Disabled Travel in Kenya, East Africa – Victoria Safaris

April 13, 2013 Honeymoon Tours in Africa No comments

By James Asudi ( Group CEO – Victoria Safaris)

Disabled visitors to Africa encounter challenges during their travels, but nearly all can be avoided or overcome if you obtain the proper information before your trip. At Victoria Safaris, we use our expertise in Africa accessible travel to create custom accessible holidays for disabled and senior travelers. .

Victoria Safaris provide disabled and wheelchair Access Clients with accessible hotel accommodations, accessible transportation, detailed accessibility information on tourist attractions, and custom accessible itineraries to move you efficiently between tourist sights. We make your dream accessible vacation in Kenya and East Africa a reality and memorable.

Africa Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation Facilities

Thee basic concern for disabled travelers is finding an accommodation facility that is truly accessible. Many establishments may describe themselves as “wheelchair friendly”  when their accommodation facility may actually have significant obstacles for disabled travelers and those on wheelchair.

A visit to the accommodation establishment may reveal that,no ramp for the wheelchair at hotel entrance, an elevator too small for a wheelchair, and poorly designed accessible hotel bathrooms.These are a common findings in Africa. Victoria Safaris, a wheelchair accessible travel agent will provide you with a truly accessible accommodation facility that meets all of your accessibility needs.

 Disabled Access Tours in Kenya, East Africa

Many disabled tourists spend hours and hours before their trip trying to find out if the tourist attractions they want to visit are accessible to wheelchair users. Various lodges, Camps, Hotels and Museum websites will contain accessibility information which is very basic and does not answer all the questions a disabled traveler may have. While trying to find accessibility information through a phone call,many disabled travellers encounter language barriers or staff members that are unfamiliar with accessibility details.

Victoria Safaris will provide you with detailed tourist attraction accessibility information including the location of the accessible entrance, the parts of the attraction that are not accessible, and accommodation and restroom accessibility in various establishments at every point while on a Disabled Safari with us.

Disabled Accessible Holidays in Kenya, East Africa

At Victoria Safaris, we create custom accessible holidays for disabled and  Access tourists. We take into account your interests and abilities to create an accessible vacation and also offer you a list of already created disabled travel itineraries to choose from.

Victoria Safaris will be able to tailor-make your disabled safari itinerary to your desires to view wildlife in the Game Parks, visit historical Museums, eat at world-class restaurants, or whatever your interests may be. The accessibility of the trip will be designed to your manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, scooter, or other accessibility need.

Disabled, Wheelchair Access Guided Tours and Safaris in Kenya, East Africa

Victoria Safaris provide guided tours and Safaris for our clients to Africa. We provide you with local experts to escort you at your African destination. The combination of local expertise and the accessibility knowledge provide by us will ensure that you have a perfect accessible holiday in Africa.

Why Choose us as your Disability Travel Agent?

There are some important considerations to take into account when choosing us as your accessible travel agent.Our Staff have traveled extensively through Kenya and East Africa and understand the accessibility challenges you are likely to encounter.  We will customize your trip to take into account your particular interests, abilities, and energy level. You will see the sights that you want to see at the pace you want to move at. We have the know-how of your destination and the expertise in handling disability clients of any nature.

Your accessibility needs will depend on the type of disability that you have but here are some aspects we consider and inform you about before you travel with us:

Accessible accommodation room facility :-
We will tell you Whether there are steps at the entrance at you accommodation facility.  We will tell you how wide the elevator is for the wheelchair to enter into it.  We will tell you how  wide is the bathroom door to accommodate your wheelchair. whether a wheelchair be rolled into the shower and positioned next to the toilet.  We will give you more details about your accommodation for you not to run the risk of arriving at an accommodation facility that does not meet your needs.

Getting to the accommodation facility :-
We provide you with disability transport plus experienced tour guides on disabled clients throughout your tours and safaris equipped with wheelchair ramp.

Accessibility to the tourist sights :-
We provide an escorted guided tours and safaris at every touristic site whether in the city or at the wildlife sanctuaries. We will inform you how far are the tourist sights from each other and tell you the travel distances and time taken to reach at every destination using all types of means of transportation – Road,Air and Train.

