Itinerary

No itinerary yet for this tour, please contact us for more information

More Information

What’s Included

Three days in a Masai village, learning about day-to-day life and survival skills. Overnight bush camping excursion with Masai warriors. Transport between destinations and included activities.

Highlights

Learn survival skills from Masai warriors, participate in day-to-day life in a remote Masai village, listen to warrior stories around the campfire, witness a traditional Masai ceremony.

Dossier Disclaimer

Itinerary Disclaimer

Group Size Notes

Max 7, avg 5.

Meals

Most of the meals on this tour are included in the tour price. When a meal is not included, this is because there are often many options available – we would like to give you the opportunity to explore a bit and test the local cuisine yourself. In these cases, your CEO will be able to suggest some good local restaurants or options for you to choose from.

Meals provided in the Masai community are a mixture of Western and African cuisine prepared with locally grown food when available.

Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival. Please note 3 litres of drinking water will be provided per person per day while at the Masai village. Additional water will be available for purchase from nearby villages.

Transport

Van, walking.

Solo Travellers

Accommodation

Hotel (1 nt), camping or manyatta (mud hut) (2 nts, depends on option chosen at time of booking), bush camping (1 nt).

About Accommodation

Your accommodation will be in tents while you are in the village. Sleeping mats and bedding are provided. There is limited space available in traditional manyattas (mud huts) that can be booked as an upgrade for the two nights spent in the community. Thanks to a nearby hot spring, a warm shower is only a bucket away and available in the private outdoor shower. There are also sinks and toilets on site.

Joining Hotel

Hotel Boulevard
Harry Thuku Rd
P.O. Box 42831
Nairobi
Kenya
+254 20 2227567

Joining Instructions

Please Note:

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) will partially close the runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) during off-peak for rehabilitation as part of the ongoing expansion and modernization works at the facility. The landing strip will be closed daily between midnight and 6am beginning April 1, 2015 and April 1, 2016.

Passengers are kindly advised to contact their airlines to confirm their flight schedule in advance (particularly if flights have been scheduled to arrive within these times) and please update us with any changes to flight itinerary that may effect arrival transfers.

On arrival in Nairobi, an arrival transfer is not included. Please make your way to the joining hotel. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is about 20 km from downtown and your hotel. There are a variety of ways to get into the city. The dedicated airport bus takes about 40min to 1.5 hours, at approximately USD 5, however an airport taxi is recommended. This can be booked either inside the airport at an ‘information desk’ or outside of the terminal. The price is approximately USD 20, and again, this may take between 40min and 1.5 hours on average.

If you have a pre-booked transfer, please look for the driver, who will be holding a sign with the G Adventures logo and your name on it. He will be in front of INFORMATION DESK just outside the secured baggage retrieval area. At times there are taxi drivers who will want to get your business, so please be aware of them and look for our G Adventures representative.

Arrival Complications

Checklist

-Personal clothing appropriate for the weather (See also “What to Take” and “Local Dress” sections of this dossier)
-Fleece or wool jumper/jacket
-Windproof/waterproof jacket
-Towel
-Sleeping bag
-Comfortable shoes
-Small travel pillow
-Sport sandals
-Sun hat
-Sunblock
-Sunglasses
-Watch or alarm clock
-Water bottle
-Purification tablets or filter
-Pocketknife
-Flashlight or headlamp (extra batteries and bulbs recommended)
-Money belt
-Toiletries (biodegradable)
-Hand sanitizer gel/sanitizing wipes
-Toilet paper
-Camera and extra memory card/film
-Extra batteries (recommended)
-First-aid kit (should contain Lip balm with sunscreen, Aspirin, Ibuprofin , Malaria pills, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamine, Antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhoea, rehydration powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)

-Day pack
-Camera with extra memory cards and batteries
-Personal Entertainment
-Binoculars
-Waterproof backpack cover

Laundry

We recommend you bring enough clothing for your trip as laundry service is not available. The joining hotel has a laundry service for a fee.

