Travelers arrive into Nairobi today for an 11-day safari in the magical lands of Kenya and Zanzibar.  As you exit customs, you’ll be met by a representative of WAI and transferred to our hotel located strategically in downtown Nairobi. Since flights generally arrive in the evening, no group activities are planned until tomorrow.

For those who arrive in Kenya early, we have a couple of optional excursions available.

Optional Excursion ~ David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage: For those who arrive into Nairobi a day early (August 18), an optional late morning visit to this unique site is offered. The orphanage is on the edge of Nairobi National Park where young elephants, who have been rescued throughout the country, feed in their mini herds with a matriarch. They return three times a day for their milk feeding and in hot weather, a mud bath. . We will visit the orphanage to see this feeding time and perhaps see the pachyderms wallow in the mud!  We also hear about what happens when the residents reach the age of three or four and graduate to the next stage, a release site in Tsavo. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the largest, most famous, and most successful elephant orphanage in Africa. ~ Estimated price: $190 USD per person (includes roundtrip transfer, guide services, and entrance to the orphanage)

Optional Excursion ~ Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park: For those who arrive into Nairobi a day early (August 18), an optional afternoon visit is offered to the nearby Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park, providing a wonderful overview to the country’s rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage. ~ Estimated price: $95 USD per person (includes roundtrip transfer, guide services, and entrance to both venues)

Following breakfast, we board clean and comfortable 4×4 safari vehicles and head north into the dramatic Great Rift Valley en route to the “Birds Paradise” of Lake Nakuru National Park. The afternoon game drive treats us to the first of many quintessential wildlife panoramas as we hunt (with our cameras) for Nakuru’s famous flamingo and rhino populations.

We wrap up our first thrilling day on safari with dinner and an overnight at a local game lodge.

Lake Elementaita Walk – 4 km, rated 2B

This morning’s short drive to Lake Elementaita extends the journey along Kenya’s Great Rift Valley Lakes Region (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). We lace up our boots today for a guided morning stroll with our guide along the lovely soda shoreline of Elementaita, soaking up rainbow shades of the many winged residents of the lake including storks, pelicans, plovers, and more pink flamingos.

Following a relaxing lunch at Elementaita Lodge, we continue south to large freshwater Lake Naivasha for a two-night stay at a colonial lodge.

Crescent Island Walk – 5 km, rated 1B
Crater Lake Game Sanctuary Walk – 4 km, rated 2C

We cruise this morning across a popular hippo feeding area of Lake Naivasha on the way to Crescent Island, the protruding rim of a collapsed volcanic crater.

After a memorable wildlife walk amongst giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and other non-carnivorous wildlife, we return to the lodge for lunch.

More animal-rich activities await this afternoon as we boat across the lake to Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, where a “Garden of Eden” game walk introduces us to plentiful plains wildlife – giraffe, warthogs, impala, zebra – on the way to an impressive jade-green crater lake nestled at the bottom of an extinct volcano.

On our return, dinner awaits us at Lake Naivasha Lodge.

Maasai Manyatta (Village) Walk – 5 km, rated 1B

We awake this morning for an eagerly anticipated drive across the Great Rift Valley toward one of the natural wonders of the world, Maasai Mara National Reserve. Upon arrival, a memorable walk with the colorful Maasai tribe leads to one of their manyattas (villages), providing an unforgettable glimpse into the daily lives of these friendly savannah dwellers.

We return from this remote cultural connection, anticipating dinner and the first of two nights at our Maasai Mara game lodge.

Optional Excursion – Hot Air Balloon Safari over Maasai Mara: A highly regarded, once-in-a-lifetime optional hot air balloon safari over Maasai Mara is available early this morning. The three-hour experience includes birds-eye-view, airborne wildlife viewing and breakfast in the bush when you land. Estimated price ~ $530 USD per person.

Official activities begin later this morning with a game drive among iconic East African landscapes of Maasai Mara.  Rolling grasslands of the Mara mark the northern extension of Tanzania’s famed Serengeti Plains and are equally blessed with an astonishing array of wildlife. Following a riverside picnic lunch, the safari continues with an afternoon game drive that takes us in search of the Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, and Leopard) and many other savannah species including herds of migrating wildebeest.

One more morning game drive in the Mara provides opportunity to connect with an ample assortment of African critters.

Following lunch at our lodge, we board small planes for an afternoon flight to Amboseli National Park. Anticipation builds during our journey to southern Kenya and a much hoped-for sighting of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, the rooftop of Africa. Standing over 19,000 feet above sea level, this highest free-standing mountain in the world is just across the Tanzania border from Amboseli, and should be visible if weather cooperates.

A late afternoon game drive in Amboseli treats us to some of the continent’s best elephant viewing. Post-pachyderm plans include a bush dinner and a relaxing evening at our luxury tented safari camp.

Following another Amboseli game drive this morning, we enjoy a final lunch together in the camp dining hall, then board our Land Cruisers for the journey north to Nairobi. Our destination is the Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to check in for our flights to another hemisphere and another reality.

We return to North America with a suitcase full of enchanting experiences from our shared safari in the fabled lands of East Africa.

Following another Amboseli game drive this morning, we enjoy a final lunch together in the camp dining hall, then board our Land Cruisers for the journey north to Nairobi. After saying farewell to travelers who opted for the Kenya Walking Safari only, we board our flight to Zanzibar to experience a completely different facet of Africa’s ancient and colorful history.

As one of East Africa’s great trading centers, alluring Zanzibar has long been a crossroads of culture where African, Arab, and Indian influences commingle. We spend parts of four days here enjoying an island-time change of pace from the mainland, basking in the sunshine and exploring the island from our beach resort along the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Zanzibar Stone Town Walk – 5 km, rated 1A

A morning walking tour of Stone Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site) affords glimpses of Zanzibar’s rich cultural diversity on a magical jumble of cobbled alleyways flanked by Arabic-style homes next to Indian-influenced architecture with ornate balconies and latticework. Our walk includes the Anglican Cathedral, Old Fort, former slave market, and an interesting connection with famed explorer, doctor, and Christian missionary David Livingstone.

After time for lunch on our own, we savor a Spice Tour, exploring Zanzibar’s famous spice plantations, introduced by the sultan of Oman in 1873.

After 9 full days of exploring Africa, today is free to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach setting of our Indian Ocean resort.

Optional Excursion – Safari Blue Indian Ocean Adventure in Zanzibar: OR, take advantage of an optional all-day boat safari through crystalline waters off the coast of Zanzibar. This optional boat safari includes a private island landing, snorkeling and swimming options at some of the area’s gorgeous sand bars, and the chance to see dolphin pods and a flooded mangrove forest. A seafood barbecue lunch is included in the price of this boat safari. Estimated price ~ $150 USD per person.

We finish this mesmerizing island day with dinner together at our beach resort.

After experiencing the allure of Zanzibar, we regretfully depart today on a return flight to Nairobi.  Because flights home depart late in the evening, however, we arrive in Kenya’s capital with time to enjoy lunch at the Karen Blixen House (Danish author of “Out of Africa” fame).

Our final wildlife encounter is a visit to the Giraffe Center in Nairobi, full of fun, up-close encounters with the world’s tallest animal.

Following a chance to clean up and rest at an airport hotel, we share a farewell dinner before transferring to the airport for our flights home.  We return to North America with a suitcase full of enchanting experiences from our shared safari in the fabled lands of East Africa.

To register, a non-refundable $1000 deposit is required to hold your spot. This deposit is higher than most WAI tours due to the complicated array of services we are booking and the deposit requirements of our in-country partner.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us a week or two in advance.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

Follow this link to read our full General Tour Conditions.

We generally walk at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour. Walks that are oriented more towards education may take longer due to stops for guide commentary. Nature walks, on the other hand, generally continue at a steadier pace because we’re stopping less to talk.In most cases, we are not “strolling.” We are walking at a relaxed but steady pace.

Your experience will be significantly affected by your level of physical fitness. If not walking regularly at home, we strongly recommend that you make a priority of “training” beforehand to both enjoy the trip and avoid medical issues due to overexertion. If you have questions about your ability to participate, please contact our office at [email protected].

We have adopted a walk difficulty rating system which contains a numeric indicator for trail incline and an alpha indicator for trail terrain. The explanation for this system is presented on the table below:

INCLINE

1. Minimal hills or stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: <200 feet.
2. Some moderate hills and stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: 200-1000 feet.
3. Some significant hill or stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: 1000-2000 feet.

TERRAIN

A. Almost entirely on pavement.
B. A significant part of the route is on well-groomed trails with very few obstacles.
C. A significant part of the route is on somewhat difficult terrain (rocky / rooted paths or soft sand).

Although we do not consider Kenya & Zanzibar to be a high elevation tour, the bulk of the Kenya portion of the trip is on a high plateau.

• Altitudes of our hotel and activities in Kenya range from around 5900 feet above sea level (fasl) in Nairobi to around 7000 fasl at the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
• Walks are shorter on this tour, due to wildlife and safety concerns, ranging from 4-5 kilometers maximum. Our highest walk on tour is also likely at the Maasai Mara National Reserve at about 7000 fasl, with walks at Crescent Island and the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary in the Lake Naivasha area being about 6200 fasl. Our walk at Lake Elementaita is at about 5500 fasl.

It is important to pursue any concerns you have about high altitudes with your doctor. As always, travelers are free to opt out of any activities.

Our official start and finish point is the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya. You will be met at the airport by a WAI representative upon arrival and transferred to our starting hotel.

We recommend that you contact Laura Pfahler, the travel agent we work with, to help book your flight arrangements. In this age of airfare complications and airport uncertainty, using a travel agent is a good investment! More details about flight arrangements and travel agent contact information will be provided in an Adventure Advice PDF by email after you register for the Adventure.  Please do not book your airfare prior to receiving these flight details from us!

• Laura Pfahler: 503.434.6401 or [email protected]

WAI believes strongly in the importance of travel insurance for financial and medical protection from any number of unforeseen circumstances that can arise before departure or during your Adventure. This is now especially true in the era of COVID-19, which is typically treated like any other illness for travel insurance purposes. Many travel insurance providers are available for you to consider. Laura Pfahler and Sharon Mitchell of World Travel Inc. are travel agents who provide air travel and insurance services to many WAI travelers.

Laura Pfahler: 503.434.6401 or [email protected]

Sharon Mitchell: 971.261.2091 or [email protected]

Check out Insurance Tips from World Travel for a short introduction to travel insurance. (NOTE: WAI receives no commission or financial remuneration from World Travel Inc.).

As always, do some shopping to ensure you are getting the best value. Using the SquareMouth.com website can be a good way to compare pricing.

Other options include:

Allianz
Betins
Travel Guard
Travel Insured International

NOTE: We suggest purchasing from a reputable, well-established insurance company (avoid buying insurance from an unknown company found only online). Travelers interested in purchasing “cancel for any reason” insurance coverage should be careful to check pricing and terms BEFORE they register for a tour. Recent changes in the international travel landscape has caused changes in the policies of some insurance companies, and made the purchase of this particular type of policy even more time-sensitive.

Both Kenya and Tanzania require the purchase of a visa in order to enter the country. More details on procuring visas will be provided in the Adventure Advice memo, which is general emailed once we a viable number of travelers are registered.

No preparation for a trip to Africa would be complete without a discussion about immunizations. We will address this topic in more detail in the Travel Tips factsheet that comes out about three months before departure. If you want to discuss this Adventure with your doctor before registering, here is what we can tell you now:

• Malaria is reported to be an issue in this part of Africa and Yellow Fever seems to be a concern in parts of Kenya. Although we have had no problems with previous groups, malaria is a risk that should be taken seriously.
• A Yellow Fever certificate is required when entering Tanzania from a Yellow Fever endemic country like Kenya.
• A variety of other immunizations generally recommended for travel in developing countries may be recommended by your health care professional for your visit to Kenya and Tanzania.

As we are not qualified to give medical advice, you will definitely need to see your personal health care provider or visit a travel clinic. In general, travel health clinics are more reliable sources of information in this matter than general practitioners. You can find travel health clinics online. Two examples are www.ushealthworks.com and www.passporthealthusa.com. Remember to take a copy of the itinerary with you so you can show the medical staff where we are traveling.

WAI has relaxed our policies and currently require no mitigation procedures (current WAI Wellness on Tour Policy). However, Walking Adventures International policy includes endeavoring to comply with any COVID-19 policies in place in the destinations through which we travel.

As of the date of this writing (August 27, 2022) both Kenya and Zanzibar require either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Both entities have an online portal that arriving visitors need to fill out in advance.

COVID-19 prevalence is waning and policies are moderating around the globe.

WAI will update travelers upon learning of any changes for Kenya and Zanzibar.

Travelers participating in the Kenya Walking Safari and the optional Zanzibar Island Extension must agree to abide by policies in place at the time of travel.

Upon registering for this Adventure, you will receive a welcome email and initial invoice notifying you of your tour balance and due date. All payments for the tour or optional services/excursions can now be made online.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure (May 21, 2023) and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us a week or two in advance. Please see our General Tour Conditions for the full terms and conditions for participation in this Adventure.

Around 2-3 weeks before departure, you will receive a final email packet with details of the program, including hotel names and contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a more detailed daily schedule.

Kenya & Zanzibar are one of our most exotic adventures! Fascinating native cultures, eye-popping scenery, abundant exotic animals, idyllic island beaches—a land full of surprises! We invite you to participate in this Adventure of a lifetime in stunning East Africa. Join the journey of discovery—a walking adventure to explore the history, culture, and scenery of Kenya & Zanzibar: Safari & Surf!