Our 4rd annual trip to KENYA is among our favorite locations to photograph. If you have never visited this magical country, it is full of incredible wildlife and people. From the monkeys trying to get into your tent, or the lion prides of Mara along with many, many other creatures that will give you the opportunity to share wonderful images and stories with your friends upon your return. Join us!!

Feb 2010 = Dates to be announced

Fly from home to Nairobi (NBO), Kenya.



Arrive in Nairobi overnight at Norfolk Hotel, two nights. We stay two nights in Nairobi to give extra travel time for unexpected travel delays and to recover from jet lag. An option we can organize is a half day trip to the Giraffe Manor for tea or shopping. Also near by is the Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage. The Norfolk is a luxury five-star hotel and is a traditional starting point for safaris.

January 7-9, 2008

Drive to Amboseli National Park, Ol Takai Lodge three nights - game drives daily.
We decided to drive to Amboseli to experience the countryside of Kenya. Typically we fly to all locations but decided this drive is short (150 miles, about four hours), and we feel it will add to the trip experience. Ol Takai Lodge is one of the best spots in the world to watch elephant with the backdrop of Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. This lodge is situated in the heart of Amboseli National Park that is home to numerous animals including large populations of elephant, lion, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, and gazelle. Over 400 varieties of birds can be spotted in the area, and Ol Takai has a specially designed bird walk for the professional or the amateur bird watcher.

January 10-15, 2008

Fly to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Mara Intrepids, stay six nights. Located in the Upper Maasai Mara - game drives twice daily.
There will be an opportunity to visit a Maasai Mara village
between game drives. This is a good time to see the Maasai Mara
culture, singing, and dance. Feel free to photograph the people
in their bright clothing and beads. We often bring goods
(clothing and school supplies) to give; all is greatly
appreciated.
The Mara Intrepids is a permanent tent camp that is spread over
a large riverside site. Each tent includes large four-post beds
and moderate en suite bathrooms with hot shower and flush
toilets. There is a pool area, large terrace dining room and
lounge for refreshments before dinner.

January 16, 2008

Return flight to Nairobi - dayroom at Norfolk - dinner at
Carnivore's Restaurant - evening flight home.
This day we return to Nairobi. We will have time to visit some
gift shops or relax at the hotel by the pool.

Arrive Nairobi, meet, trf, 2 o/n NORFOLK B+B
Drive to Amboslei, 3 o/n Ol Tukai Lodge
Fly to Mara Maasai Game Reserve, 6 o/n stay at
Mara Intrepids
Return flight to Nairobi - dayroom at Norfolk -
Dinner at Carnivores Restaurant - evening flight
home.

Price Per Trip: To be announced

• ALL accommodation and meals on safari.
• ALL government hotel taxes and service charges.
• ALL land transport and airport transfers.
• ALL game drives in specially built 4x4 safari vehicles.
• ALL national park and reserve entrance fees.
• Two village visits, 1 in Samburu, 1 in Mara
• ALL entries to Samburu and Mara Manyattas.
• ALL internal air transport as specified in itinerary.
• ALL porter and airport assistance.
• Bottled mineral water with meals and in vehicles for
game drives.
• Incredibly knowledgeable, KPSGA certified guides
throughout.
• Temporary Flying Doctor (AMREF), emergency evacuation to
Nairobi.

Flying Doctor Service

Each Safari's client will automatically be registered as a member of 'The Flying Doctor Society' (AMREF) in East Africa. Applicable charges will be included in the cost of the tour arrangements. AMREF emergency Air Evacuation is limited to safaris in East Africa

• Personal insurance
• Beverages (bottled water will be in your room along with
bottled water in your touring vehicle, all other
beverages are not included.
• Personal laundry
• Personal spending money
• Gratuities to guides and camp (we usually suggest
leaving $1 USD on dining table after each meal,
$3-5 USD/day for room staff, $20 USD/day/person for
guides - we will take a collection together the last
day of the trip for the guide's envelopes - we split
gratuities equally among guides. I usually tip my
luggage help $1 USD. Dan and I will leave an
additional envelope for lodge staff from our group
as a thank you. The service is excellent, the guides
are excellent, and their livelihoods depend on our
help. Tourism supports Kenyans which in turn
protect the animals.
• Telephone/fax/e-mail charges; e-mail is VERY slow
and difficult
• Any excursions not related to the booked itinerary
• Optional meals in larger towns or cities
• Optional extra nights at camps or lodges
• Cost of obtaining passports, vaccinations
• Visas & international flights
• Excess baggage charges
• All items of a personal nature

CLOTHING

Morning safaris can be chilly, you may want to bring a
sweater/fleece with a t shirt underneath, it will warm up
considerably by mid morning. The afternoons will be very hot
and the evenings are mild but not cold.

