12 Day Kenya & Tanzania Pioneer

Pre-Departure Information Kenya/Tanzania Tour

Visas for both Kenya and Tanzania are required by most nationalities, these are the client’s own responsibility and you are advised to pre-arrange these with the respective authorities. Seasonal precautions against Malaria are advisable. The recommended currency for this tour is the US Dollar and notes in small denominations should be brought along for expenses not included. A small daypack is advisable. Our price includes transport – Nairobi to Nairobi, accommodation, entry fees, Park fees, permits, group equipment, professional guides, and most meals. Drinks, bottled water, curio’s, tips, taxes, visas, and optional excursions are for the client’s own expense.

Before departure clients will be required to enter into an agreement pertaining to our booking conditions and general information.

Clients are required to have their own comprehensive personal travel insurance.

Please give us a call on our 24-hour emergency no +27 82 293 7384 if you encounter any issues.

Departure Point

The 12 Day Kenya / Tanzania Tour starts from the Hotel La Mada at 18h00 on the first day and ends back at the city centre or Hotel La Mada in the afternoon, at around 15h00. Please confirm should you need pre or post tour accommodation at the Hotel La Mada.

Please note that we strongly advise against flying out on the day that the tour ends. Drifters will not be held responsible for missed flights on this day. We generally travel long distances and late arrivals are common.

Hotel La Mada
Thika Road, Nairobi.
• Tel (+254-20) 856 1041 or 856 1598.
• Nairobi Town

Please note that clients are advised to bring their own sleeping bags as we do not hire them out.

Accommodation on Tour

Please note that linen will be provided at Hotel La Mada, BUT you will need a sleeping bag and pillow for the rest of the tour.

• Batteries can be charged from a 220 volt source pre tour departure and every day on the truck while the truck is driving from a 12 V inverter.

• Currency exchange opportunities on tour: Arrival at Nairobi Airport, Day 6

• Limited Laundry facilities: Hotel La Mada (Essential washing only)

• Internet facilities: Locally in Nairobi

On Safari

All our tours require participation from all group members. This entails assisting with the food preparation, washing of dishes, keeping the truck clean and the setting up the camp.

Please keep in mind that flexibility and an open mind will greatly contribute to an enjoyable safari.

We are travelling in developing countries therefore please do not expect the punctuality you have come to expect in first world countries. Things do not always run according to plan.

Drifters Wish You an Enjoyable African Experience!

• Maasai Village
• Primitive Cultural Village Tour
• Hot air balloon flight Masai Mara
• Mountain bike ride at Hell’s Gate National Park

Please Note:

• Optional Activities can be booked on arrival
• No bookings are made in advance
• Rates are subject to change without notice
• Activities are subject to availability
• Activities are weather dependent

Travel documents

Please ensure that you are in possession of valid travel documents for all the countries – (Kenya and Tanzania) – That you will visit.

Please note that clients will now require an E-Visa to enter Kenya. This e-visa needs to be purchased on-line prior to travelling to Kenya.

All travellers need to produce a printed copy of the e-visa at check-in. E-visas can be applied for via http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html (Mobile-friendly website)

If you have any queries in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact us. Although we will endeavour to assist, we do not accept any liability or obligation for your travel documents. Please ensure that you have proof of further travel arrangements if you do not have a Kenyan- passport, permanent residency permit, work permit or study permit. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the end of your tour.

Telephone numbers:
• High Commission of Tanzania in Pretoria is: (+27) 12 342 4393
• High Commission of Kenya in Pretoria is: (+27) 12 362 2249

Or visit:
Kenya Tourism at www.tourism.go.ke
Tanzania Tourism at www.tanzaniatouristboard.com

Make 2 photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets and visas. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

Foreign currency

Upon arrival in any respective country we operate in, you will be able to find a Bureau de Change OR ATM Facilities at the airport or in the Town/City the tour is departing from. It is advised to bring any major world currency (US Dollar, Euro or British Pounds) in small denominations and not dated older than 2009. It is advised to get a small amount of local currency upon arrival just to get around until your tour starts.

On Tour:

Please be advised that our guides will inform and show you the best places to exchange any Major World Currency with the best possible exchange rates either before your tour starts or during the course of the tour. Our guides will brief you exactly on where to exchange and roughly how much you will need to exchange after discussing possible optional activities, own expense meals or possible curio stops. Drifters trucks have safe-keeping facilities for extra cash/flight tickets/passport.

The preferred currencies are as follows:
• US Dollar – in small Denominations ($10,20 or 50) and dated 2009 or later
• Euro – In small Denominations (€5, 10 or 20)
Credit cards are not favored in most parts of East Africa so please ensure you will have enough cash to buy good and possible gratuities.