Visas

All countries require travellers to have a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity), and you are required to acquire the entry visas for each of the countries visited.

The Kenyan Government has introduced an electronic visa process with effect from July 2nd. Travellers wishing to enter Kenya need to visit www.ecitizen.go.ke and follow instructions for processing their electronic visa in advance of their arrival into Kenya. As this measure was introduced with little advance notice, there is a grace period where travellers may continue to apply upon arrival into Kenya for their visa. You can obtain a visa for US$50. Please note that Kenya is now strictly enforcing a “blank pages, condition of entry”. All those requiring a visa on arrival must have at least two blank pages available in their passports. Failure to meet this requirement could mean that entry will be refused.

East Africa Tourist Visa

An East Africa Tourist Visa allows the holder to move freely between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda with only one Visa, and is valid for a period of 90 days. It also acts as a multiple entry Visa, so if you leave any of the above countries, you do not need a new Visa to re-enter (provided it is within the 90 day validity period). These need to be applied for in advance, and you should contact the foreign Embassy (of the country you will be entering through) for more details. The cost is 100USD.

Please see below for more information:

http://www.visiteastafrica.org/visa/

————–

This information is accurate at the time of writing, and please contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements and costs, regarding these, and the other countries visited, or see your travel agent. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation.

Spending Money

Money Exchange

The local currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES, or KSH).

Shillings can be obtained locally by changing foreign currency or by using ATMs (where available) which will dispense local currency. Your CEO will inform you where you can change money throughout the tour.

The easiest foreign currency to exchange for locally for any of the local currencies is the USD; however the British Pound and Euro may also be exchanged as well. Please note that due to past problems with forgery, USD notes that are older than the year 2006 are not accepted in Africa. Large notes (USD50, USD100 etc.) can be difficult to change in some places but will gain you the best exchange rate.

If you plan to rely on cash, please bring foreign currency (Euro, Pound, USD) with you.

Please do not bring Travellers’ cheques toAfrica. They are difficult if not impossible to exchange in many places.

Visa/Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. It is harder to find machines for Mastercard/Cirrus cards. We highly recommend that if you hold a Mastercard, you obtain a Visa card prior to departure and travel with both. This is also useful should somethingunforeseen happen to one of your cards during your travels. While there are many ATMs in the major centres, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Africa. Check with your bank.

Credit cards can be used in major cities and towns ONLY but please do not rely on them as a method of payment because they are generally not widely accepted. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. The majority of our optional activities can also be paid by credit card. Your CEO will advise on these.

Please note that in many areas there may be occasional power-outages, where there will be no electricity for hours at a time. In addition, ATMs outside of larger centers often run out of cash or can be out of order unexpectedly. These factors could affect your ability to access money from ATMs. As such, please do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money.
A combination of foreign currency and debit/credit cards for cash advances is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don’t want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com.

Emergency Fund

Departure Tax

USD30, usually included in most international air tickets.

Tipping

Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory and optional (up to the discretion of the group/guest) – component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. It is one of the most direct ways that you can have a positive economic impact within the African community. Although it may not be customary for you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, as an important source of income for those in the tourism industry. Giving a tip should be a seen as a formal ‘thank you’, and the action should in no way be awkward. The best method of tipping someone that has served the whole group is to plan in advance, and not rush when it comes to saying goodbye. A suggestion would be for each group member to contribute anonymously by putting their tip into an envelope. This often works the best and the group as a whole should gather to present the gift to the recipient(s), offering their thanks and showing their appreciation. This method brings the action out into the open, allowing for a friendly and appreciative interaction between the group and the recipient(s).

