Sea turtles are large, air-breathing reptiles that inhabit tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world. Their streamlined bodies and large flippers make them remarkably adapted to life at sea. However sea turtles spend their biggest part of their lives at sea, for their propagation they depend on land.

The females come ashore to lay eggs in the sand. Therefore baby sea turtles start their lives ashore, not in the sea. This project is interested in the conservation of several sea turtles and in particular the Leatherback-, the Green- and the Hawksbill sea turtle, which all nest on the beaches of Kenya.

Project

Volunteering with sea turtles in Kenya; The project is founded in 1979 as a part of an already existing organization, who focuses on preservation of sea life. This project is created to protect sea turtles and their environment in Kenya through e.g. rehabilitation, research, education, campaigns and local population development. Involving the local community is an essential part of the project with the intention to continue this in the future.

The project staff consists of a full time of 18 persons. The staff is very enthusiastic and enjoys training and working with volunteers and learning them a lot. The language spoken at the project is English.

The project is situated at the northeast coast of Kenya, in a real Swahili (or Bajuni) fishing village which has grown throughout the years to a little beach resort. The area offers a good range of shops, just as medical facilities. There are internet facilities, local- and tourist restaurants and nice African bars/discos.

Accept relaxing on the beach you can do lots of other things during your spare time. Like outstanding snorkeling and diving conditions, different boat trips, visit the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, ruines, butterfly farms, children’s home, etc.

You will be responsible for arranging your own transport to this project in Kenya. Detailed travel information will be provided after your booking.

After arrival you’ll start with an introduction. After that volunteering with turtles may include helping in differnet programms:

  • Marine turtle nest protection and research programme: Assisting in turtle patrols, which often are at night on different hours, to help with activities like searching for nesting activity, searching for hatching nests, searching for evidence of new nests, searching for stranded turtles, monitoring illegal activities within the Marine Park, collecting data from nesting females e.g. measurements and tagging, carefully relocated nests to a safe area. We have nesting and hatching occurring almost all year round, however the busiest time occurs from April to October.
  • Marine tutle net release and research programme: This programme was set up in co-operation with local fishing communities and may have the opportunity assist in in assessing the turtle’s condition like checking for parasites and injuries, data collection like measuring the carapace and recording the weight. If the turtle is fit and healthy transport and release at an appropriate location;
  • Turtle rehabilitation Centre: Possibly there is a turtle in rehabilitation during your stay at the project. They need your help as volunteer to feed and clean the turtles, clean the tank, preparation of food fort he turtles, keeping information boards updated, bring the sea turtle for a ‘bath’ (only for strong swimmers) and occasionally assisting during visitor visits.
  • Education and Awareness programme:With this prgramme the project gives education at local school and looking how to help the local community. As a volunteer you may assist in helping with beach cleaning days, mangrove planting days, assisting with schoolchildren that visit the project and other educative tasks.

You will work 5 days/nights a week and Saturday and Sunday you are free.

The accommodation for volunteers is a house located on the project site, only a five minutes’ walk to the ocean. There are four lovely rooms with two beds in each room and each has its own en-suite bathroom. The roms open onto a beautiful, sunny courtyard with a plunge pool to cool off after a busy day. Normally you’ll share the bedroom with another volunteer. There are two large shaded seating and dining areas and a kitchen.

As a volunteer you must meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum age of 18 year (unless accompanied by a parent/caregiver)
  • Communicate in English
  • Vaccinations aren’t required at this project, but vaccinations against DTP, hepatitis A and Yellow fever are recommended. It is also suggested to take malaria tablets. (For the most actual information we advise you to visit your local medical clinic)

Volunteers are welcome throughout the whole year with a minimum stay of 2 weeks. There are set dates:

2 weeks participation

Month
Arrival- and departure
January
06 – 19 Jan / 22 Jan – 02 Feb
February
03 – 16 Feb / 17 Feb – 01 Mar
March
02 – 15 Mar / 16 – 29 Mar
April
30 mar – 12 Apr / 13 – 26 Apr / 27 Apr – 10 May
May
11 – 24 May / 25 May – 07 June
June
08 – 21 June / 22 June – 05 July
July
06 – 19 July / 20 July – 02 Aug
Augustus 03 – 16 Aug / 17 Aug – 30 Sept
September
31 Aug – 13 Sept / 14 – 27 Sept / 28 Sept – 11 Oct
October 12 – 25 Oct / 26 Oct – 08 Nov
November 11 – 24 Nov / 25 Nov – 08 Dec
December 09 – 22 Dec

This project can also easily be combined with the project Colobus monkeys in Kenya.

Volunteers are welcome throughout the whole year with a minimum stay of 2 weeks. There are set dates:

4 weeks participation

Month
arrival and departure
January
06 Jan – 02 Febr
February
03 Febr – 01 Mar
March
02 – 29 Mar
April
30 – 26 Apr
May
27 apr – 24 May
June
25 mei – 22 June
July
22 juni – 19 July
August 20 juli – 16 Aug
September 17 aug – 13 Sept
October 14 sept – 11 Oct
November 12 okt – 08 Nov
December 11 nov – 08 Dec

This project can also easily be combined with the project Colobus monkeys in Kenya.

Period Price per person
2 weeks € 1.125,00
4 weeks € 1.840,00
Costs include:

  • Information and assistance before departure
  • If desired, estimate of flight options / travel possibilities (the most convenient flights options at a glance)
  • Accommodation
  • 1 meal (lunch) a day (not during the weekend)
  • Every week 1 excursion or unique activity to interesting places in the surrounding of the project site
  • Donation to the project
  • Training and support
  • Program and administration costs
  • And, of course a very memorable experience!

Prices are valid for the said periods in the year 2022.

Everything you need to know before you book this project:
Extensive information Project Sea turtles in Kenya (PDF)

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