARTNER WITH EDU AFRICA:
EDU Africa, founded in 2003, shares the same vision as Athena that personalizing study abroad is the key to the best outcomes and experiences. They operate from four regional offices in Africa, and they offer authentic, hands-on and unique educational experiences.
EDU Africa is a fellow member with Athena in the Global Learning Collective, the first truly global consortium of educational organizations that share similar values, offer a personal connection to your in-country host partner, while providing on-the-ground expertise and local access in each region of the globe.
HISTORY:
Founded in 2003, EDU-Africa offers exceptional education experiences.
EXPERIENCE:
At EDU-Africa, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom; high quality social and cultural interactions are integral to getting the most out of your experience.
Learn more detailed information on the experiences at Brackenhurst, Maasai Mara, and more in the Location section.
HIGHLIGHT: Ecology in Kenya
Broaden you knowledge of historical and current threats to tropical wetlands, forest, and African savannah ecosystems. Understand the basics of submontane forest regeneration in Kenya and explore human-wildlife relationships in East Africa.
COURSES
Courses have the following % breakdown:
| COURSES | General % Offered |
|---|---|
SOCIAL SCIENCES | 50% |
STEM | 50% |
LINCOLN NJIRU
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Lincoln was born and brought up in central Kenya where he developed a passion for things of nature early in life. Pursuing this early passion seemed the obvious thing to do as he went ahead to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from Egerton University, Kenya. Years that followed saw him work in Botswana before moving further down south of the continent for further studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal where he obtained a Masters degree in Environment and Development. Lincoln has been involved with wildlife conservation programs in the Maasai Mara for a number of years before transitioning to endangered species conservation with a focus on rhino conservation in Kenya. His passion lies in biodiversity conservation, with an interest in conservation initiatives that are community based and contribute to improvement of livelihoods.
STUDENT LIFE
FIELD TRIPS & EXCURSIONS
Experiencing Kenya outside of the classroom is essential, so our program package includes visits and excursions that will allow you to get an even closer look at the Kenyan culture.
Educational site visits (included)
- Brackenhurst Botanic Garden
- Tigoni Wetland
- Mara Naboisho Conservation
- Maasai Village Visit
- The Maa Trust
Optional activities:
- Nairobi National Park
- Karura Forest
- Gatamaiyu Forest
- Hell’s Gate National Park
Learn more detailed information on the experiences at Brackenhurst, Maasai Mara, and more in the Location section.
HIGHLIGHT: Ecology in Kenya
Kenya encompasses savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands. It's also home to amazing indigenous flora and fauna!
HOUSING
Housing Type: Dorm rooms and authentic bush camp tented accommodation.
HIGHLIGHT: Learn to speak Maa
The Maasai tribe speaks Maa and are also schooled in English and Swahili (the official languages of Tanzania and Kenya).
FAQS
Will I be able to travel?
The program itself includes different activities and field trips!
How many students are on the program?
Typically, 6-10 students, per term. The size of the program is kept small so that students get personalized attention from the instructors and advisors.
What is the food like?
Excellent! Traditional African food is generally cooked over an open fire or in a three-legged pot, so meat tends to be served in either stewed or grilled form. A starch and some vegetables usually accompany the meat.
Vegetarians: Athena’s resident vegetarian gives Kenya a 6 out of 10 for being vegetarian friendly!
Can I request to room with my friend?
Yes! You can certainly request who you would like to have as your roommate. This is done after you are accepted into the program; you will note this in your housing request forms.
How do I get to Kenya?
You will fly into Nairobi International Airport, (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport). From there, you will head to Brackenhurst.
Do you provide flights?
We have partnered with STA Travel, an incredible student-focused travel agency. The good people there will be able to help all Athena students arrange flights overseas.
”I focused a lot on the word ethnocentric...I learned that every culture is unique in their own way and there is no wrong way.”
KALLY FRISCH
Grand View University
THE LOCATION
LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS
What’s Kenya Like?
This program is split evenly between Brackenhurst, an eco-campus in Limuru, Kenya, and the Maasai Mara Conservancies in the infamous Maasai Mara ecosystem.
BRACKENHURST
Brackenhurst is approximately 40km north of Nairobi set in a safe and peaceful environment among the rolling hills of Limuru, which is famous for its tea fields. Brackenhurst is home to one of the largest collection of indigenous plants species in East Africa, with over 1,000 tree and shrub species, many of which are endangered or thought to be extinct within their original distribution zones. It’s also an ideal base from which students can explore the surrounding Kenyan wetlands.
MAASAI MARA CONSERVANCIES
The Maasai Mara, part of the expansive Maasai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, has 15 conservancies. These conservancies, the majority of which have been formed over the last 10 years, cover over 300 000 acres and provide connected critical wildlife habitats that complement national parks and the reserve; they also secure major wildlife migratory corridors. Their vast open plains, Acacia-Commiphora woodland, rocky outcrops, and varied riverine vegetation provide habitat for around 400 bird species and over 60 mammal species and host some of the highest wildlife densities in Africa.
The conservancies are established under the rationale of conserving the environment and its wildlife alongside a mandate to protect, empower and improve the livelihood of the local Maasai communities. Over 10,000 landowners are engaged in the various conservancies and are direct beneficiaries; in this way, their communities are placed at the center of wildlife conservation. The Maasai Mara Conservancies provide an ideal location to study ecology, human influences on the Savannah, and community-based conservation in East Africa.
WATAMU MARINE NATIONAL PARK
The Watamu Marine National Park, where the optional coastal module will be based, runs through Watumu and is one of the oldest Marine Protected Areas in Africa. The Park spans over 10km² of shallow lagoon containing coral, seagrass, sand and mangrove habitat. It is home to over 150 species of hard and soft corals and over 500 species of reef fish, offering students access to spectacular marine biodiversity. The National Park is largely considered one of the world’s top diving areas, with whale sharks, manta rays, octopus and barracuda commonly sighted. It is also a vital turtle breeding area.
CITY PERKS
This program aims to provide you with an understanding of the complex relationships between Kenya's indigenous communities, land, water, and wildlife.
WEATHER
- Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate.
- Evenings may be cool, especially in the June/July session, when the temperature can drop to 48°F.
- There are two main seasons: the wet season and the dry season. In Limuru, the wet season is overcast, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is comfortable year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 47°F to 73°F and is rarely below 44°F or above 77°F.
MAP
DID YOU KNOW?
Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai won the 2004 Noble Peace Prize for leading a campaign to plant tens of millions of trees across Africa to slow deforestation.
DID YOU KNOW?
The ``Big Five`` animals can all be found in Kenya. These animals are rhinos, leopards, lions, buffalo, and elephants!
