07/09/2026
Two of our Year 11 pupils travelled to Kenya with Camps International for an unforgettable summer experience, including a five-day expedition to climb Mount Kenya.
Their trip was packed with opportunities to learn new skills and experience Kenyan culture. They spent time with the Maasai, learning how to light a fire using only friction and dried elephant dung, as well as trying their hand at archery and spear throwing. They also learnt basket weaving, how to cook Mandazi, a traditional Kenyan sweet bread, and coconut beans. They picked up some Swahili along the way too.
The wildlife encounters were just as memorable. They were lucky enough to spot a leopard and lions on safari, while three elephants gatecrashed their picnic lunch. Fortunately, they were only interested in a drink from a nearby water trough. Monkeys and baboons roamed their first camp at the Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi, and pupils even heard lions roaring at night from outside the electric perimeter fence. They also managed to capture an elusive rhino on their camera trap.
The trip also gave them the chance to work alongside local communities. They travelled on foot to smallholdings to help farmers deworm their goat herds, learnt how to make concrete blocks and helped build lion-proof bomas to protect cattle at night.
Alongside the challenges and new experiences, the trip created lasting friendships and memories. Both pupils returned home with a deeper appreciation of Kenyan culture, wildlife and communities, and a determination to return to Africa one day.
A truly remarkable experience and one they will remember for years to come.