We are very knowledgeable about planning accessible holidays and the destination you may want to visit.  Consequently, we are able to make helpful recommendations on what you should do while you’re there. Our staff understands the needs of disabled travelers, can customize the trip, and is knowledgeable about the destinations that disabled clients my need to visit.

Accessible Africa Holiday Packages

Victoria Safaris provides customized, accessible Africa holiday packages to numerous Kenya and East Africa destinations. Victoria Safaris experts have done extensive research on accessibility at Accommodation facilities, tourist attractions, and transportation.Victoria Safaris will use this extensive accessibility knowledge to create an accessible Africa holiday tailored to your individual abilities, energy level, and interests.

If you are interested in traveling to Kenya and East Africa, consider using us.We can get started immediately planning your accessible vacation in Africa when you contact us : info@victoriasafaris.com

Kenya Slum Tours

April 13, 2013 Kenya Propoor and Charity Tours No comments

By James Asudi

A New Tourism Package is in the making by Victoria Safaris’ James Asudi. This is the Propoor Tourism Package. Tourism is a dynamic industry subject to dynamic changes with time. Since time immemorial, Kenya is known to be a safari country and many tourists flock into Kenya to see the big five, namely the Rhino, Leopard, Lion, Bufallo and Elephant.

Today, the number of wild animals is dwindling due to human wildlife conflicts and as such Tour Operators are changing their destinations from wildlife to community and cultural based tourism or both. This includes Victoria Safaris which has started amongst its tour packages – Propoor Tourism Package in Kenya. Many tourists are opting for charitable tours and would also want to know the nature and livelihood of the indigenous people outside the game parks and in this instance, many visit the slums of Kenya in order to upgrade the livelihood of the Kenyan populace who are living below a dollar a day.

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Pro poor Tourism in the Kenyan Rural and Slums

This is a new package which was founded by the author who is a Tour Operator Managing Victoria Safaris. Being an indigenous Kibera slum resident in the late 70s, James Asudi talks in confidence why and how he does the slum tours of Kibera, Mathare, Mukuru in Nairobi City and Nyalenda, Obunga in Kisumu City respectively. These tours are meant for those individuals, both local and foreign who are intending to have a feel of the other side of the out of the ordinary from wildlife to Pro poor tours. This takes regular tourist to have a feel and taste of the Kenyan populace livelihood. The tours are meant for upgrading livelihood of the poor in the Kenyan rural and urban slums through tourism which includes; tourists buying the artifacts made by the poor populace directly from the poor thereby sidelining the middlemen,Tourists paying school fees and upkeep of slum kids while staying within or without the urban slum areas and rural set ups, donating school equipment, stationery and other educational items into the slum schools, and donating foodstuff, toys and any other amenities which the slum upgrade may need. These pro poor tours can be combined as an addition to the normal safaris to the wilderness as a pre or post tourism package. The tours are guided by those tour guides who double as community leaders living within these areas. The tours do not take more than 5 hours but are generally done between 2 – 4 hours and are conducted from various hotel residents of the tourists clients from Nairobi and Kisumu Cities. These tours are turning to be Charitable and philanthropic tours. Tourists willing to participate in these tours have of been distributing both food and school items to the populace staying in these areas. Tourist Doctors are setting up free clinic centers for treatment of the sick.

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Kibera Slum Tours

Kibera is the most popular slum to visit for those tourists who are in transit or those who are passing by to various wildlife sanctuaries or for those who have finished their trips and have a whole day or a few hours in Nairobi before they depart. Kibera slums is just 6km from the city centre and has a population of about 1million residents although the latest census found that the population in Kibera Slums is less than half a million people. The Kibera Slum tours is a showcase of what you expect in various slums in Kenya both in the rural and urban centres. For a tour of this slum, individuals are encouraged to donate various food and non food items directly to the inhabitants and educational centres, not to mention the NGOs.

In Kibera, every individual minds his/her own business and the presence of foreigners is not a big deal for the inhabitants. Although living below a dollar a day per family, the inhabitants do not line up to beg. In the opposite, they mind their own daily chores of livelihood. There are small micro finance businesses which are supported by various NGOs which many of the inhabitants are currently involved.

