Gap Year Programs in Kenya

To help you decide on your future destination, check out these popular locations that have enchanted former gappers in Kenya.

Nairobi. The beautiful capital of Kenya offers gap year opportunities where you can truly make a difference, and as a volunteer in orphanages and women’s rescue centers or working with street people and teaching English to children. If you’re interested in studying, you can get hands-on experience on your field of study at any one of the seven university campuses in Nairobi. When you need a break to recharge your batteries, you can hop on a safari at the Nairobi National Park, enjoy delicious food, get a taste of the African nightlife, spend time with your friends around a fire-camp, or get a little bit of shopping on (souvenirs are a MUST!).

Mombasa. Mombasa is a gorgeous cosmopolitan port city that also offers great opportunities for a gap year in Kenya. Whether you opt to volunteer in local village schools as a sports coach, teach English, math, and arts, or study one of Kenya’s many languages, you will immerse yourself in the African culture and absolutely enjoy the beautiful adventures that Mombasa has to offer. Let yourself be seduced by the laid back beach-vibe and the African lifestyle, travel around the coast where the Arab and Portuguese forts, Old Towns and ruins of Swahili outpost will tell you the fascinating history of this area.

There are countless activities that you can choose from when it comes to a gap year in Kenya, but here are the most popular that will guarantee a great experience.

Volunteer. Volunteering in Kenya is a life changing experience for anyone that signs up for it. There are a wide range of volunteer projects that you can apply for as a volunteer in Kenya, such as planting trees, building medical centers, or work in orphanages. You will build precious life long friendships and make new friends while working with homeless children teaching them English, math, arts, drama, music, and computers. 

Study Abroad. Not many people are aware of the amazing study opportunities that Kenya has to offer. If you are passionate about learning a new language, then you are in luck because there are 69 recognized languages in Kenya, so all you have to do is pick one or two. You can also find an abundance of studying opportunities in fields like conservation, wildlife research, and environmental projects. Whatever your interests are, there’s a study program out there for you for sure.

Adventure Travel. Quench your thirst for adventure with a year long unique experience of adventure travel in Kenya. Experience the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard) on a wildlife safari trip, relax on the gorgeous beaches of the Indian Ocean, get lost (figuratively) in the equatorial rainforest, cross the desert flatlands, and climb Africa’s second highest mountain. Or the first (Kili isn’t too far, you know!). You will never run out of activities for your adventure travels in Kenya!

Costs. With a favorable exchange rate against international currencies, the cost of living in Kenya is much lower than in the United States or Europe. So much so that you could eat out every night and still have enough cash to travel to your heart’s content. Begin planning your budget with the cost of your formal program. Different programs have different prices depending on the duration of the program and what it is included in the price. Check out our FundMyTravel and start fundraising for your trip at once! 

Accommodation. If you’re traveling on your own, you can easily find housing for as little as $50 per month. Most formal programs will have accommodation included in their price and you will live in designated houses of different sizes with other fellow colleagues. Whatever your preferences, finding accommodation will not be a problem.

Visas. You will need a visa for a gap year in Kenya, most likely a tourist or student visa, and our Embassy directory is the perfect place to start and check what paperwork you need to obtain it. But if you want to save time and the headache of it, most formal programs will handle the visa for you and it is all included in the price. Now you go plan some safari trips, or your next hike on the snowy heights of Mount Kenya!

Safety. Kenya is a relatively safe country, but petty crime, like snatch and run, happens pretty often in most regions—you should be careful with your personal belongings. The healthcare system in Kenya is improving, but at a slow pace, and diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), intestinal worms, hepatitis A and B, cholera, and AIDS are a high risk. Make sure you have all your vaccinations up to date before traveling to Kenya.

There is no place like Kenya! Don’t go with the expectation of extreme comfort, gourmet foods, and technology. Most people have a hard time getting used to the Kenyan food, which is meant to fill one up, not to necessarily be delicious. But don’t worry, you’ll be craving chapati and African peanut stew like the rest of us before you know it. 

Most accommodation houses that you will be placed in are quite big, with a kitchen area and an area to wash, but there may or may not be electricity, running water, or flushing toilets. But it’s not as bad as it may sound and you will get used to it so quick and have so much fun, that it won’t even bother you anymore. 

You will be surprised at how fast and easy it is to bond with people that at first glance seem so different than you. You will be overwhelmed with joy, sadness, hope, and faith. You will laugh and you will cry, but you will never forget the faces of the people you will have spent a whole year with and have become family.

There is nothing that you’re searching for that Kenya doesn’t offer: adrenaline-pumping safari trips, long lazy days at the beach, hiking through the mountains, crossing the desert... You name it! There are endless gap year opportunities in Kenya, so take your pick and get ready for the best year of your life!

Keep reading! Why a passion for learning is your best gap year souvenir.