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Kenya Study Tour, 2004
The GA International Committee Study Tour to Kenya from 24 July to 15 August 2004 was led by Dr Kevin Cook from St Mary’s College, Twickenham.
Aim
To introduce geographical educators to key aspects of the contemporary geography of Kenya with a view to encouraging and enhancing their teaching of geographical themes and issues at all levels in schools and colleges.
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Methodology
The Tour had an ethnographic flavour and developmental theme and involved observation, interpretation and discussion with Kenyan specialists. It is hoped that teaching materials will be produced by party members for use as regional, thematic or case studies.
Itinerary
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The Tour took in the following locations and activities:
A tour of Mombasa included a visit to streetchildren project as guests of Oxfam and to hotels as part of an investigation of tourism development. After lunch we toured Mombasa Island.
At Machakos we looked at post-colonial agricultural transformation, i.e. ‘more people-less erosion’, as well as at sustainable development issues, the role of women in development. This included a trip to to Machakos agricultural research station where we discussed green revolution and genetically modified crops.
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We moved on to Naivasha to look at Rift Valley geology. We also took in visits to Mount Longonot and Hell’s Gate National Park (more on sustainable tourism issues including thermal power production). We also looked at horticultural production at Njoro. An afternoon visit was arranged to Nakuru National Park - pink flamingos and pollution!
At Baringo Rift Valley we were able to investigate volcanic activity and the hot springs at Lake Bogoria. Marigat and the development work of missionaries. Lake Baringo and upmarket tourism activity around the lake.
Based at the Marich Pass Field Centre we investigated Iten and the development of Kenyan athletics, Eldoret and large-scale agriculture, the Cherangani Hills, survival strategies amongst the west Pokot (meeting local families), and visiting markets and the Pokot. Trade with the nomadic cattle rearing east Pokot. There was a visit to a school and one to the Turkwell Dam project and energy supplies.
At Kericho we had the opportunity to walk in the Kakamega tropical rainforest, and looked at tea plantation agriculture.
We moved onto looking at tourism and culture in the Maasai Mara Game Park and took part in an evening game drive.
After a morning drive in the Game Park we travelled back to Nairobi. In our last few days we visited the UNDP for session on HIV/AIDS and had an urban tour of city. We also visited Oxfam’s Kibera slum education project as guests of Oxfam Kenya
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The tour ended with a meal in a smart restaurant in Nairobi to celebrate Kevin Cook's birthday (and then a club for some of the group).
Other images taken during the visit to Kenya can be viewed here.
(added 14.1.05)
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