Discover Kenya: 7 Towns Including Kisumu

Discover Kenya in 3 Weeks: 7 towns including Mombasa, Malindi, Nairobi, Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Kwale, Kisumu

Duration: 21 Days
Project Managers: Touch Africa International

Objectives of the Trip:
* To take participants out of their comfort zone (safely), and into the realm of where almost 50 per cent (maybe more) of the world's population live - day-to-day survival.
* To expose participants to the beauty of Africa - the people, the ecosystem, and the ability to be happy with few of the material comforts in life.
* To take back in a community charity project that will have a direct impact on the lives of the community.
* They will reflect on it many years to come and always feel to be part of it.
* To experience a village stay so that participants get to experience a life on a farm on a average African rural setting at the end of the trip, to be able to empathize with those - anywhere in the world, including Your home country- who, through no direct fault of their own, are not able to enjoy the same comforts as people in the 'developed world'.
* To expose them to Africa rich history hands on.
* To make lasting friendships and possibly come back on their own.

DAY 1
Arrival check in the hotel
Heron Court Hotel valley road Nairobi (4 star hotel)

DAY 2
Orientation, bonding, (games, songs, swimming) payments, dinner
Discussion with resource person on several topics depending on the choice of the organization.

DAY 3
Breakfast
Visit to the Elephant orphanage sanctuary (20 minutes drive)
Giraffe center, conservation center, (20 minutes)
Lunch. At Mobil Mart Bomas of Kenya (pizza, vegetarian and non vegetarian)
Karen Blixen museum. Historical site (10 minutes drive)
Animal orphanage (Nairobi safari walk) wildlife sanctuary with many species of animals.
Dinner at Heron Court

DAY 4
Travel to Kaloleni (8 hours)
Lunch at Mtindo Andei .
Check inn at host family.

DAY 5
Visit to hospital for a volunteer activity (e.g. painting)
Planting trees
Clean up
Meeting patients
Group lunch at hospital
Dinner at village host family.

DAY 6
Breakfast
Visit to Rabai Museum (historical site)
Travel to Chonyi to meet traditional dancers (cultural activity)
Visit the Giriama Shrine (Kayas) in the Kaya forest (cultural visit)
Visit to Mawe Meru (cultural site)
Travel to Mida eco camp (2 hours); beach resort north of Mombasa
Check at eco-camp
Free afternoon
Dinner and sleep

DAY 7
Breakfast
Walking tour to Mida creek (conservation site for mangrove trees)
Visit to Arabuko Sokoke forest for a nature trail and environmental education.
Lunch
Visit to the butterfly project center for a resource person talk on Environmental conservation.
Farming education (bees/honey, aloe Vera, mushroom, silk worm)
Visit to Gede historical ruins (ancient historical site)

DAY 8
Breakfast
Going to Malindi to meet MEDA group (40 minutes)
Discussion forum on several topics

Lunch
Introduction to project Children if the Rising Sun Children Home.
Evening night out at Malindi
Stay in a hotel in Malindi

DAY 9
Breakfast
Full day of project. Children of the rising sun homes.
Optional night out

DAY 10
Breakfast
Travel to Sabaki River Mouth (half hour) river excursion
Visit to Mbuyu tree (traditional worship center)

DAY 11
Breakfast
Full day of project: Children of the Rising Sun children home, other places to volunteer can be arranged upon request

DAY 12
Breakfast
Travel to Mombasa (2 hours)
Tour of fort Jesus historical/cultural site (1 hour)
Walking guided tour of Mombasa old town to see the local Swahili culture (cultural)
Visit to Haler park (1 hour)
Lunch
Afternoon at Pirates beach
Optional night out

DAY 13
Breakfast
Visit to Likoni ferry and to Kwale Mwaluganje elephant sanctuary (optional) animal conservation.
Visit to Kwale home for the mentally handicapped to give out gifts and play with the children
Community outreach

Lunch
Visit Sunza Island for a boat ride educational excursion on
Mangrove growing
Crab farming
Fishing with a tour guide/resource person
Campfire night at Sunza (optional for those who don't want to stay in tents camping overnight) They will be driven back to a hotel in Mombasa (30 mins drive)

DAY 14
Full day at a beach hotel in Mombasa;

DAY 15
Travel back to Nairobi by road (8 hours)
Option of flying to Nairobi; can be arranged upon request

DAY 16
Breakfast
Start of western, rift valley sight seeing tour
Stops
Rift valley viewpoint (geographical scenery)
Menengai crater (geographical scenery)
Crossing of the equator (geographical scenery)
Lake Baringo (natural scenery)
Lake Bogoria (natural scenery)
Arrive Bogoria at 4 pm

DAY 17
Depart to Kisumu via Eldoret
Stops
Lanet High Altitude Athletics Training Center (educational)
Cheptit falls (geographical scenery)
Enter Kisumu
Check inn to the hotel

DAY 18;
Kisumu
Visit lake Victoria for a boat ride (Lake Victoria is the source of river Nile)
Visit the local villages.
Talk to a resource person on the local cultures
Effects of Post election violence in Kenya
Relaxing
Optional night out

DAY 19
Depart Kisumu to Maasai mara via Kissi and Kilgoris towns.
Evening game drive Maasai Mara
Check inn at the lodge
Campfire till late night (optional)

DAY 20
Maasai Mara
Full day game drive in Maasai Mara with a picnic lunch

DAY 21
Morning game drive
Drive back to Nairobi
Evening evaluation and end of tour
Maasai lodge hotel.
4 star hotel just outside of Nairobi National Park

DAY 22
Breakfast.
Departure at will

Program Dates
The program runs 5 times a year in April, June, July, August and November;
Any other time of the year it can be organized with prior arrangements with a minimum of 6 people and a maximum of 14 people.
For November 2009, it begins on November 1st and end on November 22nd 2009