Year 9's Exploring the beauty of Taita Taveta Trip

From 25th to 29th November 2025, we set out on an exciting five-day adventure with one big mission: to build resilience, strengthen teamwork, and explore the rich history of East Africa through the World War 1 experiences.

The Year 9 Taita Trip 2025 turned out to be a beautiful blend of learning, bonding, and adventure. Students not only deepened their friendships but also discovered Kenya’s incredible role in World War I. Hiking Mount Kasigau was an unforgettable experience. Along the way, we made several stops to learn how the mountain once served as a war zone between the British and the Germans. The old trenches they used are still visible today, adding a powerful historical touch to the journey.

At Kasigau Base Camp, the real fun began. The students took on a series of hands-on activities designed to build resilience and teamwork:

● Tent-making: They learned how to pitch tents, an essential camping skill that also taught patience, communication, and a sense of ownership as they built their own little “homes” for the two nights.

● Cooking their own meals: From planning to prepping to serving, students learned that teamwork is the real secret ingredient. They made mistakes, made discoveries, and most importantly made memories.

● Summiting the lower peak of Mt. Kasigau: This was the ultimate endurance test. The 14 km hike challenged their strength and determination. Shared effort turned into shared triumph.

● Also, students learned about the main economic activities of the Wakasigau (the community living around Kasigau). Local men, who are primarily artisanal miners, showcased a variety of gemstones and explained how they are extracted. The women demonstrated the beautiful craft of basket-making using sisal fibres, guiding students through the entire hand-weaving and knitting process. It was an enriching cultural experience that gave the students a deeper appreciation of the community’s traditions and livelihoods.

We could not leave Taita without a magical moment in the wild, a thrilling game drive in Tsavo East National Park, where herds of beautiful, rust-coloured elephants greeted us in their natural home. A perfect ending to an already unforgettable journey.

The Year 9 Taita trip brought learning to life. Students walked away with stronger bonds, new skills, and memories that will stay with them for years. We are already excited for the next adventure that will continue shaping their resilience and curiosity.

A heartfelt thank you to all parents and guardians for your constant support and trust. Your encouragement made this experience possible, and we deeply appreciate it.

Daniel Juma

Head of Year 9

Student Experience: Our Taita Taveta Trip

On Tuesday, 25th of October, we commenced our long-awaited trip to Kasigau Base Camp. We departed from school before sunrise at around 5:30 a.m., and by 6:45 a.m. we had arrived at the SGR station. After collecting our bags at the terminal, we swiftly made our way through security and baggage checks. At around 7:30 a.m., we boarded the SGR for a smooth journey to Voi town.

We arrived at 11:30 a.m. and immediately boarded the Infinity buses that would take us to Kasigau Base Camp. The two-hour drive filled with endless singing went by quickly, and soon we were stepping out into the warm air of the Taita hills. After setting up our tents, we gathered for a briefing from Infinity’s head guide, Chris, who explained how everything at camp would run. For the rest of the afternoon, we enjoyed some well-earned relaxation time.

Our first dinner was a hearty meal of maharagwe, chapati, and rice. Later that evening, we had another short briefing, although it was repeatedly interrupted by the humongous bugs that seemed determined to join the meeting. After a long night adjusting to sleeping in tents, we woke up early to prepare for the big hike.

We grabbed our day bags and sat down to a delicious breakfast of mandazi, beans, boiled eggs, and sausages before setting off. What began with excitement quickly turned into exhaustion during the second and third hours of climbing. Along the way, we observed many plant features we had learned about in Geography such as buttress roots and epiphytes, which made the hike even more meaningful. As we neared the summit, we picked up the pace, and finally we found ourselves gazing out across the vast plains of Tsavo and even into Tanzania.

Returning to camp, we prepared and cooked our own dinner, which… for most of us… was a complete disaster. That night, completely worn out from the hike, we slept like logs.

The next morning, after breakfast, we visited a group of local women who demonstrated the traditional art of weaving baskets. It was fascinating watching how skillfully they worked with natural fibres. Nearby, local miners displayed precious stones and minerals they had collected, and many of us bought small pieces as souvenirs.

Later that afternoon, we travelled to Voi wildlife lodge and the excitement exploded the moment we saw the swimming pool. Everyone jumped in, and we had an incredible time splashing, racing, diving, and relaxing. Dinner was a full buffet, and after so much activity, it felt like the greatest meal ever. That night, we had the best sleep of our lives.

The next day began with a good breakfast before we went outside for a series of team-building activities. These games had us laughing nonstop and working together in ways we never expected. Afterwards, we all headed back into the pool for another round of fun before taking time to admire the colourful fish in the lodge’s pond.

In the late afternoon, we departed for our game drive. We spotted a variety of animals, such as guinea fowls, many herds of elephants and a cheetah next to the watering hole! When we returned, we had dinner and celebrated the twins' birthday. Once again sleeping incredibly well.

On the final morning, we packed up and made our way back to Nairobi via the SGR, tired but full of unforgettable memories. Our Taita trip blended friendship, nature and so much fun.

Thank you teachers and infinity staff for supervising us on this trip.

By Zakariah Aden