Conservation & Preservation Study Abroad Programs in Kenya

In this summer fundamentals course, the world-famous national parks and reserves of Kenya will be your classrooms. Through safari drives, field excursions, and an emphasis on the human role, study wildlife found nowhere else on the planet. Discuss different wildlife management and conservation approaches and learn about traditional knowledge and culture from Maasai and other community groups. SFS students live and study at the Center for Wildlife and Human Dimensions of Conservation. The Center is located in the middle of Kenya's Rift Valley, among three world-renowned national parks. The snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro towers over miles of savanna, replete with diverse wildlife. Our sprawling, grassy campus includes traditional thatched cabins and a central building just down the road from the small town of Kimana.

Earth Expeditions (EE) are Miami University study abroad courses designed for people looking for inspiring professional development opportunities while earning graduate credit. All courses engage with grassroots conservation and sustainability programs making a difference in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Our planned 2026 EE sites are the Amazon, Australia, Baja, Belize, Borneo, Brazil, Costa Rica, Galápagos, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Namibia, Paraguay, and Thailand. Awarding seven graduate credit hours (5 credits for the Summer Term + 2 credits for the Fall Semester), EE courses are hybrid and combine direct global study experiences with engagement in a web-based online learning community. Summer field courses typically run from mid-May through mid-August, with pre-course work beginning in April. The international field “in-country” portion of each class generally lasts 9-10 days. The 2-credit-hour follow-on fall semester course, “Inquiry & Action,” is entirely online and typically runs from late August to mid-December. This component is optional for students taking an EE course for stand-alone graduate credit outside the master’s program.

Are you dreaming of leading your own safaris one day, sharing your knowledge of Africa’s remarkable flora and fauna with others? The Kenya Safari Guide course brings you one step closer to that goal. Over 28 immersive days, you'll master the essential skills needed to thrive in Africa's wilderness. Through a blend of theoretical and practical lessons, you’ll explore Kenya’s rich natural landscapes, including the iconic African savanna. Set in the stunning Mara training center in the heart of the famous Masai Mara, the course is led by experienced instructors with years of expertise. You'll dive deep into animal behavior and gain an understanding of the geological, ecological, and meteorological aspects of the local environment. Learning how to plan and guide safaris is a core component, along with mastering the art of tracking animal footprints and reading signs of wildlife movement—skills you’ll put to use during extended walks and jeep excursions. Each day offers the chance to encounter majestic lions, elephants, birds, and countless other wild creatures, giving you a front-row seat to Africa’s unparalleled beauty.

This program is split between Brackenhurst, an eco-campus in Limuru, and the Pardamat Conservation Area in Maasai Mara. The course acquaints students with some of the threats to wildlife and biodiversity in East Africa while exposing them to certain local communities that are paving the way to important solutions. Global climate change phenomena, population growth, and increasing human-wildlife conflict are some of the challenges and threats to wildlife populations we are facing all over the world. These necessitate a re-examination of how we can help protect and preserve some of the world’s most important and diverse ecosystems. This program importantly probes students’ pragmatic problem-solving and field-based skills. In turn and in line with EDU Africa’s Transformative Learning philosophy, the program will encourage and facilitate their holistic growth (in fields of intercultural competence, professional development, global citizenship, personal growth, and intellectual growth) during their time abroad.