Housing in Kibera is a shock for the first visitor, but the Kenya Government and UN Habitat are raising up flats for the slum dwellers and in the next 20 or so years, Kibera slums will be non-existent if the project is not abandoned.

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Past Pro Poor tours

Victoria Safaris founded this type of tour in the year 2007, since then, Victoria Safaris has been joined by various Tour Operators in conducting these pro poor tour packages. Over 200 individuals have undertaken slum charity and Philanthropic tours in Kibera Slums since the inception of this package, these includes; journalists, families, Solo persons mostly ladies and students. Corporate bodies are enjoining in these tours and some of them are getting involved with these tours as corporate contribution to alleviation poverty and also many companies are offering to support slum schools and also involve their staff in the one day corporate contribution both materially and physically cleaning some parts of the slums in Kenya.
Last year, 2009, Victoria Safaris received various families from America, Sweden, Belgium and Asia who generously and charitably contributed foodstuff to Tunza Children Centre and Baraka za Ibrahim School in Kibera, Humble Hearts School in Mukuru Slums, Soweto Power Women Curio Workshop in Kibera, Little Rock Nursery School and various homesteads within the slums have gained in one way or another during the tours of the slums.

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Kibera Slums Children Scholarships

Following the inception of these tours, Kibera Slums kids have been sponsored by tourists through tourism from slum schools into various high cost boarding schools where tourists pay for their upkeep and also pay for their school fees, pocket money and transport back to the slums when schools close for holidays. Today, Paul Ouma, a kid from Tunza children Centre has finished Primary Education at Mukumu boys sponsored by a tourist whom Victoria Safaris took to Kibera for a tour of the slums.

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Security in the Slums

As is expected, slums harbor the poor who are expected to be very vulnerable when they see foreign visitors or any other visitor within their midst. During these tours, the tour guides happen to be community leaders and residents who live amongst the various populace and they are part and parcel of the slum dwellers. This has improved the security status of tourists visiting the slums. The community leaders in Kibera Slums have since highlighted the importance of Tourism in the rehabilitation of both economic and social status of various individuals living within the slums and as such, our personal experience has shown that the poor are very vulnerable only when they are not getting the benefits of such tours and as such, none of over 200 tourists visiting the slums with us for the last 4 years have never been attacked or confronted by the expected unruly and drunk slum dwellers.

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Some Tours in the Slums of Africa

Send Enquiries to: info@victoriasafaris.com

Northern Kenya and Lake Turkana Budget Camping Safari via Chalbi Desert

April 13, 2013 Specialty Travel in Kenya No comments

By James Asudi(CEO, Victoria Safaris)

Northern Kenya is not densely populated, untamed and often barren. Visiting these parts is like leaving the 21st century; it is an explorer’s heaven, and the variety of tribes that live here are some of the most captivating people in the world. They include the Samburu, Turkana, Rendille, Boran, Gabbra and El – Molo. This is a rugged 1,800-km expedition run in land cruiser or expedition trucks. You will traverse along some of Africa’s worst roads; see beautiful mountain forest surrounded o­n all sides by hot dusty deserts, eventually arriving at our camp o­n the shores of the Jade Sea (Lake Turkana). Victoria Safaris is offering this as our best selling safari for those true explorers and travellers who want to get off the tourist beaten track and for it, we are highly recommended.

“While it is the lake that provides the nominal incentives for doing this trip, it is the people of northern Kenya that make the most lasting impression, nomadic pastoralists such as the Gabbra, Turkana and Samburu whose adherence to a strictly traditional lifestyle and dress is practically unique in modern East Africa. In small villages such as North Horr or Kalacha, even in the city of Loiyangalani, you could be forgiven for thinking that the whole human spectacle is being put on for tourists. As we returned to Nairobi from Turkana, we felt as if we had travelled not only through space but also through time, to be granted a vision of Africa as it might have been a hundred years ago. That this ancient human landscape still exists in a country as relatively developed as Kenya simply defies belief!” Philip Briggs, travel writer and tour consultant best describes this safari.

