Bobong Gap Year Opportunity

If you are a gap year student, keen to escape the lockdowns and be ready to dive into helping out on a farm in Kenya, then this is for you!

Bobong Gap Student placement – 2021

April – July 2021

15th April 2021: All arrive Kenya Airways direct from London arriving Nairobi 5am. Collected at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Nairobi and direct transfer by road to Ol Maisor Ranch, Rumuruti. Accommodation: double tents with beds and bedding and shared toilets and showers.

Camp life under the starry African sky

PROJECT 1: building and re roofing Banda in the camp.

16th April - 1st May: Building work mixed in with football/rugby/netball/rounders/volley ball/new games in the local community school, teaching, livestock work on the farm including updating farm livestock records.

OUTTING/EXCURSION 1. Cycle to Lake Baringo.

1st May – 4th May: Cycle/drive to Lake Baringo and camp in the local campsite.

4th May: return to Bobong, Rumuruti by road. PROJECT 2: building camel crush, environmental education and bee projects.

5th May - 20th May: Farm building work, environmental education and camel and livestock record updating etc. EXCURSION/OUTTING 2: Camel Safari on Soysambu Conservancy.

20th May – 24th May: drive to Lake Elmenteita in the Rift Valley. Meet camels for walking safari (with the option to ride)and camp with them. Enjoy Soysambu Conservancy by foot on a camel assisted walking safari.

PROJECT 3: Soysambu Conservancy environmental projects.

24th to 28th May: any conservancy project at the Lake which may be clearing litter/counting birds/repairing bird hides, etc

29th May: return to farm via Lake Ol Balossit.

30th May: day off at Bobong. PROJECT 4: community projects around Rumuruti.

1st June – 14th June: community projects with Ewaso Narok Swamp / bird conservation work, schools and clinics which could include teaching, cleaning, painting, repairs to buildings, installation of TV and links to computer for education programs.

OUTTING/EXCURSION 3: Masai Mara.

14th June – 19th June: depart Rumuruti by road to Maasai Mara. 6 nights camping safari at Mara West and visiting the Mara Triangle/ Masai Mara Game Reserve.

19th June: return to Rumuruti by road.

19th – 28th June: finish all projects.

Climb Mt Kenya as an optional extra during these dates (the mountain can take between 5-6 days).

28th June: drive to Nairobi and overnight in budget accommodation.

29th June: by train to Mariakani then drive to Kilifi. OUTTING/EXCURSION 4: Kilifi, Kenyan Coast.

29th July – 8th July: Kilifi, Kenyan coast staying in a Private house hosted by George Gasston. Hire own transport and George will advice on things to do and see.

8th July: return by train to Nairobi.

Snorkelling boat at Watamu Marine Park

2 nights Nairobi. Options of things to do/see at own expense whislt in Nairobi 10/11th July 2021: depart on Kenya Airways Nairobi - London. *The dates will all be flexible due to bird counts, game counts, flights to Nairobi and return flights. If the gap student wishes to extend his / her time in Kenya then will be free to do so with a written letter to John and Amanda confirming their departure date etc.

*MAX 8 gap students minimum 4 gap students – APPLICATIONS APPLICABLE (see below application requirements)

*The cost of this is £4500 per person. COST IS INCLUSIVE OF:

· Flying Doctors evacuation from anywhere within Kenya for 3 months.

· Accommodation and food, water and soft drinks

· Road/rail transfers between projects/excursions (except during the coast excursion)

· Game drives in the Masai Mara

· Camel safari on Soysambu

· Project materials where required.

COST IS EXCLUSIVE OF:

· Private medical expense, hospitals, for which all students are required to have a medical insurance.

· personal medical insurance.

· anti-malaria medication, or other personal medical requirements.

· Conservancy fees where required in any Conservation area, ie Soysambu, Mugie Conservancy, Masai Mara, Mt Kenya, Watamu marine park at the coast, etc.

· Alcoholic drinks (only over 18 and weekends/excursions)

· Covid-19 related costs including PCR tests, medication or hospitalization

· Mobile talk/data time

· Visa entry into Kenya

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

Visa entry into Kenya $51 and they have to do this prior to arrival on e-citizen (http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html) – single entry visa requirements:

For Tourists

1. Travel itinerary (Details about places to visit if going as a tourist).

2. Hotel bookings.

3. Return air ticket

Identity Documents

1. Clear Passport biodata page.

2. A clear photograph.

Photo requirements

1. DO NOT take a photograph of or scan the photo in your passport.

2. Must be taken within the past 6 months, showing your current appearance.

3. Must be in color.

4. Must show your full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background.

5. Must show a full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background.

6. Must be taken in normal street attire. Uniforms should NOT BE worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily.

7. Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.

8. If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig, or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.

9. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required.

MONEY:

· Everybody to download and connect account with World Remit (https://www.worldremit.com/en) to have mobile money to pay for extras and this can link to a local MPESA account.

· Alternately come with £ cash which we will keep safe and they can change from time to time when visiting towns like Rumuruti or Nyahururu.

MOBILES/COMPUTERS:

· There is No WIFI on the farm and mobile signal static on farm but any major towns all have good signal.

· On arrival, you can buy a local SIM card with Safaricom the local mobile network. Please set up an Mpesa (mobile money) account with them too.

COVID-19:

· Keep up to date with whats going on in Kenya: https://www.health.go.ke this is the Kenya MOH site to keep up to date with Kenya or with the UK government: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-nairobi (If you’re in Kenya and you need advice which is not covered by reading our travel advice then you can contact us online.

· If you’re in Kenya and you need urgent help (for example you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +254 (0) 20 2873000 or +254 (0) 20 2844000. If you’re in the UK and are worried about a British national in Kenya, call +44 (0) 20 70081500. Consular assistance is available 24/7. When calling please stay on the line and select the option for ‘calling about an emergency involving a British National’ to speak to a consular officer.

APPLICATIONS:

· ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT TO: olmaisor@africaonline.co.ke / fjhswift@gmail.com / robbie@fuel10k.com with a written overview about yourself, what your goals are, what you would like to achieve out of this placement. Additionally, we would like you to send in a 1-minute video about yourself and why you think this gap position would be suitable for you.

· If you are interested in veterinary or animal science or farming - this position will be well suited to you as it is very farm/animal focused and off the beaten track.