Day 1: Brackenhurst
Arrive in Kenya, transfer to accommodations, and check-in.

Day 2: Brackenhurst
Your program begins with a warm Welcome and Orientation, giving you a chance to meet your leaders, settle in, and get an overview of the days ahead. From there, you’ll dive into a Basic Swahili Lesson, picking up useful phrases and cultural insights to help you connect more meaningfully with the community. The day continues with an Introduction to Ethical Service Learning, setting the foundation for responsible engagement throughout your experience. You’ll then put your new skills to the test during the Limuru Marketplace Challenge, an immersive activity that encourages teamwork, cultural curiosity, and real‑world interaction.

Day 3: Brackenhurst
The day begins with an introduction and overview of CER-K, offering context for the conservation work you’ll be engaging with. You’ll then head into the Brackenhurst Forest for an introductory walk, gaining a firsthand look at the local ecosystem and its unique biodiversity. Afterward, you’ll take part in species monitoring by setting up motion‑sensor camera traps, learning how researchers track wildlife activity in the area. The day concludes with a formal reflection session, giving you space to process your experiences and discuss key takeaways with the group.

Day 4: Brackenhurst
The day begins with setting up pitfall traps in the BKL Indigenous Forest, a hands‑on activity used to sample the local amphibian population and better understand species diversity. You’ll then learn and apply the mark‑recapture technique to estimate the butterfly population, gaining insight into how scientists track and model wildlife abundance in the field. The session wraps up with an overview of Kenya’s conservation model, offering context on national strategies, community involvement, and the broader ecological landscape you’re working within.

Day 5: WTC
The journey begins with a road transfer to the Pardamat Conservation Area, a scenic drive of roughly seven hours. Upon arrival, you’ll check in to your accommodations and take part in a safety briefing to get oriented and prepared for the days ahead. The group will then gather for a talk on the Pardamat Conservation Area model, offering insight into the region’s unique approach to community-led conservation. The day wraps up with field work in the conservancy, including an evening game drive and a game count, giving you a firsthand look at local wildlife and monitoring practices

Day 6: WTC
The day begins with species monitoring in the Pardamat Conservation Area, where you’ll set up motion‑sensor camera traps to help document wildlife activity and better understand local species patterns. You’ll then head into the Naboisho Conservancy for field work, taking part in game counts and big cat monitoring alongside experienced guides and researchers. The day concludes with a Maasai cultural experience, offering an opportunity to learn directly from community members about their traditions, history, and connection to the land.

Day 7: WTC
The morning begins with an engagement session with the Mara Raptor Project, where you’ll learn about regional raptor species and ongoing conservation efforts. You’ll then join the PCA local livestock veterinarian for fieldwork, which may include a vaccination or deworming drive, or participation in a veterinary medical camp supporting community herders. Later, you’ll take part in a basic stool parasitology analysis, helping the local vet team learn how to identify common digestive parasites in livestock. The day wraps up with a formal reflection session, offering space to process the experience and discuss insights as a group.

Day 8: WTC
You’ll spend the full day in the field alongside the PCA local livestock veterinarian, supporting community animal‑health efforts. Depending on the needs of the day, this may include participating in a vaccination or deworming drive, or assisting with a veterinary medical camp that provides care to local herders and their livestock. It’s a hands‑on opportunity to learn about pastoralist livelihoods, animal health challenges, and the vital role of community‑based veterinary services.

Day 9: WTC
The day starts with a morning game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, offering a chance to observe wildlife at one of the most active times of day and experience the landscape as it comes to life. After the drive, you’ll visit the KWS Vet Unit base for an introduction to their work and, if an opportunity arises, assist the team with any wildlife treatment taking place. It’s a unique window into the veterinary side of conservation and the challenges of caring for animals in the wild.

Day 10: Brackenhurst
The morning begins with retrieving the camera traps and processing the data collected, giving you a chance to review wildlife activity and discuss any notable findings. After wrapping up the fieldwork, you’ll start the road transfer back to Limuru, a scenic drive of roughly seven hours. Along the way, the group will stop in Narok for lunch before continuing the journey.

Day 11: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
The day begins with a road transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a journey of roughly six hours through changing landscapes and local communities. Upon arrival, you’ll check in to your accommodations and get settled before gathering for an introduction to Ol Pejeta’s dual land‑use model, which blends wildlife conservation with livestock management. As the day winds down, you’ll head out on an evening game drive, offering a chance to observe wildlife during one of the most active times of day.

Day 12: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
You’ll spend the full day working alongside the veterinary teams, supporting a range of hands‑on animal‑health activities. This includes assisting with livestock vaccinations and participating in basic stool parasitology to help identify common digestive parasites. You’ll also visit the birthing center to observe reproductive‑health practices and, if the opportunity arises, assist with embryo harvesting under the guidance of the veterinary staff. It’s an immersive look at the day‑to‑day work that supports both livestock health and local livelihoods.

Day 13: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
You’ll spend the full day in the field with the veterinary and protection teams at Ol Pejeta. The morning begins with rhino tracking alongside the Ol Pejeta Rangers, giving you a firsthand look at how monitoring efforts support the health and safety of these endangered animals. In the afternoon, you’ll join the Wildlife Protection and Anti‑Poaching Unit on patrol, gaining insight into the daily work involved in safeguarding the conservancy’s wildlife. The day concludes with a visit to the Northern White Rhino enclosure, where you’ll learn about the intensive protection and groundbreaking conservation efforts surrounding the last remaining individuals of the species

Day 14: Brackenhurst
The day begins with an early morning game drive, offering a final chance to take in the wildlife as the reserve comes alive at sunrise. After returning to camp, you’ll begin the road transfer to Brackenhurst, a drive of roughly five hours through scenic landscapes and local communities. Once you arrive and settle in, the evening is free for you to rest, unwind, and recharge.

Day 15: Return to US
The final day begins with a course overview and feedback session, giving everyone a chance to review key themes and share insights from the experience. You’ll then complete Transformation Questionnaire 2, followed by a final reflection session to close out the program as a group. The afternoon is free for packing and preparing for departure. In the evening, the group will gather for a farewell barbeque dinner to celebrate the journey and say goodbye. Afterward, you’ll transfer to JKIA for your international departure.