• > 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?

The challenge level of this trip is intermediate. Count on lots of walking and intensive nature explorations.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Participants

On this trip you will travel with an international group, most from Holland and Belgium.

Guide

An English-speaking, African guide accompanies this trip. An African camp courier oversees food purchase and meal preparations on safari, with assistance from the group members.

IN-COUNTRY STAFF
Our land representatives are situated in the destination country you will visit. We work closely with them and they function as our liaison with the guide, drivers and hotels. They are also available in the case of an emergency and their number will be provided on your emergency contact list.

PROBLEMS OR EMERGENCY
While you are away, should you have a problem, you have several points of contact. Your guide, our land representative, and of course, we are just a call or email away at our 24/7 emergency number. We will provide contact numbers for you before you leave. Please distribute this list to family or to your contact person at home. If someone needs to reach you from home due to an emergency, but is having difficulty due to language or bad connections, they can call our office and we will assist in contacting you.

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  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.

Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport.

Accommodations

On our camping safari we stay in game parks in spacious 2-person dome tents. Tents, mattresses, and camping equipment are provided. Participants will pitch their own tents.  Most nights we stay in game parks with bath facilities and cold showers. On a few nights we camp in the wild.

SINGLE TRAVELERS & ROOMMATES
On most trips, you can request single accommodations for a reasonable charge. If you would like single accommodations, please indicate your preference on your booking form.

On our International Group trips, if you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. If there is not a roommate available, unless otherwise noted, there is no supplementary charge.  On the private trips or with North American Groups, there is a single charge if we cannot match you with a roommate.

EXTEND YOUR PROGRAM
On most trips you would have the option to extend your stay in the beginning or end of our trip, or at both the front and back. It is always a great idea to be fully rested when you begin your travels. You will also need to coordinate your flight arrival with the arrival time of the European travelers. Their arrival begins the land program. For many trips the European participants will arrive early in the A.M. In this instance we recommend that you book your flight so that you arrive the day or evening before so that you are sure to begin the trip with the rest of the group. We will reserve the hotel where the group will be staying, subject to availability. Look for extension hotel prices in the price section of our literature.

HOTEL EXTENSIONS (in U.S. Dollars)
On most of your trips you will have the option to extend your land program at the beginning or end of your program.  An extension is recommended for group trips when the European participants are scheduled to arrive early in the morning, so you will be ready to start with the group. 

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 following website for a summary of temperature and rainfall in the region during your season of travel:  www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

A visa is required for Kenya.

In our literature, we have indicated when visas are required. But requirements can change so you must also check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure from your destination. Also make sure there are extra pages in your passport.  When completing VISA applications, be sure to confirm whether you will need a SINGLE or DOUBLE entry tourist visa. We will provide you in-country contact information for your visa application.  The website for the Dept. of State is:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.

VISA & PASSPORT EXPEDITOR
If you are in a rush for documents, a passport or visa expediting service can arrange your documents in a couple of weeks or a couple of days. We have used ITS EASY PASSPORT & VISA SERVICES, for years. They have easy to follow process instructions and have always been reliable. ITS EASY will honor a 10% discount off the processing portion of the fee if you let them know you are traveling with us.
Please use the following link for ITS EASY PASSPORT & VISA SERVICE:
http://www.itseasy.com/visa-expediting-services.php

TRAVEL INSURANCE
For piece of mind, we highly recommend that you procure travel insurance.  Make sure that you are covered in the event of illness or injury. If adequate treatment is not readily available in the area, emergency evacuation is often required by private carrier and can be exorbitantly expensive. Also, unforeseen events at home can prevent you from going, such as the illness of an immediate relative. Even things like delayed or missed flights or lost luggage can be costly. You are free to choose your own insurance provider. Over the years, we have recommended TRAVELEX. They offer a variety of plans and most importantly, they are responsive. Should you choose to go with TRAVELEX, you will contact them directly and the cost of your coverage will depend on the plan you choose. The cost will be based over the total cost of your trip and flights, and the amount is also subject to your age. Ask about the TRAVEL PLUS plan and the more economical TRAVEL LITE plan.  Their website is www.travelexinsurance.com and phone number is 1-800-228-9792.  It is important to get travel insurance immediately after booking as most companies have a brief window (10 days from booking) for coverage of pre-existing conditions, for example, coverage of cancellation due to a chronically sick relative.

