Senior Instructor and Head of Activities - Kenya
Savage Wilderness Safaris
Location: Sagana, Kenya
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 DOE + Accom
Closes: 10/12/26
Senior Instructor and Head of Activities at Savage Wilderness Safaris - KENYA
Lead adventures. Develop instructors. Help shape the future of outdoor learning in Kenya.
Savage Wilderness is looking for an experienced outdoor professional to lead our instructor team and Activities Department. You’ll combine hands-on adventure delivery with staff development, safety management and operational leadership, reporting directly to the Managing Director.
Around half your time will be spent delivering activities and working with clients, with the remainder focused on training, planning and managing the department. You’ll be based in Sagana, with opportunities to lead expeditions and programmes across Kenya, East Africa and Africa.
The role:
You’ll take ownership of instructor development, activity standards and equipment maintenance, working closely with our Stores team. You’ll coach and mentor instructors, organise training, assess delivery standards and maintain qualification and competency records.
You’ll also plan staffing, oversee activity safety procedures and turn trip feedback, incidents and near misses into practical improvements. You’ll have authority to change or stop activities on safety grounds.
Above all, you’ll lead by example: delivering excellent sessions, welcoming clients, holding people accountable and helping instructors grow in confidence and ability.
Who we’re looking for:
You’ll be an organised, approachable and energetic leader with sound safety judgement, strong communication skills and confidence using IT. You must have substantial instructional experience, strong whitewater kayaking and rafting skills, and proven ability to develop other instructors.
Desired qualifications and experience:
- Advanced White Water Leader and White Water Kayak Coach, or recognised international equivalents.
- Mountain Leader or recognised international equivalent.
- Climbing experience and broad experience delivering outdoor activities.
- Current outdoor first aid and safeguarding training.
- Experience training, mentoring and assessing instructors.
Raft trip leadership, rock climbing instruction and mountain bike leadership qualifications are particularly valuable. If you don't have we will assist in getting them.
Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references. We can support further qualifications and professional development.
Why Savage Wilderness?
Our purpose is developing people through adventure. We deliver rafting, kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, Mount Kenya expeditions and outdoor education programmes across Kenya.
Our ambition is to positively impact two million people by 2045 through safe, adventurous, fun and educational experiences, and set the benchmark for adventure tourism standards across Africa.
Adventure by Nature. Purposeful by Design. Safe by Standard.
The package
Salary: $30,000 - £35,000 per year, negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.
Additional benefits: accommodation, medical insurance, annual return flights home and work permit support.
Contract: Full-time, two-year fixed-term contract.
Location: Sagana, Kenya, with travel and expeditions throughout Kenya.
Start: Arrival on 15 January 2027 for a paid handover, taking full responsibility from 1 February 2027.
To apply, email your CV and a covering letter explaining your relevant experience and interest in the role to [email protected].
Closing date: 10th December 2026.