Giraffe & Lion Conservation at Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya

It had been my dream since childhood to work in Kenya, and I found this volunteer program because I just couldn't give up on that dream!
It was my first time traveling abroad alone, so I was nervous about everything, but the staff gave me a warm welcome upon my arrival in Kenya.
Every day, I encountered various forms of wildlife, experienced Kenyan culture, and interacted with many people—truly immersing myself in the country with my whole being.
Before I went, I was focused solely on learning about animals and gaining experience, but I also discovered the wonderful value of connecting with people.
The three weeks flew by in the blink of an eye.
Next time I visit, I hope to have mastered English and Swahili so I can learn even more deeply about the animals.

I spent three incredible weeks volunteering with Giraffe Ambassadors at the Soysambu Conservancy in Kenya, and it was an experience I will always cherish. From the very first day, I felt genuinely welcome and well taken care of. The team created a supportive and friendly environment, and I felt safe and comfortable at all times.

The project offered a wonderful balance between meaningful conservation work and cultural immersion. Through this experience, I not only learned a lot about giraffe research and wildlife conservation, but I also had the chance to truly get to know Kenya as a country. The landscapes, the people, and the daily life at the conservancy made me fall in love with Kenya.

Living and working at Soysambu Conservancy was incredibly enriching. Being surrounded by nature and wildlife every day was both humbling and inspiring, and it gave me a deeper appreciation for conservation efforts and the dedication behind them. I am very grateful for this opportunity and would highly recommend the Giraffe Ambassadors program to anyone looking for a meaningful, safe, and well-organized volunteer experience in wildlife conservation.

I got the opportunity to travel to Kenya in 2023. I got to go to the giraffe ambassador location. It was about an hour away from Nairobi and it was gated their security guards at the front. It was well protected and again it was on the conservation, so no civilians could come in. This was only for people who worked there and for volunteers during my time there I got to spend time with the kids I got to spend time with the communities as well as overall just being there. I got to help build Eco stoves in the communities as well as monitor the birds and all different types of animals. My trip there was a 10 out of 10 because not only was everyone so kind and supporting, but when I needed help or when I was in distress, they were always there for me and never once gave up. There were a few times I wasn’t feeling too good, but they were there immediately and made sure I felt as comfortable as I could if you listen to what they have to say and keep an open mind you have more fun. The adventures there are never-ending and unforgettable. I plan on coming back very soon. I’ve been traveling around the world a little bit more but hopefully within this year or next year, I will be coming back down to go to the same program as Well. I hope this review helped others. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you again to the giraffe ambassadors of Kenya, I will be down soon.

I stayed to volunteer here for 2 weeks and it was a very insightful and fulfilling experience for me. The hospitality and staff were amazing and made me feel very welcome. We got to do a variety of different activities to help the community/wildlife. The safaris were also very interesting and we got to see many amazing animals and learn about them as well. The accommodation was also excellent and the staff always made sure we were taken care of. I really recommend this experience and I honestly wish I stayed longer.

The experience for our students was unbelievable! Coming from Dublin, Ireland our students would never interact with people, animals and all the small aspects of the trip that we were fortunate to encounter. Our students were lucky enough to work closely with the Giraffe in Soysambu Conservency as well as with the students from the local school. The entire experience will hopefully open our young students eyes to the world and show them how other people live. Collins & his team were on hand to help with anything we needed from medication to extra trips, nothing was too much.

Giraffe Ambassadors is a well thought out programme during which you can experience the daily conservation tasks and take in some special activities in the Soysambu conservancy. Collins and Tonny have huge knowledge and passion for their roles and have great interpersonal skills, making it a valuable, friendly and warm experience. We were collected from Nairobi airport and given first hand experience of life in Kenya, from the moment we arrived. We were visiting in advance of a proposed trip for a group of neurodivergent students. Collins and Tonny were able to work with us to consider changes in communication format to support our learners and worked with us to support the huge amount of preparation needed for students to feel ready for such an enormous adventure. They balanced the itinerary to offer physical tasks like building eco-stoves in a local village, with safari surveys, both wetland bird and giraffe. The giraffes were a big win. And we got to see lions, hippo, white rhino, jackal, several different species of monkey, zebra, hyena, a huge range of birdlife, as well as a very well supported poaching expedition! The list is endless! We visited a local school and have made some connections we hope will grow into an exchange of skills to support children with learning difficulties. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, we were very well catered for with great food, both familiar and new. Collins daily guide was invaluable - a very knowledgable young man with a wealth of academic and local knowledge which meant we came away knowing so much about the wildlife of Kenya and having had an adventure of a lifetime - we’ve made incredible new memories and new friends. Really can’t recommend these guys more - definitely returning! Thank you to everyone we met whilst visiting.

Giraffe Ambassadors are the perfect volunteering opportunity. Soysambu conservancy is incredible and there are amazing national parks, cities and towns to see nearby. I learnt so much from Collins and Tonny and had we had lots of fun too. Unlike other volunteer abroad opportunities, Giraffe Ambassadors gives you the chance to do impactful work with rangers to support the day to day work at Soysambu and with Giraffe Ambassadors and the Soysambu conservation team to monitor the incredible wildlife populations on the conservancy. This was an unforgettable experience for me and I hope to return to Kenya to see more of this awesome country and the people who made the experience what it was.