- Identifying coral reef refugia in Panamá (diving expedition, planned for Sep/Oct 2027)
- Creating a biodiversity refugium on Laikipia Plateau, Kenya (planned for Jan/Feb/Mar 2028)
Biosphere Expeditions is planning two new expedition. Below are the details as know so far.
You can also register your interest below. Those who do, will get first notification when the expedition accepts sign-ups, five days before the expedition goes public.
Identifying reef refugia: Monitoring and defending the Caribbean reef systems in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, Panamá
This expedition is now online and you can sign up to it.
Beyond Big Five voyeurism: Creating a biodiversity refugium on Liakipia Plateau, Kenya
Suyian Conservancy is an expansive 178 sq km private wildlife haven on Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau, where its savanna and dramatic kopjes (ancient, weathered granite rock formations that rise like islands from the plains) support iconic species such as lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs and African wild dogs (in fact “suyian” is wild dog in the local Maa language). These unique rock outcrops serve as vital ecological hubs, providing panoramic lookout points for predators, thermal shelter for wildlife and specialised microclimates for diverse plants. However, monitoring these species across this vast, 44,000-acre landscape is heavily constrained by limited resources. To build robust datasets and create a biodiversity refugium, the conservancy has asked Biosphere Expeditions to help through citizen science to collect valuable data on wildlife corridors, camera trap imagery and invasive species. This collaborative approach not only scales up ecological research, but also transforms visitors into active partners in safeguarding Suyian’s fragile ecosystem in the face of planetary upheavals.
KEY DETAILS
DATES
2028: 10 – 22 January | 24 January – 5 February (14 days) – TBC
Note this is 2028, not 2027.
TERRAIN
African savannah.
WEATHER EXPECTED DURING EXPEDITION
The Kenyan study site is located just north of the equator at an altitude between 1,700 and 1,800 metres. The expedition months of January and February fall within the short, hot dry season. A few afternoon showers should be expected, though most days remain warm and dry, with temperatures hovering comfortably between 24°C and 27°C. Night and early morning temperatures can drop to around 12°C.
EXPEDITION BASE
The expedition base is a modern and comfortable African lodge-type field station. It has single, twin/double and family rooms, either stone buildings or large safari tents, with linen and furniture. There are hot showers and flush toilets, some as en-suite and some in a separate block close by. Expedition participants will share a twin room by default; single accommodation can be requested, but not guaranteed. There is also a large and airy communal building for eating, meeting, relaxing, data entry, etc.
TEAM SIZE
Up to 12 team members + 1-2 local scientists + 1 expedition leader.
SKILLS & PREREQUISITES REQUIRED
None. You don’t need to be a scientist or have any special qualifications – everyone can take part and there are no age limits whatsoever.
TEAM ASSEMBLY POINT
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED
Much of the work takes place in fixed spots (e.g. laptop data entry and camera trap image classification) or from vehicles (vehicle transects and lion tracking), but there are also walking transects of around 3 km per day for raptor monitoring and invasive species mapping.
EXPEDITION CONTRIBUTION
€3690 (TBC) excluding flights per dates as shown.
Those registering their interest will get first notification when the expedition accepts sign-ups, five days before the expedition goes public.
