01/31/2025 through 02/20/2025 in Kenya

 Long time no see! So sorry I failed to keep up with my posting once a week promise.

Just a warning that this is formatted really poorly because I'm having a hard time configuring the photos to look nice, so sorry in advance!

This is our last full week of classes at Kimana Base Camp, unfortunately. Next week, we will be heading to expedition. For those of you who don't know, we were originally supposed to go to Rwanda on a mountain gorilla trek. However, the current political issues in Rwanda and near the border of where we would have stayed caused our plans to be changed. Instead, we will be going to the coast of Tanzania to trek Chimpanzees. Though I'm disappointed to not be seeing mountain gorillas, I am still very excited to see the chimps, and I think it'll be awesome to be near the beach and right next to the rainforest. First, we'll visit Maasai Mara (6) days, Nanyuki/ Mount Kenya (7 days), and then head to Tanzania. 

Since I haven't talked to most of you in like a month, here's a breakdown of what I've been doing the past three weeks (highlights only).

The 31st was our first full day of classes. We're taking Swahili, human dimensions of endangered species conservation, ecology, and endangered species conservation. All of the teachers are very kind, and the classes have been very informational. This day, we went on a field lecture to see clean vs dirty waterways and the wildlife corridor that Big Life helped install. 

On the 2nd, we had our first free day. We hiked up part of a mountain and went to see a waterfall. Then, we visited a Mama's boma. It was very interesting; they make their houses out of cow dung and sticks, and they have a cook pit in the house. They also sleep on cow hides as their beds. I really enjoyed speaking to Mama Joyce; she was very kind and happy. We went to another homestead and collected interviews about how the Maasai live and about human-wildlife conflict on the 3rd as well. 

Waterfall 02/03

Livestock market 02/04

Livestock market 02/04

On the 5th, we went to Amboseli for the first time! I saw giraffes, elephants, zebras, a spotted hyena (!), a bat-eared fox (!!), Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, impalas, hippos, olive baboons, warthogs, buffalo, secretary birds, and wildebeests. When we went to Amboseli on the 9th, we saw five cheetahs. We also interviewed members of the Osiligi Women's Group in Oloitokitok. They are a group of widowed women trying to make income without their husbands. 

Amboseli 02/05

Hi mom! Amboseli 02/05

Jake & me Amboseli 02/05

Amboseli 02/05

Amboseli 02/05

Amboseli 02/05

Cheetahs 02/09

Women's group trees

On the 12th, we visited Amboseli for the third time and visited a cultural manyatta, which is similar to how the Maasai normally live, but is bolstered a bit since they do tours. On the 13th, we walked around farms interviewing the farmers about their experiences with human-elephant conflicts. It primarily arises during times of drought because the elephants will eat the crops, since no other forage is available. 

On the 15th, we went into the bush to count giraffes! It was very cool since we got to get out of the vehicles and walk around in the bush, since we had to take photos of the giraffes' right sides. We got very close to wild giraffes and zebras!

Giraffe counting 02/15

So far, I've turned in two individual papers, one group paper, two group presentations, and one packet assignment. I have another paper and a packet due on the 24th, and a presentation and essay on the 25th. I have another paper on the 2nd and two more things to do on the 5th but I'm losing track and assume none of you care that much so I am going to move on. The point is they're keeping us busy.

Yesterday, we went on a homestay with three students per group to local mamas. We started by milking the cows and goats. We did dishes, took the cows to the pasture and left them there, then made tea. The tea was delicious. After tea, we went to the field and got grass for the cows. We went and got firewood in the bush, then took the trash out just before starting lunch. We had cabbage with onion and tomato, meat, rice, and ugali (made of corn meal and water). Afterwards, we got water, fixed the walls of the house (using cow manure!), and made more tea before walking back to KBC for a very thorough shower and dinner. 

Milking a goat

Getting grass for cows

Walking back to boma

Cutting up cabbage

Lunch

Gathered sticks

Making the house

After building the house

Making tea

Okay, that's all for now. I'll do my best to post another blog before I leave for expedition, since I 1) don't know if I'll have my laptop (which presumably makes this much harder), and 2) have been informed that Wi-Fi access is minimal and poor when present. I tried to keep this fairly concise but let me know if you want more information or more photos (I have literal thousands). Hopefully you've enjoyed this blog post. I'll (hopefully) update soon!