On National Mazingira Day, 34 of us gathered at Bao Beach and crossed Lake Victoria to Ndere Island National Park. We planted trees, cleared plastic from the island's shores and forest, and talked with the community about protecting the lake we all depend on.
The day was led by the Tour Operators Society of Kenya (TOSK) and implemented on the ground by Adventure EcoTrips Kenya, alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and our partners. Members of the Friends of Ndere youth club and families from the local community came too. Our youngest conservationists were just 1 and 7 years old.
It was a good day and a successful one. But a conservation day is only worth reporting if it's reported honestly. So this report shows what we did, what we measured, and what we planned but haven't finished yet. We'll keep updating it as the follow-up work gets done.
From Kisumu to the island and back
- Morning
Gathering at the gate
We travelled from Kisumu to Bao Beach and met at the KWS gate under our banner: "Our Environment, Our Responsibility."
- Morning
KWS safety and conservation briefing
A KWS ranger explained how to move safely in the park and why the shoreline needs trees.
- Morning
30 trees planted at Bao Beach
Croton and Markhamia seedlings went into the shared spaces where the community and visitors gather. The other 20 seedlings were handed to KWS to plant later.
- Midday
Crossing to Ndere Island
Life jackets on, we crossed the Winam Gulf by boat.
- Midday
Three teams, one island
A boat team, a forest-edge team and a trail team covered about 5 km and filled four boats with plastic.
- Afternoon
Lunch and the community talk
Back at Bao Beach, we shared a picnic lunch and KWS spoke with the community about protected areas and a healthy lake.
34 people, from age 1 upwards
Each figure below is one person who gave their Saturday to Ndere. The two smaller figures are our youngest participants, aged 1 and 7.
- TOSK members
- KWS rangers
- Friends of Ndere youth club
- Bao Beach families
- Partner organisations
- Adventure EcoTrips team
50 indigenous seedlings: 30 in the ground, 20 with KWS
We brought 50 seedlings of two indigenous species, 30 Croton and 20 Markhamia. We mixed the two as we planted, so the 30 trees now growing at Bao Beach are a blend of both. The remaining 20 seedlings went to KWS to plant later.
Where the seedlings are now
The species mix
The KWS briefing, then planting under the Mazingira Day banner at Bao Beach.
Three teams, one island
On Ndere Island we split into three teams so we could cover more ground in a single day. Together we covered about 5 km.
Circled the island by water, picking plastic out of the shoreline and shallows, where waste carried in by the lake collects.
Walked the island's edges and pushed into the thick forest ring, places visitors rarely reach. They spotted a nesting crocodile, a reminder that this shoreline is active breeding habitat.
Walked the main trail up to the viewpoint, collecting litter all the way to the top.
Four boatloads of plastic
We came back with plastic filling all four of our boats, one of them the KWS patrol boat. The amount of waste was a finding in itself: even a protected island in the middle of Lake Victoria isn't protected from what the lake carries.
We didn't weigh the waste, so "four boatloads" is an honest description rather than a measurement. From now on we'll weigh or count the bags.
The crossing, and the trail team near the top of the island.
Back at Bao Beach
We returned to Bao Beach for a picnic lunch together, followed by a short talk with the community. KWS spoke about the role of protected areas like Ndere Island, and why a healthy Lake Victoria matters for the wildlife and the people who live along it.
Planned vs delivered
Every promise we made for the day, and how far along it is. We'll update these rings as the follow-up work gets done.
What we didn't get done
We'd rather tell you this ourselves than leave it unsaid.
- The dustbins aren't installed yet. We built two outdoor bins for the island, but they weren't ready in time to install on the day. Until they're in place, the island has no permanent way to catch the litter visitors leave behind.
- Most of the tree work is still ahead of us. We planted 30 trees ourselves and handed 20 seedlings to KWS. Planting is only the start, because a tree only counts once it survives.
- We didn't weigh the waste. "Four boatloads" is honest, but it isn't a measurement. Next time we'll weigh or count the bags so results can be compared over time.
If the trees survive: an estimate of carbon over 10 years
Trees take carbon dioxide out of the air as they grow, and they take more each year as they get bigger. This chart estimates how much our trees could capture over their first 10 years, if they survive. It's a projection, not a measurement.
See the numbers as a table
| Year | Estimate (t CO₂) | Low | High |
|---|
How we estimated this: we assumed each young tree captures about 2 kg of CO₂ in its first year, rising steadily to about 22 kg a year by year 10 (a commonly used figure for a growing tree), with a range of 40% either way. The estimate assumes every tree survives. Real results depend on survival, rainfall and care, which is why we'll count the surviving trees and report back.
Our follow-up roadmap
Install the two bins
On our next visit to Ndere Island, with a photo update when they're in place.
Follow up with KWS
Make sure the 20 donated seedlings get planted.
Check the 30 trees
Count how many survive at Bao Beach and report back here.
Measure the waste
Weigh or count the bags on every future clean-up to show real progress.
The people and partners behind the day
This day happened because of the people who showed up and the partners who backed them.
"The environment is our responsibility. Mazingira Day is one day; the work continues on every other day of the year."
Moments from the day
Join the next one, or partner with us
Schools, groups, companies and organisations can join our next conservation day on Lake Victoria, or book a guided Ndere Island hike any time of year.
WhatsApp us See upcoming trips