SAFETY CONCERNS:
Kenya is currently on the U.S. State Department travel warning list, but that warning pertains explicitly to the major cities and high-density tourist areas. We meet all students at the Nairobi airport and transport them to Mpala by van. At the end of the trip, we send them off on a late evening flight in similar fashion. Students therefore do not spend time in Nairobi or other cities. The Mpala field station is in a relatively remote area that is far from the parks most visited by tourists.
Potentially dangerous animals such as elephants, buffalo, lions, cobras, and hippos are common at Mpala. In both the camp and field, all students are accompanied at all times by highly experienced Mpala staff; these local field guides grew up in the immediate area and their job is to ensure that students and researchers avoid any dangerous animal encounters. This protocol applies to all researchers at Mpala, which has been free of serious animal incidents throughout its history.