Areas of Interests in Northern Kenya Trip

Northern Frontier Counties, Samburu Game Reserve(Gerenuk and Grevys Zebra), Marsabit National Park, Kalacha, Chalbi Desert, Loiyangalani, Lake Turkana, Turkana Villages, Maralal, Nyahururu, Thomson Falls.

Activities while on the Northern kenya trip

Culture, Ethnic, Samburu village visit (optional extra cost), Boat Ride, Wildlife, Camping, Traditional Turkana Bandas, El molo village visit, Bird Watching, Scenery, Photography, Swimming Facilities (optional at extra cost), Use of Oasis Lodge Facilities (optional at extra cost).

10 Days, 9 Nights – Lake Turkana “The Jade Sea” Adventure Camping Safari
( Sweetwaters, Samburu, Marsabit, Kalacha, Lake Turkana)

(Turkana Adventure Tour and the Elmolo cultural tribe)


Highlights

Northern Kenya is not densely populated, untamed and often barren. Visiting these parts is like leaving the 21st century; it is an explorer’s heaven, and the variety of tribes that live here are some of the most captivating people in the world. They include the Samburu, Turkana, Rendille, Boran, Gabbra and El – Molo. This is a rugged 1,800-km expedition run in land cruiser or expedition trucks( Bus). You will traverse along some of Africa’s worst roads; see beautiful mountain forest surrounded on all sides by hot dusty deserts, eventually arriving at our camp on the shores of the Jade Sea (Lake Turkana). Victoria Safaris is offering this as our best selling safari for those true explorers and travelers who want to get off the tourist beaten track and for it, we are highly recommended.

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi – Sweetwater’s Game Reserve
Depart Nairobi in the morning heading north via the Thika plantation to Sweetwater’s Sanctuary for an afternoon game drive to see the wildlife including rehabilitated chimpanzees.

Sweetwater’s is the only sanctuary for rehabilitation in Kenya of these widely abused chimpanzees with two groups living in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible and it is also a dedicated black rhino breeding area.

Dinner and overnight at a campsite

Day 2: Sweetwater’s Game Reserve – Samburu National Reserve
Break camp and proceed to Samburu game reserve to arrive there in time for the afternoon game drive in the park.

Samburu National Reserve becoming one of Kenya’s most admired stops after the Mara which hosts the uncommon Gravy’s zebra, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx, Elephant and crocodile and bird life.

Dinner and overnight at a campsite

Day 3: Samburu National Reserve – Marsabit National Park
Depart Samburu and proceed to Marsabit with lunch and then proceed for and afternoon game drive.

The Marsabit National Park lies in northern Kenya, about 560 km north of Nairobi in Marsabit district. The park comprises of densely forested mountain and three crater lakes that are the only permanent surface of water in the region and that provide habitat for a variety of birdlife. Major wildlife species include the African elephant, the endangered Gravy’s zebra, lion, leopard, buffalo, bushbuck, large herds of greater and lesser kudus, common zebra, grant gazelles and many other small antelopes. The park is famous for its elephant named Ahmed that was provided with 24 hr security surveillance by presidential decree in the 70?s, to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation.

Dinner and overnight at Campsite

Day 4: Marsabit National Park – Kalacha (Chalbi desert)
We visit Marsabit town and another volcanic crater before making our way back into the desert and lava flows.

The Rendille people in their bright red outfits, earrings and beads make it a vibrant place and the best place to take in the cornucopia of culture is the lively market.

All meals and overnight at Kalacha camp

Day 5: Kalacha – Lake Turkana
We depart early, crossing the Chalbi Desert. The Gabbra are pastoralists, particularly attached to their camels.

“While it is the lake that provides the nominal incentives for doing this trip, it is the people of northern Kenya that make the most lasting impression, nomadic pastoralists such as the Gabbra, Turkana and Samburu whose adherence to a strictly traditional lifestyle and dress is practically unique in modern East Africa. In small villages such as North Horr or Kalacha, even in the city of Loiyangalani, you could be forgiven for thinking that the whole human spectacle is being put on for tourists. As we returned to Nairobi from Turkana, we felt as if we had travelled not only through space but also through time, to be granted a vision of Africa as it might have been a hundred years ago. That this ancient human landscape still exists in a country as relatively developed as Kenya simply defies belief!” Philip Briggs, travel writer and tour consultant best describes this safari.

