Kenya
The Center for Endangered Species Conservation
Programs
Housing
Research
Community
Study Abroad in Kenya
Have you ever wanted to go on safari and observe African wildlife in their natural habitats, learn about the centuries-old traditions of the Maasai people, or live in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro?
Whether you’re an experienced traveler or looking for your first trip to another country, studying abroad is an important component of your college career. Living abroad gives you the opportunity to explore new places and learn about different cultures, gaining important global perspectives, discovering new things about yourself, and building lifelong friendships.
Our programs in Kenya take place in world-famous national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas, and Maasai communities. Courses and fieldwork focus on endangered species conservation, biodiversity conservation, wildlife and natural resource management, tourism impacts and the arching impacts of climate change in rural communities. The semester program journeys out of the savannah to the tropical broadleaf rainforests of Rwanda, where students visit and view the endangered mountain gorilla.
There is a strong interconnectivity between wildlife, human communities, community livelihoods, and natural resource availability in Kenya, and competition for the region’s finite natural resources is intensified by climate change, drought, poverty, ecosystem fragmentation, and human development. Our research here focuses on approaches to wildlife and natural resource conservation and promotes successful coexistence between humans and the country’s incredible wildlife.
Kenya
From the savannas of the Maasai Mara to the peaks of the Great Rift Valley, Kenya’s diverse environments provide a rich context for studying wildlife conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and natural resource management in East Africa.
Programs
Semester
Endangered Species
15 Weeks
18 Credits
Fall 2024
Sep 1 - Dec 12
In the Field
Spring 2025
Jan 27 - May 9
Filling Fast
See Program Costs
Program Costs
- Tuition
- Room & Board
- Total
Summer Session 1
Elephants of the African Savanna
4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2025
Jun 2 - Jul 1
Open
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Program Costs
- Tuition
- Room & Board
- Total
Summer Session 2
Giraffe Ecology and Conservation
4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2025
Jul 7 - Aug 5
Open
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Program Costs
- Tuition
- Room & Board
- Total
This program offers so much more than your typical study abroad program. You get to live in an area of the world that most people only dream of visiting. Surrounding by acacia woodlands, the Kenya field station sits on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro. From the outdoor showers, you have a perfect view of the top of Kili!
- Caleb, Boston University
Getting to go on all-day safaris to world- famous parks almost every week was awesome, but even better were the connections I made with people, which I wasn’t expecting. We got to become a part of the community during our stay there; saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do! I also stay in touch with the group I went with; I had never met any of them before boarding the plane, but our incredible shared experiences brought us so close.
- Katie, Colorado State University
There are infinite aspects of Kenya that I will never forget and will miss dearly. The wildlife, nature and overall surroundings were stunning. The spellbinding African stars are indescribably spectacular and are incomparable to anywhere else in the world that I have traveled to. I doubt I will ever be in a classroom with acacia trees with baboons swinging around in them right outside again.
- Ellie, Franklin University (Switzerland)
Where You'll be Living
The Center lies in the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley, between three world-famous national parks. The snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro towers over miles of savanna, replete with a diversity of wildlife. Our sprawling, grassy campus includes thatched bandas (cabins) and a central chumba (main building), just down the road from the small town of Kimana.
- Dorm living with 4-person bandas
- Chumba contains classroom, dining area, and study spaces
- Kitchen and dining hall, on-site cooking staff
- Stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro
- One-mile running trail on campus
- Volleyball court, soccer balls, Frisbee, and fire pits
PRogram Costs
Study abroad is an investment in yourself – you’ll return home with new experiences, skills, knowledge, and friendships that will stay with you for the rest of your life. SFS program costs cover a variety of expenses, including:
- Pre-program advising and on-site orientation
- Tuition and research fees
- Housing at the field station and on excursions
- Daily meals and snacks
- Airport transfers (for arrival/departure)
- Field excursions and cultural activities
- Student success and wellness team on site
- 24/7 mental health and well-being support
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance
- Official transcript processing
Financial Aid
We know cost can be one of the biggest barriers to studying abroad. At SFS, we’re committed to making our programs accessible to students which is why we award a generous amount in need-based financial aid each year. Our Admissions Team has worked with thousands of students and are here to answer your questions about the SFS aid process, aid available through your home school, and funding from external sources.
SFS Financial Aid: Need-based aid packages typically consist of a combination of scholarships, grants, and zero- and low-interest loans. SFS matches Federal Pell Grant funding for students applying to an SFS semester program.
Home School Aid: Be sure to ask your home school study abroad office or financial aid office what financial aid resources might be available to support your study abroad experience.
External Funding Opportunities: Organizations such as the Fund for Education Abroad or the Gilman International Scholarship Program award scholarships to students going abroad. These can be a great opportunity to reduce the cost of your program even more.
Research
Research at the SFS Center for Wildlife and Water Studies focuses on the ways in which climate change is impacting the region’s wildlife populations and natural resources. We explore how Kenya’s wildlife, ecosystems, and communities are responding to environmental threats, as we research wildlife management and community-based conservation strategies that can help build a more sustainable future. Students and faculty engage with national park staff, regional conservation experts and wildlife specialists, Maasai and other Indigenous peoples, NGOs, and landowners to gain different perspectives and contribute research data to the community.
Our research focuses primarily on the following themes:
- Endangered species conservation
- Wildlife management
- Climate change impacts
- Large mammal & primate behavior
- Wildlife ecology
- Community-based conservation approaches
- Human-wildlife conflict
- Natural resource management approaches
- Protected areas management
Community
Kimana, Kenya
SFS is an active part of the Kimana community, where we have been based for more than 20 years.
We have built long-term, collaborative relationships in the communities around the Center, and developed our research plans based on the environmental issues they face. Throughout the program, students visit local markets and neighboring boma (Maasai homestead), spend the day with a local family, participate in traditional Maasai celebrations, take part in outreach and community service in local schools and villages, and join in local sports.
At the end of each semester program, we host a Community Research Night where select students will present their research findings to the community. SFS research data is shared with the community, national park and conservation organization representatives, local NGOs, and the Kenyan government.
