In Africa, education tourism or edu-tourism refers to any "programme in which participants travel to a location as a group with the primary purpose of engaging in a learning experience directly related to the location”. It is comprised of several sub-types including ecotourism, heritage tourism, rural/farm tourism, and student exchanges between educational institutions. The notion of traveling for educational purposes is not new and its popularity in the tourism market is only expected to increase both locally and abroad. Victoria safaris is eager to increase its tourism earnings by tapping into this growing market phenomenon.

We take you to East Africa where we know and understand best in these resources. These resources may be categorized into the following dimensions in Kenya and East Africa as a whole:

Educational Tourism
These include; Agro tourism in western Kenya, community and cultural tours in Kenya, studying aquaculture in relation to Nile Perch, Tilapia and catfish in lake Victoria to discover their ecological limits; monitoring flamingoes(birds) migration in Kenya to restore declining populations and manage habitat change; tracking the habitats of rare endemic carnivores-the African lion and leopard; measuring the impact of public health education and clinical testing of intestinal parasites of remote villages around lake Victoria ; surveying traditional herbalists to preserve indigenous knowledge in the western Kenya region; a geographical, wildlife clubs, tourism clubs, agricultural shows and health club tours in Kenya are part of these resources.

Community, Cultural and Historical Education Tourism
This tour takes you to the communities Cultural and themes. These include: The culture of the luos around Lake Victoria, the culture of the Masai in the Kenya -Tanzania borders, arts and crafts of the western Kenya people, old architectural drawings and the old buildings in the cities of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, different African languages, archaeological sites, music, dance, slave trade, etc. Markets for Education Tourism in Sub-Sahara Africa

Ecotourism and Nature based Educational Tourism
Ecotourism involves visiting natural areas with the objectives of learning, studying or participating in activities that do not bring negative effects to the environment; whilst protecting and empowering the local community socially and economically. We consider an Eco Tour to be a trip that causes minimal impact to the environment and local people. The site is usually culturally and biologically diverse and attracts tourists and students who have a common interest in nature, wildlife and culture.

By choosing to go on an Eco Tour you will be given a unique opportunity to learn and experience nature. In addition a greater awareness of environmental issues will be developed as well as learning practices that can be incorporated in to your everyday routine on return. A fundamental element of an Eco Tour is the education of environmental issues such as, the protection of natural resources or endangered species, usually relevant to the destination. This may be conducted through lectures, involvement in conservation projects or simply by learning from our knowledgeable tour guides.

Rural Educational Tourism in Africa
The concept of Rural Educational Tourism is a direct expansion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience rural cultural life at first hand. Rural Tourism is gathering strong support from small communities as rural people have realized the benefits of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of nature travel. Rural Educational tourism is a mild form of sustainable tourist development and multi-activity in rural areas through which the visitor/student has the opportunity to get acquainted with agricultural areas, agricultural occupations, local products, traditional cuisine and the daily life of the people, as well as the cultural elements and the authentic features of the area, while showing respect for the environment and tradition. Moreover, this activity brings visitors closer to nature and rural activities in which they can participate, be entertained and feel the pleasure of touring, learning and discovering. At the same time, it mobilizes the productive, cultural and developmental forces of an area, contributing in this way to the sustainable environmental, economic and social development of the rural area. Victoria safaris will take you for this tour.

Study abroad programs for foreign visitors

Victoria Safaris offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to study in East Africa throughout the year. This program aims at preparing culturally-sensitive and diverse-thinking individuals from various academic and cultural backgrounds who are committed to experiential cross-cultural learning.

The Study Abroad Programmes focus on the following main areas in Kenya:-

Student Cross Cultural Exchange programme in Kenya;
This takes students to Western Kenya to the land of the Luos of central Nyanza who have traditionally subsisted on fishing and small scale farming. Students will be placed in individual home stays where they will begin to explore issues of tradition vs. modernity, change and continuity in socio-economic practices, and community vs state in a capitalist state. Here they immerse themselves in the daily life and ritual of their host community and work with locals on projects chosen by community leaders. They stay in homesteads in the rural village in Kenya where they will eat local foods, sleep in a local rural homestead, herd cattle ,use oxen plough, ride bicycles to the market, attend market days, and other village chores. Through hard work, they begin to understand and appreciate the problems and joys of living in a developing country. Those seeking overseas voluntary work and volunteer opportunities abroad will discover the difference one individual can make.

Whether you find yourself teaching English in a school in Africa, building a community center, or tending to village daily chores in Kenya, one thing is certain: this overseas voluntary work experience will change your life. These are a transformative experience to remember and to grow on. All student exchange programs end with 6 to 10 days spent exploring the environment and culture of the surrounding country. On these adventures, you might visit the Lake Victoria wildlife sanctuaries and the Maasai Mara national reserve, Ndere Island national park and Kakamega forest. Our high school summer programs are designed both for adventure and reflection. This final period of your high school programme offers you an opportunity to reflect on the experience and how you will integrate it into your life back home.

The student exchange programme is a two to three week home stay in a remote rural village. We can extend this program as per the demands of the students or the programme organisers. Our high school summer programs allow a maximum of 18 students per group; have two leaders and two to three in-country support staff.

Urbanization and change in Kenya
This takes students to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya where they will examine developmental and environmental issues that are both experienced and caused by the urban space. Students will meet and discuss with a selection of Nairobians their understanding and interpretation of the impact globalization has to them and their city. An urban home stay component will be used to integrate these discussions and interpretations into practical knowledge.

Wildlife Conservation and Ecology in Kenya
This will allow students to experience first-hand the wonders of Kenya’s renowned wildlife heritage in the Maasai Mara while exploring the complex challenges faced by the traditional Maasai communities living in wildlife protected areas. Students will be encouraged to discuss with their hosts the intricate relationship that exists between a traditional society that has managed to fend off the beckoning of westernization and state machinery that seeks to embrace westernization at all costs.

Islam and Tourism in Mombasa
In this final part of the programme students will have an opportunity to live and interact with an urban Muslim community in Mombasa-the Swahili. Students will examine the critical role tourism plays in the economy and lives of Swahili people of Mombasa. They will learn about the challenges of balancing tourism, conservation in Old Town, and the fragile local Muslim culture.