All Meals and Overnight at the campsite

Day 6: Lake Turkana
The day is spent relaxing and you may visit the local lodge to swim or hire a boat to visit the surrounding area or visit one of the Turkana Manyattas (optional) for traditional dances(at an extra cost). This pre historic site is now known as the “Cradle of Mankind”. The lake is home to the largest population of Nile crocodiles in the world.

The rocks of the surrounding area are predominantly volcanic. Central Island is an active volcano, emitting vapors. Outcrops and rocky shores are found on the East and South shores of the lake, while dunes, spits and flats are on the West and North, at a lower elevation.

All Meals and Overnight at the campsite

Day 7: Lake Turkana – Tuum Camel Safari
Departing Lake Turkana we head south to Tuum, situated on the west of Mt. Nyiro which stands to the East of the Suguta Valley with a picnic lunch, you get the chance to walk with camels and Samburu guides in these breath-taking landscapes for a few hours to the foothills of Mt. Nyiro. Dinner and overnight at a campsite

Day 8: Maralal
We have an early morning walk in the cool and spectacular African sunrise for a couple of hours after which we proceed to Maralal where we spend the night. Maralal is one of the most breath taking scenes in all of Kenya with the Losiolo escarpment, an endless stretch as land drops down to the Suguta valley.

Maralal is a small hillside market town in northern Kenya, lying east of the Loroghi Plateau within the Samburu District. It is the administrative headquarters of the Samburu people. The town has an urban population of 16,281 (1999 census [1]). The market was pioneered by some Somali settlers in the 1920s. Nearby is the Maralal Game Sanctuary. Maralal is also home to Kenyatta House, the location where Jomo Kenyatta was detained prior to his release. The town also serves as a base for tourist activities such as bush walking, whitewater rafting and camel riding. It is also known for camel racing and is surrounded by the Maralal National Sanctuary. The famous Maralal camel derby hosted by Yare Safaris is held here. This is a tourist friendly town with many cheap hotels and friendly people.

All meals and overnight at the campsite

Day 9: Maralal – Lake Baringo
We head south to visit Lake Baringo where we spend the night at a campsite sleeping amongst the grazing hippos and watch the birds.

There are only two fresh water Lakes in the Rift Valley and Lake Baringo is one of them, surrounded by large arid plains it looks like an oasis in a desert. The lake is also an ornithologist’s paradise since the lake is houses over 450 species of birds including the largest of the heron species, called the goliath heron. Birds are attracted here because it is filled up with a variety of rare fish species. Hippos and crocodiles also find the ecosystem favorable along the shores of the lake. The rock hyrax is another animal that you cannot go without seeing. Also, nearby is a spectacular hot spring which attracts large numbers of visitors annually.

All meals and overnight at the campsite

Day 10: Lake Baringo – Nairobi
Early morning boat ride in search of hippo, crocodile and fish eagle. Drive back to Nairobi to arrive in the late afternoon.

Cost per person sharing

( Note:The Cost is based on the number of clients per trip).

Send enquiry to: info@victoriasfaris.com

Price includes:

* Transport in a custom made 4×4 Land cruisers – each person is guaranteed a window seat
* Accommodation in camps on full board basis
* Game drives / park entrance fees
* Services of a driver / guide
* Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
* Mineral water for drinking

Price Excludes

* Hotel accommodations in Nairobi before and after the safari can be arranged on request.
* Personal travel insurance
* Cultural visits to Samburu / Turkana Villages
* Boat ride in Lake Turkana
* Tipping
* Drinks
* Personal effects
* Extras not mentioned above

Send Enquiries to: info@victoriasafaris.com

 

Home stays in Kenya – Africa, A New Phenomenal in Africa Travel

April 13, 2013 Specialty Travel in Kenya No comments

By James Asudi

When traveling in Africa, many visitors prefer staying in exclusivity in private homes and private ranches where they experience freedom of movement and security while they conduct their affairs. Private home stay accommodation is becoming common in tourism and visitors to Africa like this for exclusivity, freedom and comfort. You get a unique opportunity to stay with the owners of the private homes in the urban centers, rural set ups, ranches or game sanctuaries in their own homes or in custom-built accommodation. Most of the home stays are located in places overlooking unforgettable stunning scenery. With their superb accommodation facilities and warm hospitality, you are also assured of first class and personal service throughout your stay.

