Antenna: 2012 Field Camp, v. 2 build 001

 

PERSONNEL

 

 Instructors

 

 J. Wood - MTU

 

 John Compton - UCT

 

 Assistants

 

 A. Guth

 

 A. Miller

 

 C. Polk

 

 Adjuncts

 

 Amy Spaziani -  BP

 

 

 Staff

 

 Billy Wanzala - KE

 

 Dennis Gitonga - KE

 

 James Wood - USA 

Rift Valley Province

Field Assistant

KENYA FIELD CAMP

 

 

The Kenya field camp is located in the Kenya rift (see index map above). The main field camp is near the eastern rift in Nairobi and close enough to drive out to the rift each day. We also take overnight safaris to more distant parts of the rift, such as Hell's Gate and Mt. Longonot. For these trips we stay at standard tourist lodges. The camp for the coastal ecology course is north of Mombassa, near Kilifi and White Sands. Check out the annual camp albums here.

 

 

2012 Itinerary

 

For this year the Kenya camp will be split between South Africa (14 days) and Kenya (14 days). As an example of the general  itinerary, we will:

 

• begin with an examination of the Cape Supergroup near Gordon's Bay, mapping the folds and structure there for two weeks, then,
  
• move to Kenya where students will map the rift in the vicinity of Nairobi,
  
• then travel to Hell's Gate for a day or so to examine recent volcanics and
  
• continue with a survey of the salt (trona) deposits at Lake Magadi, including a look at the famous magadiite cherts including the chert mounds in the lagoons.
  
• we will conclude with a 4-day trip to the Kenya coast to examine the recent reefs and mangrove swanps north of Mombassa and map recent changes in the shoreline.

 

 

Changes may occur to take advantage of new opportunities and to visit better localities. Also note that 2012 is an election year in Kenya and we reserve the option to move the camp entirely to South Africa in case of political unrest in Kenya. Students will be provided an updated itinerary as soon as possible and will be permitted to drop out at no cost or penalty in such a case.

 

Note: we are closely monitoring the situation in Kenya and have plans in place to move the 2-week Kenya segment back to either S. Africa or Namibia if the situation warrants. Students will be notified of any changes in the program in a timely manner and will not be penalized if they decide not to attend. In any case, a full 4-week field camp will be offered.

Erratic boulder at Kedong, Kenya

Chert mound at Flamingo lagoon Magadi

Columnar basalt at Hell's Gate, Kenya

Kenya Rift from East Rim

Students in the field, Kenya 2009

Lake sediments - Magadi

Chert dikes - Magadi, Kenya

2009 field group

Kenya - click for larger version