• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

We attract travelers of all ages. Our trips are very active and involve quite a bit of walking and nature exploration. We rarely use the bus or van once we have reached a city or location but rather explore on foot and take the local forms of transportation. There are often challenging hikes and always physical activities for the most energetic travelers, but also more relaxing choices for other participants. On some trips, we may stay a night or two in authentic local lodgings, which can seem quite primitive.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS (Traveling with a Dutch Group): On this tour you will join an International Group. Most of the participants are Dutch with a maximum of four travelers from the U.S. and Canada. These tours are very popular with many of our Djoser regulars. Since the tour leader will address this group only in English, this group should be enjoyable for all travelers.

The Dutch travelers tend to be very social and accepting. They are experienced and lively travelers. Dutch travelers of all ages are likely to take hearty hikes, and will take full advantage of the Djoser style of travel taking many opportunities for independent explorations.

Almost everyone from the Netherlands has a superb command of English. It is inevitable that the participants will lapse into Dutch from time to time at meals and on the bus, until they get to know you. The guide will help to integrate you, but you will enjoy this trip most if you are the type of person who can is comfortable initiating conversations yourself. If you have a travel partner, it will be easier to find your way into the conversations or at least to have a buffer during times when the group is chatting in Dutch. It can be more difficult for singles.

Again, the guide addresses the group only in English. For those who love the added international experience and enjoy a high degree of activity and independence, we think you will love “going Dutch”.  

GROUPS: Active travelers of all ages; singles, couples, friends, and families. Minimum group size of 8, maximum of 16. Mostly Dutch travelers with a maximum 4 North Americans.  

GUIDES: African camp courier. The guide addresses the group only in English on this trip. We also have experienced land agents stationed in each country who work with the tour leader and who can assist in case of an emergency.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 8 or more travelers for this trip. Please inquire about discounts for 8 or more.

Local Transportation

We use our own ground transportation in order to be able to stop where we want. During the 23-day safari in Kenya we use a truck and sometimes a bus that can handle the occasional unpaved roads. Most routes have paved roads. Some routes, such as north of Isiolo and in the wild parks, are unpaved. On Lake Turkana we will make a spectacular boat tour to Central Island. The route from Nairobi to Mombasa will be done in comfortable berths on the night train. Transfers to and from Tiwi Beach are by bus. The return flight from Mombasa to Nairobi takes about one hour.

Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use:
http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

During the safari in Kenya you will spend the night for most of the trip in comfortable, sturdy, double occupancy tents equipped with mosquito nets. You will set up your tents yourselves. This is the best way to be close to nature and to get familiar with the African ‘bush’. It’s a unique experience to fall asleep with the roar of a lion in the background! We spend the night on official campgrounds in national parks. The bathroom facilities are simple, with primitive toilets and cold water. On Central Island in Lake Turkana the tents will be on the bank of the lake with primitive open pit bathroom facilities that consist of a whole in the ground with a seat over the hole and a tent around it. In Nairobi and Tiwi Beach we spend the night in hotels. In the Kenyan capital you will spend the night in a centrally located middleclass hotel with private bathroom. At the end of the trip you will spend the night at the shore near Tiwi Beach in an apartment complex with swimming pool at the palm beach with a view of the Indian Ocean.

Use the following link to view some of our lodgings:
http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

If you are traveling alone you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex. Please note the cost of a single accommodation is  listed in the cost descriptions. If you request a roommate, but we are unable to match you, there will be no penalty charge for the single.

Meals

During the camping trips the group will be accompanied by a camp courier who purchases and provides food and drinks at predetermined times. The additional cost for the meals on these trips is $310 per person. You will be charged for these costs on your invoice at the time of your booking. This amount covers three meals a day during all camp nights and use of cooking utensils and fuel. This amount also includes dinner and lunch on the train ride of the Kenya trip. Breakfast and lunch on the safari consists mostly of bread and meats, salads, coffee and tea. Dinner is usually a variety of western meals. On all of these trips we ask that participants lend a helping hand with preparation and clean up.

In Nairobi and Nyali Beach you have to pay for your own food. You are free to choose any restaurant. Certain places in Nairobi only serve African cuisine, for example in the district south of Moi Avenue. Several centrally located hotels offer a weekly African buffet, where you may taste all kinds of courses for a reasonable price. Furthermore there are many Indian restaurants and also Chinese and Italian restaurants. Outside of town is the “Carnivore” Restaurant, which is famous for serving game.

Bottled water is easily obtainable.

Climate

Due to the topographic variety in Kenya there are huge differences in climate. The average temperature per year in Nairobi, which lies 5000 feet above sea level, is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, daytime temperatures will not go below 80 degrees Fahrenheit while at night it may cool off to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend bringing warm clothing for the evenings. Rain will fall during the “long rainy period” from March to May and during the ‘short rainy period’ from mid October through December. Showers usually fall in the evening. They are short downpours, but they don’t interfere with travel during these times. In the North, around Lake Turkana, are large differences in temperature from 96 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. The little rain that occurs here mainly falls in November with short, but violent thunderstorms. The shore region has a humid tropical climate with temperatures around 90 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. Even though the traditional travel season for Kenya is December and January, you may travel there any time of year.

Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

KENYA – Entry Requirements
A passport and visa ($70) are required. On the Kenya & Tanzania trip a double entry visa is required. Visas should be obtained in advance, although airport visas are available. Travelers who opt to obtain an airport visa should expect delays upon arrival. There is a fee for the visa, whether obtained in advance or at the airport. Evidence of yellow fever immunization may be requested.