Home Stays in East Africa
East Africa is a region of warm hospitality to all visitors coming to Africa. Its people are welcoming and generous in nature. In view of this most tourists are establishing relationships with the local residents to offer home stays to them when they visit East Africa. This is a common practice in African home stay tourism of today. Many families are shunning away from the normal hotel and lodge accommodation which has been the practice in many years, and turning to home stays in the urban centers, rural villages and private ranches which are located near or within the tourist attraction they wish to visit. This is common practice in the cities of Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. There are also private homes specifically built to offer exclusivity, freedom and comfort to the family visitors. Victoria safaris urges those visitors who are planning to study, volunteer or travel to Africa to consider staying with hosts and experience the places they visit on a deeper level, through participation in the daily lives of local people. Victoria Safaris has a close working relationship with the owners of most homes, which assists in providing for a memorable vacation.

Home Stays in Kenya
Tourists visiting Kenya are offered Home stays in three major categories which are considerably affordable;

Urban Home Stays in Kenya
These are individuals and family members with modern homes in the suburbs of major cities of Kenya which are Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Victoria Safaris has a close working relationship with the many hosts, which assists in providing home stays for a memorable vacation. We will locate, book and arrange for your accommodation, and in addition to the charming accommodation and warm hospitality, you are assured of first class and personal service throughout your stay in these homes at an affordable rate.

Rural – Village home stays in Kenya
When touring Kenya in the rural areas and villages, Victoria safaris makes arrangements for these group of visitors to stay within the homes they are visiting. This is most common with community and cultural tourism in western Kenya and Lake Victoria region. Most villages within this region have homes of those working in urban areas which are fully furnished and left under the care of home attendants. Victoria safaris have made arrangements with the owners of most of these homes and we rent the same for a period we have visitors who desire to live among the Community they visit. This gives the visitors a unique opportunity to stay in the private homes in the rural village set up where they can opt to cook by themselves or use the services of our chefs to prepare all the meals during their stay. Laundry, house cleaning and house keeping is done by us during your home stay in the rural villages in Kenya.

Student Cross Cultural Exchange program – Rural village home stays in Kenya;
This takes students to Western Kenya to the land of the Luos of central Nyanza who have traditionally subsisted on fishing and small scale farming. Students will be placed in individual home stays where they will begin to explore issues of tradition vs. modernity, change and continuity in socioeconomic practices, and community vs. state in a capitalist state.

Here they immerse themselves in the daily life and ritual of their host community and work with locals on projects chosen by community leaders. They stay in homesteads in the rural village in Kenya where they will eat local foods, sleep in a local rural homestead, herd cattle ,use oxen plough, ride bicycles to the market, attend market days and other village chores. Through hard work, they begin to understand and appreciate the problems and joys of living in a developing country.

Those seeking overseas voluntary work and volunteer opportunities abroad will discover the difference one individual can make. Whether you find yourself teaching English in a school in Africa, building a community center, or tending to village daily chores in Kenya, one thing is certain: this overseas voluntary work experience will change your life. These are a trans formative experience to remember and to grow on. All student exchange programs end with 6 to 10 days spent exploring the environment and culture of the surrounding country. On these adventures, you might visit the Lake Victoria wildlife sanctuaries and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Ndere Island National Park and Kakamega forest. Our high school summer programme is designed both for adventure and reflection.

This final period of your high school programme offers you an opportunity to reflect on the experience and how you will integrate it into your life back home. The student exchange programme is a two to three week home stay in a remote rural village. We can extend this program as per the demands of the students or the programme organizers. Our high school summer programs allow a maximum of 18 students per group; have two leaders and two to three in-country support staff.

