Volunteer supervision
You will have regular interaction with the Local Ocean Trust Volunteer Coordinator, who will be your supervisor and is usually available on a daily basis. Other members of LOT and WTW will provide support and training depending on which activities you find yourself participating in.

 

When you arrive in Watamu we will provide information on the location and types of local amenities. Below is a summary of what you can expect.

 

We recommend you refer to a good guidebook, such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide, for descriptions of the area and especially for Kenya as a whole. Such guidebooks also provide an excellent insight into local culture and practicalities.

 

The Watamu area is part of a United Nations Biosphere Reserve, and so is an area of great natural beauty. There are miles of beautiful, mostly quiet, beaches with safe swimming. The coral reef is rich in marine fauna and flora, and offers excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities. There is also a whole array of watersports available in the area, as well as glass-bottom boat trips and deep-sea sport fishing. Mida Creek a lovely area for interesting walks amongst the mangroves, boat trips and birding.

 

The Gede ruins are some of the oldest in the country and are beautifully set in dense forest. The Kipepeo Butterfly Farm next to the Gede Museum is a very interesting project aimed at encouraging sustainable use of forest resources. Arabuko Sokoke Forest is the largest remaining tract of indigenous coastal forest in E Africa. It is also the second most important forest in terms of biodiversity and endemic species in the whole of Africa! There are lots of nature trails here and also a tree house.

Watamu village and amenities

Watamu itself is small village functioning primarily as a fish landing site and tourist area. There are 7 major hotels in the area, mostly concentrated at the northern end of the marine park. Most of these operate as small scale, package style, club operations. The local people of the area are mostly of the Christian Giriama or Muslim Bajuni tribes. There is a good array of shops in the area to cater for food shopping and medical needs. There are also internet facilities, local style eateries, tourist restaurants, and 2 prominent African bars/discos. Anything you can't find in Watamu you will be able to find in the much larger town of Malindi (20kms to the north). Malindi is also the hub for tourism and transportation in the area, and has a regional airport. The city of Mombasa is approx. 2hrs to the south by bus.  Visit http://www.watamu.net/watamu-village.html for more information about the Watamu area.

 

The volunteer accommodation is self contained and volunteers cook for themselves or can eat out. Food is included in the volunteer fees. Imported food is expensive but there is an excellent selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and meat available in the village at very reasonable prices. There are also many eating options available in the village if you would like to eat out, ranging from international style restaurants to inexpensive roadside grills. 

Transport

The project has a small Suzuki 4X4 vehicle for project activities and will supply basic bikes for volunteers personal use. Watamu is well serviced by public transport (“matatus” and busses) to Malindi and Mombasa.

Communication

The project has purchased a "Pay As You Go" mobile telephone and shall cover the costs of all calls made for project work. Volunteers may purchase extra units to cover personal calls during their time with the project. There are international telephone services available in Watamu, as well as internet services, though these are cheaper in nearby Malindi. The project is unable to provide internet service.

Weather

It is never cold in Watamu so basically bring clothes for a beach holiday. There is a rainy season April-July, which means that some days we may get a few hours of rain (if you come in this time a light raincoat would be useful). It can get chilly on the beach at night with the wind, so it is advisable to bring a couple of light sweaters.

 

Security and hassles

Security in Watamu is mostly very good. Use your common sense and remember Kenya is a developing country with all the associated problems. Don't leave your valuables, cameras, music machines, etc. lying around. Don't go onto the beach draped in gold or leave things unattended. Make sure that you lock your passport and money away or keep it somewhere secure. If you leave your room or house, keep it locked. Really just like home! It's not a good idea (as in most places) to walk alone at night, especially if you are a woman. We do have some 'beach boys' (often near hotels) who might cause problems 'hassle wise', so don't be lured into being familiar with them. Similarly be careful of over-friendly locals as they may be attracted by your apparent wealth: again use your common sense.

 

Medical Considerations

We ask volunteers to prove to us in advance that they have medical insurance and to give us the policy details and emergency telephone numbers.  The medical facilities in the area are basic but adequate for all but the worst accidents. In event of bad accidents and severe illness Mombasa has a good hospital and there are very good medical facilities in Nairobi.  For a fee you can become a temporary member of the Flying Doctors who will Casavac you to Nairobi if there is a serious need. We do have an ambulance service in Watamu, which is run by the Watamu Association and we have an agreement with them for volunteers to utilize this service to Mombasa hospital if necessary.

 

AIDS - This is a very real problem here. We don’t wish to dictate what you do with your personal lives while in Africa, but, especially in a tourist area, the threat is very real.

 

Malaria - We suggest that you consult your own General Practitioner before you leave the country and ask for information on the most appropriate drugs, and their side effects. Visit you local doctor at least a month before you come to Kenya to get all your necessary vaccinations. They will be able to advise you on what is required.  Malarone is a common anti-malarial used by volunteers.

 

If you have a medical condition please consult your doctor so that they can advise you of medical facilities and medicines available. Please bring all your personal medicines with you.

 

Visa Requirements
Volunteers need to come in on a normal 1-3 month tourist visa (they are normally multiple entry and will also get you into Tanzania and Uganda ) - they cost 50 USD (need to be paid in US Dollars, Euros or GB Pounds -  USD is best for airport and they won't have change.) For most countries they can be bought at the airport when you arrive, however we would advise checking particularly if you come from a little known country.
 
Feedback from Previous Volunteers
If you're interested to read more about ex-volunteers feedback on the Watamu Turtle Programme, click here.  We will be happy to provide you with further details if you want to get in touch with some of them. 
 

 

 

 

If you are interested in joining this project, you will need to fill out the online application form (you can also print it out and send it to us by post) – to secure a placement on the project, please complete and submit the form including two references and your deposit of £150.  If for some reason, your application is declined, we would reimburse this deposit fully.  However for those who are accepted, the full amount needs to be paid one month before departure.  You will receive a pre-departure package with all detailed information on your project, the region, suggested items to bring etc.