Flights

BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS FROM/TO THE U.S.
DJOSER PROVIDES THE LAND PROGRAM ONLY.  YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK YOUR OWN FLIGHTS. You will need to book your own flights from and to the United States. Be sure to schedule your flight to arrive prior to the scheduled arrival of the Dutch travelers so that you will not miss the initial group meeting with the tour leader. Flight delays or late arrivals could result in missed activities or can even require that you catch up to the group, which may involve costly transfers. Leave ample time for flight connections and terminal changes. If the scheduled arrival time for the Dutch is early in the A.M. we recommend that you arrive the night before.


USEFUL LINKS FOR BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
ORBITZ:   http://www.orbitz.com/
EXPEDIA: http://www.expedia.com/

BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR FLIGHT, GET TRIP CONFIRMATION!
Do not book your flight prior to written or e-mail notification from Djoser that the trip is a "go". For instance, group trips must meet the required minimum enrollment. We will notify you of the status of enrollment upon request. Also, on very rare occasions, an unforeseen itinerary or date change can occur.  We advise you to take out travel insurance. Before booking your flight, make sure that you are aware of your flight provider's penalties for changes or cancellations.  We are not liable for penalties incurred for flight changes or cancellations. 

UPON ARRIVAL - AIRPORT TRANSFER
Upon arrival at the destination country, a representative, holding a DJOSER sign, will meet you at the airport and will take you to the hotel where you will meet the tour leader and the other travelers. Prior to your departure you will receive more information about this.  Be sure to give us your flight information: airline name, flight numbers, airport name, arrival and departure times.

FLIGHT DELAYED?
If your flight is delayed or canceled, please notify us so that we can alert the tour leader and land agent of your later arrival. It is possible that we will not be able to cancel or reschedule the pick-up for you upon arrival. In this case, you should take a taxi from the airport to the hotel address, which we have provided for you. Djoser is not responsible for this extra expense, however, generally, travel insurance will cover this expense.

Airline Tickets

Money

MONEY MATTERS
The cost of the land packages includes city-to-city transport, guide assistance, lodging as described, and only meals listed in the price inclusive section. You should budget for out-of-pocket expenses for other meals, fees for optional excursions and activities, in-city transport and other personal expenses.  See our prices for the estimated out of pocket expenses.

CURRENCY & CASH
On your trip you will want to make sure you are prepared with the proper form of currency. ATMs can be scarce and charge cards are not always accepted.  You will want to exchange money for the local currency.  Before you go, you can check the most current conversion rates, and you can also print out a handy currency exchange "cheat sheet" at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet

TIPPING
On our international group trips, for your convenience, the tour leader will organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip. At the beginning of the trip, each participant will donate a few dollars per day to the pot. The amounts will be disbursed to drivers, local guides, hotel staff, and others along the way.  If there are funds remaining at the end of the trip, they will be divided among the group.  The tip pot does not include a tip for your tour leader. On our private trips, tipping is up to you.

Health

Check with your doctor or local health authorities for the latest recommendations. Be mindful of what you eat. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and be sure to be equipped with your personal medications, painkillers, and medicines to prevent diarrhea and stomach disorders. The tour leader will also carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that travel and hiking or cycling can be tiring. It is important to be in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

Luggage & Clothing

Please limit your luggage to 35 pounds. We recommend a soft, rolling duffle bag. Hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle.  Be sure to bring good walking shoes that are comfortable and already broken in. Make sure any equipment that you bring is in good working order.

It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages. 

Resources

A good guidebook is invaluable. We recommend the Lonely Planet series as well as the DK Guidebooks.

Communication

Mobile telephone use is limited. Internet cafes can often be found in larger cities but count on a slow connection. Check with your phone provider before departure regarding coverage or consult the following webpage: www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml