2008 TRIP TO KENYA

The following note comes from Martha and Tony, owners and hosts of the excellent East African restaurant, Safari Village (1690 Danforth, east of Coxwell). If you're interested in getting more information about the trip, call them at 416 406 0534, or email: safari_village <AT> hotmail.com.

Hi, all.  After seeing some videos of our antics in Kenya a few years ago, some people have expressed interest in a trip where they can stay with local people and really get into the culture of the country.  So, Safari Village is planning a trip to Kenya in January or February.  Accommodations will be mostly with local people, but depending on where we will at the time, we may have to rent some guest houses, especially when we go to some parts of the country where returning in the evening might not be feasible.  We'll be renting a van to take people around.   There will be a few nights in the village where there'll be lots of drumming and dancing (and drinking hee hee).  So accommodations will range from staying with locals in Nairobi to the life of the village; really nice places, moderate places, and the village where you might get to sleep on a mat with the chickens running around.  There'll be a chance for you to catch an African chicken with the local children....  There is also the opportunity to stay at a luxury resort on the South Coast (Angelina and Brad stayed there apparently).  Transportation will be arranged, but it will be a good experience for people to take the regular bus from Nairobi to Mombasa... that's a 12-hour trip to experience, and well worth the experience. 

 

Trip events:

In and around Nairobi, which will be the first week:  the lake where the flamingos hang out, Mt. Kenya, Bomas of Kenya which is a cultural centre for dance/drum performances, the giraffe sanctuary where you can pet and feed the giraffes, Carnivore (a night club and restaurant where you can eat some exotic meat, if you're an adventurous carnivore), downtown Nairobi, and other stuff.

Then, a trip on the lovely 12-hr bus to Mombasa on the coast.  Mombasa is like a paradise, just like the Caribbean coast. There we'll hang out with some local Masai, catch some entertainment, visit Fort Jesus, and then head to the South Coast.

 

For those of you who drum and dance, we can try to arrange some classes.

 

Estimated cost for the trip, including food, accommodation and local travel, and these are only estimates, as much of it will depend on the airline costs and the escalating price of gas:

10-14 nights:  $2500-3000

21 nights: $3200-3500

30 nights: $3600-4000

 

Prices might be a bit more or a bit less, depending on how many of us, how much of a group discount we can get with the airlines.  Any outside safaris are extra, as are alcoholic drinks and any outside trips that you arrange from your accommodation.

 

For anyone who is interested, you need to get vaccinations at least two months in advance; cost will be in the $300-400 range. The Albany Clinic in Toronto can tell you more about that, but I know for sure that they won't let you into Kenya without a yellow fever vaccination.  You also need to purchase malaria medication which is quite expensive.

 

We're just in the planning stages now, so please indicate if you're interested in coming, and for how long.

 

You'll need a visa which costs something like $100. 

Martha Carnochan