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Beyond the Classroom: Westonbirt’s Expedition to Kenya

17th July 2025

Westonbirt students have just returned from a truly unforgettable expedition to Kenya, an experience designed to stretch comfort zones, build resilience and offer learning far beyond the classroom. The two-week adventure took students across the country, from the plains of the Maasai Mara to the dramatic landscapes of Hell’s Gate National Park, immersing them in new cultures, environments and challenges at every step.

Their days were filled with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities: learning from the Maasai community, sleeping under the stars, hiking through the Rift Valley, and even butchering a goat for a traditional meal. They met conservationists protecting endangered species and took part in unforgettable wildlife encounters, including seeing four of the Big Five on game drives, feeding a blind rhino named Baraka, and meeting the last two remaining northern white rhinos in existence.

Among the most impactful moments of the trip was a visit to Enkiteng Lepa School, where students connected with young people their own age. Many of the pupils shared their aspirations to become doctors, engineers and scientists. Eva Lewis, our Study One Head of Charities, spoke of the visit and her plans to raise funds to support the school, particularly for a mobile laboratory:

“This school has made a lasting impression on us. We’re going to do everything we can to help.”

Throughout the trip, students displayed extraordinary maturity, positivity and teamwork, adapting to early starts and long travel days and embracing every new experience with open minds and curiosity.

Highlights included:

  • Warrior training with the Maasai

  • Sleeping under the stars

  • Goat butchery and open-fire cooking

  • Hillwalking and foraging with Maasai elders

  • A football match at Enkiteng Lepa School

  • Boating on Lake Naivasha

  • Mountain biking in Hell’s Gate National Park (the inspiration behind The Lion King)

  • Close encounters with wildlife on daily game drives

  • Time at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, including rhino and lion tracking, and a visit to the chimpanzee sanctuary

A huge thank you must go to the Westonbirt staff who made the trip possible, supporting the students every step of the way and bringing the expedition to life through their leadership, humour and care.

The next Kenya expedition is currently planned for July 2027. We look forward to offering more students the chance to take part in this incredible experience.