Facilities at Mpala (Virtual Tour)

The Mpala Research Centre provides comfortable accommodation in separate rooms, communal dining for up to 35 visitors, ‘dorms’ that can accommodate up to 16 students, and camping facilities on the river. Additional infrastructure includes a dining hall, administration offices, a library, a GIS facility, a lecture and meeting hall (equipped with powerpoint, slide, and overhead projectors), kitchens, storage, laundry, workshop, garage (selling gasoline and diesel fuel), and the staff village.

Electrical generators operate at 200-250 Volts from 6:30am to 9:30am, and from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Power at 240V and 110V is available on a 24hr basis in the labs and offices. Hot water is available in morning and evening hours. Fax, phone and email communications are available 24 hours a day. Internal communications exist in the form of a VHF radio network. The Research Centre maintains three 4WD vehicles for Centre operations and support.

Facilities and services offered to researchers include:

• Access to a natural savanna habitat for both small and large-scale ecological experimentations at local, landscape and regional levels
• Assistance with acquiring research clearance, pupil's pass and export permits from the Kenya Government coordinated through the Resident Scientist's office
• Provision for local and experienced Field guides/assistants hired at a minimum rate of US $ 3.50 a day
• Access to laboratory, library services and Mpala databases

Laboratory

• Mpala provides laboratory space with basic equipment for DNA analysis, microscopic examinations, analytical chemistry, computer facilities, freezer space, a "screenhouse" for potted plant experiments, a herbarium/specimen collection, field specimen holding space, a darkroom and offices.
• Clean water and electricity (both 110v and 240v) are available in the labs on a 24-hour basis.
• Laboratory regulations must be strictly adhered to in order to create a harmonious working atmosphere

Library Services

• Mpala library facilities include a basic stock of reference books and journal collections on key areas of ecology and conservation
• Lecture hall and comfortable reading space
• MRC has subscribed to Current Contents on CD ROM, with journal abstracts in ecology, conservation and environmental sciences (about 1500 journals) from 1996-2004, available from the Resident Scientist's office.
• Also available in print and electronic formats are publications by Mpala Researchers

A list of costs associated with use of the Centre may be found here.