Insurance

It is compulsory that all passengers make arrangements for adequate travel insurance to financially safeguard against unforeseen circumstances. If you need further information please do not hesitate to contact us. Drifters do not accept responsibility for any loss, injury, damage, accident, fatality, delay or inconvenience experienced whilst on tour. You will be required to complete and sign a full indemnity prior to your tour departure.

Your insurance should include all the countries and territories that your tour will pass through. You must ensure that you have sufficient cover for medical and evacuation costs, and should base this on advice from your insurer. A minimum benefit of USD 60 000.00 is recommended for evacuation from any area in which Drifters operates in Africa to South Africa, with further benefits for medical costs in South Africa, and for possible repatriation to your home country. Please note that you will be required to furnish details of your travel insurance to Drifters before you will be allowed to travel with us. Please ensure that these details are completely and accurately recorded in order to facilitate a claim should this be necessary.

Weather conditions

Please note that East Africa weather conditions vary tremendously from season to season. During summer months temperatures of up to 40°C can be experienced. During the winter months of June, July and August the nights are very cold, temperatures may drop well below 0°C – although the day temperatures will be pleasant at around 20°C. Please take weather conditions into consideration when choosing a sleeping bag for your tour. Please note that the wet season is during the months of February to May.

Clothing & personal effects

Herewith a recommended guide of what to bring along:
For walking, hiking and Safaris

• Sport Shoes / Sneakers
• Sandals
• Hat
• Sun Cream
• Water Bottle
• Smaller day pack
• Camera, Binoculars
• Books (Birds, Mammals, personal reading books, Optional)

For general travelling (to keep yourself entertained on the longer drives)

• Personal iPod
• Personal Reading Books
• A deck of cards or something similar
• Battery chargers for your personal devices (Ipods, Ipads, E-Readers, Handy’s etc)

Our vehicles are well equipped with charging facilities while driving. A Two-pin charger is perfect.

• Clothing and Toiletries
• Long Trousers / Tracksuit
• Shorts
• Waterproof Windbreaker
• Jersey / Jumper
• Socks & Underwear
• T-Shirts / Shirts
• Hat or cap
• Swimming Costume & Towel
• Personal toiletries
• Insect Repellent

General Accessories

• Mosquito Net (Optional)
• Malaria Prophylaxis (please enquire from your general Doctor at home)
• Money (Sundry expenses, gratuities)
• Headlamp / Flashlight / Batteries
• Sleeping Bag & Small Pillow
• Refreshments
• Pen
• Passport / Visas (if applicable)

Luggage and Packing space on our vehicles
** Luggage should be limited to a maximum of 20kg’s. Each Drifters Traveller have their own locker on our trucks which is accessible even while driving. Backpacks, Barrelbags or Soft Suitcases are strongly advisable as your standard Hard Suitcases sometimes don’t fit into the lockers.

*** Refreshments can be purchased en-route on the first day of the tour, and at regular intervals throughout the tour.

Meals and refreshments

Meals are provided as indicated in the brochure/website. We do not provide meals on the first day of your tour. We do however stop en-route; therefore it is always possible to buy something along the way. Soft drinks, bottled water and alcohol are for your own expense; there is ample opportunity during the tour to buy refreshments. The guide will advise when you need to stock up for a couple of days.

Personal expenses

A reasonable amount of personal spending money must be brought on our tours. This is to cover own expense meals as indicated in our Drifters Brochure, bottled water, soft drinks, alcohol, sundry goods purchased- such as suntan cream etc., curios, optional extra excursions, airport tax, transfers and tips.

In Africa things work a little different to the rest of the World. Tipping or gratuity, unless otherwise specified, is not included in the price you pay for services delivered. This accounts for restaurant meals, casual help and the services of the guide or guides that you will meet on your tour.
In Southern and East Africa it is classified as a common courtesy to TIP “casual help (guides)”.

This TIP is not something that is forced upon you by any means, but in many industries of tourism it is customary. It works as follows: if you believe your guide has lived up to your expectations and has performed his/her job in a way that you respect and are happy with the services rendered, an amount of 10 Euros per day or equivalent amount of 10 Euros per day in any major currency per person per day would constitute a fantastic tip. Remember that this is just a guideline and is not by any means compulsory, but seen as common courtesy in Southern and East Africa.

Pre and post tour accommodation can be arranged at the Hotel la Mada in Nairobi, through Drifters or your travel representative. The Hotel la Mada is located within close proximity to Nairobi’s city center in a secure, serene and conducive environment; they offer fully serviced en suite bedrooms. Amenities include a restaurant, swimming pool, laundry, gift shop, etc.