University of Eldoret International Students from the Main and Town Campus toured Maasai Mara, a trip organized by Outreach and International Students Centre, between March 21st & 22nd, 2024. Dr. Lelei Kiboiy, the Dean of Students, accompanied the team while Mr. Joseph Keino represented the Town Campus. The "Tembea Kenya" initiative gives an opportunity to the International Students to appreciate and experience the heritage, culture and scenic physical attractions of our country, Kenya. The trip was meant to give a unique experience to our international students enabling them to be good ambassadors of UoE in their mother countries, thereby encouraging their country men and women to choose UoE as their preferred academic destination.
This trip started from Eldoret, via Nairobi Road, Molo, Njoro, Narok and finally Maasai Mara. Along the way students were able to see the world renown Rift Valley escarpment, forests, agricultural activities, farm practices, wildlife, topography and settlement.
The Maasai Mara was established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary. Maasai Mara, also sometimes spelled Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is named in honour of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area. "Mara" means "spotted" in the local Maasai language, owing to the short bushy trees which dot the landscape. Today, it encompasses an area greater than 370,000 acres, with no fences between the park and the Serengeti National Park's neighboring wilderness across the border in Tanzania. Maasai Mara is one of the wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, with its population of lions, leopards, cheetahs and African bush elephants. It also hosts the Great Migration, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the Wonders of the World. Once at the Mara, the students and accompanying staff enjoyed dinner and a bonfire during which they interacted with each other and shared experiences at UoE. One of the students, Mr. Galandi from Uganda (current ISA Chairman) mentioned that he had successfully convinced six (6) of his countrymen to join UoE and they are at different levels of their postgraduate studies. Similar sentiments were aired by students from the other regions of Africa. This is a clear indication that enriching the experiences of the international students is an effective marketing tool for the University.
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