Mum of six, Carla Hoskins, is fuming over her son’s school trip to Kenya, which costs more than a family getaway! Her 14-year-old’s nine-night jaunt comes with a whopping price tag of £2,186. For that sum, students get flights, some meals, visits to a giraffe sanctuary, a taste of Kenyan culture, a safari, and a work placement in a Kenyan primary school. Sounds fascinating, but there’s a catch! Parents still need to shell out extra for drinks, snacks, mosquito nets, vaccinations, and more excursions.
Carla shared her frustration online, pointing out she took five of her kids on a Gran Canaria holiday for just £1,800. “It’s a mad amount,” she says. “I don’t know how people can afford this in today’s economy.”
With the school suggesting parents pay the fee in three hefty instalments of around £700 each, Carla finds it surreal. She comments, “That’s more than a month’s food shop for us. I don’t know where they expect the money to come from.”
Her son Blake isn’t keen on the trip, but Carla wonders if it’s merely the staggering cost that’s putting him off. She joked, “Maybe if I win the lottery, he can join his friends.”
Reactions online were mixed. While many were gobsmacked at the cost, others viewed it as a fair price for a trip to Kenya. Suggestions came in about fundraising to cover costs, with one user noting how their child raised enough for a similar venture.
The debate continues: Is this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or an unrealistic ask of parents? Share your thoughts!