Local boy Makes Good, Karibu Kenya

I wrote about Bruce Szczechowski before when he was learning about terns on bridges. Common terns that make uncommon migrations every year. Thousands of miles from breeding grounds to over wintering areas and back again. Quite a journey for a small unassuming bird. Now Bruce started his own journey, one that has taken him to a far away land thousands of miles from home. From Wyandotte to Michigan Tech in Houghton to Kenya in Africa the trip is long and winding. Bruce joined with Alex Kotut whom he met at Tech and started Tembokanga Tours and Education Ventures.

According to their info, Tembokanga Tours and Education Ventures is a socially conscious and environmentally responsible safari company that strives to provide its guests with unforgettable wildlife moments in a friendly atmosphere of unparalleled service. The ultimate goal of Tembokanga Tours and Education Ventures is to be the most reliable destination management company in East Africa by offering the highest standard, most reliable and cost-effective services to visitors. Located on the equator in Kenya, Tembokanga Tours and Education Ventures operates in the heart of the Rift Valley, providing its guests with unique, one-of-a-kind nature and cultural experiences.
Specializing in Tropical East African Safaris and Education Ventures, Tembokanga Tours and Education Ventures tries to produce a great African wildlife and cultural experience, or help set the itinerary for other specialty tours, please visit their website at: http://tembokangatours.com/, Tembokanga Tours on facebook and twitter, and/or contact them @: info@tembokangatours.com. Karibu Kenya (Welcome to Kenya)
Alex and Bruce first met at Michigan Technological University in 2002. Alex was a study-abroad student, and Bruce was working on his master’s degree in applied ecology. After forging a bond of enduring friendship during their days at MTU, Alex and Bruce recently decided to form their ecotourism company, Tembokanga Tours and Education Ventures, in Kenya.
Alex, upon returning to Kenya after nearly 10 years overseas, and Bruce, after initially visiting Kenya during the summer of 2011, both saw a need to help the many people living in poverty in Kenya, in addition to operating a tour company. They discussed the idea of forming a nonprofit organization in Kenya, as well as raise awareness of the many needs of the people of Kenya through “voluntours” that engage visitors in nonprofit community works, as well as taking them on beautiful tours of wild places in Kenya and East Africa.
In February, their dream of doing more to help Kenyans in need became reality with the registration of America-Kenya Connections as a nonprofit organization in Kenya. With the launch of America-Kenya Connections’ website in late May with a link for online donations, funds are being raised and projects are now being implemented on the ground in Kenya! They hope you’ll join in support of the many nonprofit charitable works in Kenya!
Bruce has a friend that’s very sick and he writes an emotional tour for him of his favorite places in Africa, so far. Go to their website or facebook page and access Bruce’s blog and look for his update on Lake Baringo and his good friend Greg Wright. You’ll get an idea of what it’s like to join Bruce in Kenya doing his new life’s work. Good luck Bruce.

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