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Welcome
to The Maasai Centre for Field Studies, Kenya
The
Maasai Centre for Field Studies is collectively owned and
managed by a Maasai community in southern Kenya, and staff
from the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. The 'Maasai
Centre' operates on a nonprofit making basis and is a registered
non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to education
and development in the Kuku area - the most southeasterly
corner of Kenya's Maasailand.
The
journey to the The Maasai Centre takes approximately 4 hours
from Nairobi. It is 8km north of the Kimana trading centre,
and about 20km north of the slopes of Kilimanjaro and the
Tanzanian border. To the immediate east is the Chyulu Hills
National Reserve and just to the west the world famous Amboseli
National Park. The centre lies at the heart of the wildlife
migratory route between Amboseli and Tsavo and offers visitors
an unparalleled insight into issues of conservation The Maasai
Centre is at an altitude of about 3600 feet. The climate is
divided into dry and wet seasons, with the long rainy season
(which is actually just patchy rain usually) being in March
and April and shorter rains in November. Outside of those
periods semi-arid conditions prevail.
Whilst the Maasai Centre exists primarily as an educational
and research centre it also seeks to promote low impact ecotourism
in the area, and we welcome a wide range of clients from backpackers
to specialist wildlife watching tours as well as our traditional
guests from universities, schools and colleges. We are able
to set up travel to the area plus we can design and facilitate
top value itineraries throughout the region. See the 'education'
page for further details.
The Maasai Centre is located in a serene setting, on a secure
10 acre plot of undulating savannah land bounded by riverine
forest of yellow acacia. Accommodation is built using traditional
materials. The water at the site is of high quality directly
piped from Kilimanjaro's springs. We employ a recycling scheme
for wastes, and our power is supplied from solar. We minimise
use of wood as a fuel. The Centre is integrated into the local
community currently employing 10 people directly. Income is
distributed amongst the Kuku community and visitors to the
Centre also support specific education, cultural and environmental
projects for the benefit of local people.
Waste Management
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