You may use the following as a guideline, all given in a per client format: Chief Experience Officer: US$5-7 (full day); Certified Safari Guide/Driver: US$3-5 (full day); Camp Cook, Supply Driver US$2-3 (full day); Local guide (optional activities) $1 for a couple hours; Restaurant/Café servers: 10% of cost of bill, especially when in a large group (no envelope required)

Optional Activities

Optional activity prices are subject to change and can fluctuate in relation to the high/low season and the number of people on a specific excursion. Not all excursions listed here may be available, due to season, or weather conditions. As generally not a lot of time is spent in start/end cities, you may want to arrange to arrive early, or stay longer after the trip in order to allow sufficient time to participate in optional activities there.

All prices are in US dollar amounts, per person.

Nairobi
Bomas of Kenya $10
Giraffe Centre $12
Karen Blixen Museum $15
Nairobi National park $50
Safari Walk orphanage $25
Animal Orphanage $25
National museum $14
Railway Museum $5
National Archives F.O.C.
The Carnivore Restaurant $35 set meal
Elephant Orphanage $6 (only open from 11am-noon daily, approx. 30 mins from hotel)

All prices are per person (unless stated otherwise), and are subject to change as services are provided by third party operators.

Health

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.

We recommend you contact your family physician, or your local travel clinic for the most up-to-date health information at least one month before departure.

Please ensure you have all the inoculations recommended by your doctor for travel in East Africa. Be aware that Kenya has many regions where malaria is present. We thus recommend that you take malaria medication; your doctor should be able to recommend the necessary prophylactics. Travellers should also carry a basic travel first-aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as medical facilities are basic throughout these countries. An important item to include is a liquid or gel hand sanitizer and/or alcoholic/sanitary wipes, as they will aid in personal cleanliness and hygiene throughout the trip. The local tap water should not be consumed, so any water treatment tablets (ex. iodine), drops, etc, would help. Three litres of bottled water will be provided per person per day while at the Masai village, and additional water can be purchased at nearby villages if needed. If you have any pre-existing medical condition, you must inform G Adventures prior to the purchase of the tour, and upon arrival, to the CEO so he/she can be prepared to help you.

East African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness):
This is a serious parasitic disease that is always fatal without treatment. The disease is spread by the bite of tsetse flies, found only in parts of Eastern and Central Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania. There is no vaccine or drug to prevent African trypanosomiasis.

Sand flies and Mosquitos:
Are found in the areas visited. Mosquitos are more prevalent in areas that receive more rainfall, and sand flies, though generally found on the coast, can also be found in dry & dusty conditions inland. Both tend to come out in the early evening and early mornings.

Malaria:
This infectious disease is transmitted by mosquitos carrying the parasite. These mosquitos are found at altitudes of under 1,800m, and thus can be found in most areas that we visit on this tour. You must have prophylactics which you can obtain from your local doctor at or health clinic.

Precautions against insect bites:
* Wear protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and pants at all times.
* Wear khaki or olive-colored clothing. Tsetse flies are attracted to bright and dark colors.
* Use bed nets.
* Inspect vehicles for tsetse flies before entering.
* Avoid bushes. Tsetse flies are less active during the hottest part of the day; they rest in bushes and will bite if disturbed.
* Use insect repellent. Although repellents have not proven effective in preventing tsetse fly bites, they are effective in preventing other insects from biting and causing illness.

Sun:
It is very important that you wear sun block, even on a cloudy day when it feels cool as we are near the equator and the sun is very strong. A sunburn can turn a pleasant trip into a painful trip.

Hydration
Even when days are cool please be sure to drink a minimum of two litres of water and refrain from drinking to many diuretics, as while when travelling outdoors the breeze can dehydrate you quickly as well as the heat.

Diarrhoea:
It is normal for people travelling overseas to get an upset stomach due to a change of climate and food. Please make sure that you wash your hands and stay away from street food.

Safety and Security

Medical Form

A Couple of Rules

Travel Insurance

Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation

Feedback

Newsletter

Travel Forum – The Watering Hole

Group Leader

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local Masai guides.

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