Travelers may obtain the latest information on visas as well as any additional details regarding entry requirements from the Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 387-6101, or the Kenyan Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York City. Persons outside the United States should contact the nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate.

You will need passport and visas for Kenya. Over the last couple of years there have been changes with embassies requiring fees and documentation requirements. Therefore we ask that you request your forms directly from the embassy so you can get the most up-to-date requirements.

If you need a passport or visa service to process your documents or need rush service, we recommend a service called It’s Easy, located in New York. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com for passport and visa requirements and to download the current forms and rates and processing fees. Or you can call them to fax you forms if you do not have Internet. Please indicate you were referred by Djoser, Inc to get a 10% discount of the processing fee. They provide rush service for an additional fee.

It’s Easy (Passport & Visa Service)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500
Fax (212)-490-3224
Website   http://www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail      mail@itseasypassport.com

Flights

We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times.  You will find more about flights in the General Information section. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

Sample flight: Northwest/KLM
 

Depart NY	Return NY
6:15 PM	4:15 PM
Depart LAX	Return LAX
9:45 AM	4:04 PM

Usual flight times – subject to change

The time difference with Kenya is six hours ahead of the east coast and nine hours ahead of the west coast.

Airline Tickets

You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date.
In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:

•    A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail).
•    A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).

The first document listed is needed to check in at the Automated kiosks. If you check in at the
E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).

Money

Refer to www.exchangerate.com for current exchange rates.
The monetary unit is the Shilling. The values are:
In Kenya: 100 Shilling equals  $ .83
For one US Dollar you receive 67 Kenyan shilling.
ATM: there are some ATM locations in large cities
Cash: US Dollars
Credit cards: accepted at some locations
Traveler’s checks: hard to exchange
The recommended amount for expenses that is not included such as meals, entrance fees, optional excursions and personal expenses is at least   190 US Dollars per person per week. This amount is besides the amount that you will be charged for meals during the safaris. All entrance fees for national parks are included in the travel sum.

Tipping
At the beginning of your trip, your tour leader will collect a “tip pot” of approximately $2 per land day, per person. So that you will not be burdened with tipping those who assist you along the way, this sum will dispersed by the tour leader as tips for the driver, local guides and hotel staff. The tip pot does not include the tip for the tour leader. A typical guideline for an American tip would be $2-$3 per day but the amount is at your discretion and should be based on his/her efforts and your satisfaction level. Dutch tipping habits are different than North American guidelines. You may feel more comfortable tipping your guide privately to avoid the great cultural tipping debate. However, it’s up to you! We take pride in our Djoser guides who do their utmost to make your experience great. We do ask that you bear in mind their extra challenge of a dual language group.

Health

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s website at http://www.who.ith/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/iht. Certain inoculations may be mandatory for this area as well as a required cholera statement for Tanzania. Check current requirement carefully. If you are reading this online, you can click through the recommended medicines if underlined below for further information.

•    Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
•    Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), or have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical treatment.
•    Meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine, if you plan to visit the western half of Ethiopia (see meningitis map) from December through June.
•    Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
•    Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
•    Yellow fever, if you travel anywhere outside urban areas.
•    As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
•    Malaria tablets. But ask about side effects from certain brands.

Luggage & Clothing

During the safari a backpack or weekend bag is most convenient. Space for luggage in bus or truck is limited; try to keep your luggage under 30 pounds. We provide all camping gear including mattresses. You need to bring your own warm sleeping bag separate from the rest of your luggage.  If you prefer, you may bring your own mattress pad as long as it fits within your luggage. Also bring along a small daypack that fits your camera, water bottle, travel book, binoculars, etc. When you choose your clothing take into consideration that we will be camping.

While we are on the road, once in a while you may have the opportunity to have your laundry done, but you can also plan on doing your own at times. We recommend that you wear airy (cotton) clothing, something warm for the early mornings and the evenings, and a small folded rain jacket and comfortable, hiking shoes with good soles and not open toed. You may want to take a few hikes during this trip.

Because you will visit a great variety of parks during this trip, you will see a lot of wildlife. If you plan on filming with your video camera, you will need many rolls of film. It is better to bring film from home. You need fast film, 800 ASA, where flash is not permitted. Film and batteries are usually easily obtained but it is wise to take extra batteries. It is seldom possible to recharge batteries. Sometimes you may be able to recharge batteries for a small fee in nearby lodges or in certain villages. It is not permitted to photograph official buildings (police stations, jails, etc.), border crossings, roadblocks, military personnel etc.

Voltage: 220-240 Volt. They don’t always have electricity on the campgrounds.
Electrical Outlets: three prongs, 13 ampere, plugs with rectangular blades.

Resources

It is extremely useful to pick up a good travel guidebook. We highly recommend Lonely Planet. You will find a wealth of practical information regarding money issues, maps, local customs, history, activities, and much more. There are always great travel journals, historical and political books at your local bookstore as well. The internet is also invaluable for researching and finding great photos. Be sure to check out this trip’s Slide Show (see link above) to get a good feeling for the trip, lodgings and modes of travel.

Communication

By Phone: at most places you will be hard to reach. There are no public phones at the campgrounds in the national parks.
By E-Mail: There are Internet cafés in Mombasa, Nairobi and Arusha.
By Cell Phone: Reception is limited. Inquire with your provider about your service before departure.