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Location
Accommodation Style
Food & Drink
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Overview
Camp Makongeni (Mak-on-gen-ee) is the flagship location for our Life programme and the first camp we built. Named after the community alongside whom we work, Camp Makongeni was designed and constructed by our team.
The list of opportunities available to you from Makongeni is amazing. On a personal level you are going to make lifelong friendships and strong bonds with the local community and be in no doubt that you will be making a difference. Evenings in camp are often spent around the fire with your friends or at the camp bar, which we run. You will also be accepted as part of the community and days playing sports and exploring the mangroves with the local kids will be a big part of the memories that stay with you forever and make Camp Kenya unique.
The beach is a short drive away and will be a big part of your stay at Makongeni. It's an incredible place to socialise and you have the full range of water sports activities on offer such as scuba diving, kite surfing and snorkelling.
Makongeni is a small rural community nestled in the coastal bush and on the edge of the mangroves. Fringed by palm trees, it is a beautiful, un-spoilt location and you will witness real African community life happening around you day by day. Don't expect to see any tourists in the village; this is your chance to realize your African dreams. The Camp is only 4 kms away from the Indian Ocean making this a fantastic beach and bush location. You can probably tell we are very proud of Makongeni!
Accommodation is in 4 thatched cottages in classic coastal style. The cottages are carefully positioned amongst the trees and surrounded by a wooden Boma (fence). There are 2 open air mess areas with roofing made from palm fronds, known locally as Makuti (ma-koo-tee) and a couple of rustic bars (The Big Hand and Tusker Tavern) constructed by your predecessors. Keep a good eye on your things as the monkeys do have expensive taste and a bit of a thing for chef's lasagne.
Special attention has been made for the environmental and climate considerations and tents are fully netted to reduce the chances of you sharing the night with mosquito's or any unwanted insects. No need to worry about snakes or spiders as long as you keep the zips closed when you are out!
Individual sleeping units consist of handmade beds, high-density mattresses, all bedding and individual mosquito nets. Local village craftsmen produce all the camp furniture from sustainable timber sources or metal. All in all it gives you the chance to really experience what its like to live in the African bush without getting rid of all of life's creature comforts!
The water for washing is pumped directly from a local bore hole and as such showers are available every day, just don't necessarily count on a hot one! Toilets are complete with seat and flush and linked to an environmentally friendly soak away. No doubt a big relief for those of you who thought it was going to be Ray Mears styley!
A mixture of solar power and generator provides power for the camp and there are British, 3 pin sockets in camp for you to power and charge your electric items and batteries. Please, no hairdryers or play station!
As with all Camp Kenya camps the food is excellent and varied. All tastes are catered for (OK we save the lobster for 25th wedding anniversaries) including vegetarian and vegan. Drinking water is plentiful, free of charge and included in all of the varied packages on offer.
There is a strong mobile phone reception and all key management and drivers carry mobile phones. If you have 'international roaming' activated on your phone you will be able to make and receive calls. We suggest you purchase a Kenyan sim card if you intend to use your phone.
You live amongst the tight knit local 'Digo' community providing you with an integrated, non-tourist and cultural experience. Makongeni Village is an underdeveloped and cash poor community that benefits from the positive infrastructure developments and local employment possibilities provided by Camp Kenya.
Use your time to understand the people, compare their dreams to yours and you will quickly see that you have a great deal to offer each other.
Special Safari prepared mini buses as well as 4x4 vehicles support the camp infrastructure and guest requirements. Local, safety vetted taxis are available for a small fee to transfer between camp and the beach.
We are committed to a sustainable development programme with the community of Makongeni and thanks to the hard work of everyone who has participated over the past few years, our achievements there are significant. Core projects focus on education and initiatives, which benefit the local school and constantly expanding classes. In the past 3 years, student levels have risen from just over 100 to in excess of 600 children. Makongeni has a specific community focus for projects and the following list provides you with a feel for what you will be involved with:
- Teaching
- Construction and renovation of classrooms
- Painting and Fencing
- Desk making
- Tree planting and Agricultural activities
- Sports and coaching
- Working on various community based initiatives with a local foundation called Rafiki Kenya
We need you to give 100% to the project work and be prepared to get your hands dirty mixing cement, bricklaying, painting and tree planting. We need desks making, fences erecting and there is a lot to be done with the playground and sports facilities. If you have a special preference for teaching experience or assisting, you can be integrated into the teaching rota and the rewards of standing in front of a class of young African children are hard to put into words.
Life at Makongeni can be an emotional rollercoaster and during your stay you will find yourself laughing and crying daily. To see hundreds of children singing their thanks to you is a life experience that no-one can take away from you.
Follow this link to find out more about the project initiatives for Camp Makongeni.
An amazing experience! I realised how little it takes to make a small but significant change in someone´s life
Samantha Deavin
