Week 1 Round up

The first week of our Leap expeditions is always a huge learning curve. Everyone is learning names, places, where every one went to school and where every one is going afterwards, who knows who etc. We love watching the group gel and bond and start making friendships which usually endure long after the trip to Kenya has ended.

This week started with the team arriving in Mombasa on Friday, getting to our base camp about 1 1/2 hours north of Mombasa, and settling in. The flight was delayed and a minor issue with a traffic policeman delayed arrival at base further. Saturday was a ‘hit the road running’ day with briefings from Tilda - Course Director, and safety and intro briefings from Nella - the Course Leader followed by a film screening for nearly 70 Kenyan children on Saturday for Nat Geo and the Disney Channel which Leapers helped with crowd control and data capture. Sunday was a relax and catch up day with time at Vipingo Beach Bar setting everyone up for a busy week of snorkelling in the marine protected area; cleaning coral; helping at a nearby community farming project - and getting involved in some dancing too; acrobats; sign painting; cooking lessons; a visit to the local market; making community stoves; helping collect and deliver water to the local community; a beach clean up; a safari orientation dinner under the stars and lots of info sessions (safety at all times) on how to, how not to, what, where, when etc.

All of this - and more - has gone down with lots of good food, laughs and a fantastic can-do attitude from our Leapers. Kenya often throws up curve balls, however, we have a great team and things always work out. It takes a bit of an adjustment to let go and trust the process but the wonderful Leapers seem to be taking it in their stride and learning that life in Kenya is always a safari (which translates as a journey of discovery).

So far, this team have bonded and worked really hard and well together. There is a big Friday night out later on which should top off the end of a really fantastic first week!