On safari most people wear shorts and a T-shirt during the day
and put on long sleeved shirts and long pants in the evening
for protection from mosquitoes. Should you be particularly
sensitive to the sun a loose cotton shirt is essential during
the day.

Below is a list of suggested items to bring:
2 pair khaki cotton pants (jeans are rather hot)
2 pair sturdy shorts
1 skirt or dress slacks for hotel evenings (optional)
2 long sleeved shirts (for sun protection as well as warmth).
1 light sweater or sweatshirt
1 lightweight, waterproof windbreaker
1 pair sturdy walking shoes or running shoes
1 pair sandals
3-5 short-sleeved or T-shirts
1 bathing suit
1 bandanna (many uses! I usually wet mine and wrap it around
my neck for the afternoon tours to keep me cool)
1 hat with a brim (baseball caps cover your nose but not your
ears).
Sunglasses
A flashlight will be in each tent for after the generator is
turned off later in the night, we usually bring an extra one
or a head light. It is also good to have one at night walking
to and from the dining area.
Anti-Bacterial wipes
Any RX medicines needed, bee sting kit etc.
Suggest bringing Pepto-bismal, sunscreen, feminine protection,
cold/allergy caplets, siperal
Ear plugs (for plane)
Hairdryer with adapting voltage (220volt needed)
Binoculars
Paperback reading material for the afternoons and around the
pool
Snacks, trail mix, gum, hard candies – I usually bring the
single serving sizes of
Crystal Light to add to my water bottles – if you have any
extra at the end of the trip leave them for the guides – they
love them
3 prong (triangle shape) UK plug adapters - 220Volt
Luggage tags on all bags
A few plastic grocery bags (always needed for something)
Alarm clock ( every night you will be asked at dinner what
time you will like a wake up call – your room staff will
come to your tent each morning and wake you up with cookies
and coffee/tea)
Clothing - Carry basic essentials in carryon, half your
clothes in your bag/half in your partner's bag if traveling
with someone. If one of our bags is lost, you still have half
our clothes.
Flight Bag - This is a small, lightweight carryon that can be
folded flat and takes practically no room when it is placed on
the bottom of your bag. Comes in very handy when you bring
back more than you can place in your luggage.

Gifts - Quite often I bring gifts to give to the local village
we will visit, our guides and staff. Last year I told everyone
to bring anything they do not wear/use anymore in a spare bag
and/or school supplies. The people in the villages will
appreciate ANYTHING you bring. Used/new clothes
(adult/baby/child), watches, flip flops, plastic bowls, pens
they have nothing. You will not only have a spare bag to bring
back gifts you buy from them but your heart will feel good.
These people need to be supported, they have been taught not
to kill the animals or tourist won’t come. They are not pushy
to tourists, they smile and are friendly. They will sing and
dance in bright colors for you to take pictures. Education is
very important to them and they wish to learn. School supplies
are like gold. Thank you in advance! The guides like music, I
usually make them some CDs of music (country, gospel, soft
rock). We usually leave any unused supplies with them on the
last night…no need to hall them home and they will be
thoroughly enjoyed.

Laundry – you can leave your laundry in your tent with the
plastic bag provided each morning on your bed – your clean
laundry will be returned to you by the time you are back from
your evening game drive. No need to overpack please!

Netting – there is netting provided around your bed in each
tent incase of mosquitoes
(There are few insects but there maybe mosquitoes in the
evenings. The lodges provide insect repellent wipes in your
tents to use.

Camera Needs – batteries, charger and adaptor plugs, wide
angle lens & telephoto lens

Roller backpack style bags work well, you can usually roll
your bag to and from your tent to the vehicles. Nothing too
big for the international flights, they are not as easy going
as they are in North American about carry ons.

VACCINATIONS

The suggested vaccinations are:
Hepatitis A & B (now give as a combo shot, good for life )
Typhoid
Yellowfever
Polio (one-time booster shot )
Tetanus
Malaria Pills (Malarone is a good one)