Every March since 1994, the Department of Geography has taken a group of second year students to the Marich Pass Field Centre in North West Kenya.

The area around the Marich Pass and West Pokot district represents an ideal site for exploring how indigenous peoples such as the Pokot and Turkana interact with their semi-arid environment. Many of these people still live in fairly traditional ways, although the influence of modernisation is now increasing rapidly. The field trip lasts for approximately 10 days and provides an opportunity for students to learn a variety of social science and physical science techniques, which address a wide range of geographical issues. It is designed as an integrated development-environment field course, complementing relevant taught second year courses. Moreover, for many of our students it is the first opportunity they have had to experience life in a part of the world far removed from Europe and North America.

Learning Outcomes

This fieldtrip provides a detailed geographical and cultural introduction to the Marich Pass area of North West Kenya. Students will acquire a good working knowledge of physical and human geographical techniques such as:

• Systematic field observation
• Interviewing (with the help of local interpreters)
• Survey and questionnaire research
• Morphological mapping
• Land survey
• Chemical analysis of water and soil

In addition it will provide an understanding of the complex interactions between people and a semi-arid environment which is subject to rapid and marked seasonal variation. Human and physical geography are thus integrated in this study programme. The training offered in Kenya is diverse and the academic staff leading the field trip have extensive experience of the region.

Health and Safety

This field trip is committed to ensuring the highest standards of health and safety. Every student attending this field course receives extensive briefings on the nature of the region and students are given clear recommendations regarding health care relevant for a remote part of Kenya. Staff members leading the field trip are all current qualified first aiders. Comprehensive insurance includes emergency evacuation. Risk assessment and medical information forms are completed before leaving Egham.