Farm and Ranches Home stays in Kenya
These home stay arrangements are mostly in old colonial farm houses and ranches. The location of the farms and ranches will often overlook unforgettable stunning scenery, in addition to the charming accommodation and warm hospitality; you are assured of first class and personal service throughout your stay in these Farms and ranches. This category of home stay is also suitable for researchers wishing to undertake study of wildlife, community development or agriculture. They often stay in the ranches and farms respectively, where they monitor the daily activities of occurrences in their research activities. Examples are those studying doctorate in various fields in wildlife management, aqua culture and community development.

This same category is suitable for individuals, honeymooners, families and women travelers who want complete exclusivity, comfort and freedom during their visit to Africa. Victoria safaris have arrangement with various ranches and farms across Kenya from the farms around Lake Victoria region to the ranches in northern, central and southern Kenya for home stays of our visitors both foreign and local. Each ranch and farm has limited and exclusive accommodation and offers a variety of activities such as guided bush walks, bush breakfasts, picnic lunches, day and night game drives, horse riding, camel treks, fishing and boat rides, farm activities, and others. The bird life throughout is prolific and amazing to the bird watchers.

Farms and Ranches offering home stay accommodation in Kenya include: -

Ngong House in Nairobi
Ngong House is situated in Nairobi suburbs and it is a unique `tree hotel’ overlooking the Ngong hills. The Belgian owners have created 4 two-storied thatched tree houses situated well apart in extensive gardens. The tree houses are comfortable and creatively decorated in various themes. The cuisine is superb! Experiencing this unique style of accommodation at the beginning or at the end of the safari and less than 30 minutes from the center of Nairobi should not be missed!

Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria
Easily reached by light aircraft from the Masai Mara, and by road from Kisumu via Luanda Kotieno by ferry to Mbita, this charming little camp offers fishing for giant perch, water-skiing and windsurfing in the warm waters of the world’s second largest freshwater lake. Other attractions include bird watching, exploring the islands ancient archeological sites, and visits to Ruma Game Park, home to several species not seen elsewhere in Kenya.

Rekero Ranch in Masai Mara
“Truly African – stunning landscapes, fascinating cultures and abundant wildlife” is the description of Rekero, the Beaton’s home, is located in the world famous Masai Mara, situated in a particularly good location to view `big cats’, such as lion and cheetah. The Beaton’s cater for 8 guests in comfortable thatched bungalows.

Ol Donyo Wuas in Chyulu Hills – near Tsavo
Ol Donyo Wuas is splendidly perched on a ridge in the foothills of the Chyulu Hills, with exclusive access to a quarter of a million acres of surrounding wilderness. The open plains, rolling hills and snow capped dome of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance, invoke images of an Africa as it was in the earlier part of the last century. The lodge consists of 6 individual cottages. Aside from riding, walking or fly camping, excellent bird shooting is possible during the months between July and August.

Galdessa in Tsavo East
Sample the unique richness of the African bush. Galdessa is the pioneer of eco-tourism in Tsavo. The camp is built using local materials from thatched roofs to ostrich eggs for lampshades! Eight elegantly decorated and spacious bandas all have private verandas and en- suite showers.

Hippo Point and Dodo’s Tower at the shores of Lake Naivasha
This is known as Nderit Estate. Michael Cunningham-Reid, the nephew of the late Lord Mount Batten, bought 500 acres of land off his step-father, Tom, Lord Delamere, to create, together with his wife Dodo, a retreat in a Garden of Eden on the shores of Lake Naivasha. The entire estate is reserved for wildlife and forms an important migration corridor for the game in the surrounding 25,000 acres of untouched Africa. Hippo Point House is the Estate’s original mock Tudor Manor, set in a traditional English garden with 8 en suite bedrooms. A more recent addition is Dodo’s `folly’, a pagoda-like eight story structure which towers 130 feet amongst the Acacia trees which boasts 4 bedrooms. The property’s powerful scenery combined with understated luxury of its interiors, abundance of game and architectural diversity makes Nderit an exceptional destination.

Loldia on the northern shores of Lake Naivasha
This is a 6,500 acre farm on the northern shores of Lake Naivasha, with a rambling colonial style house idyllically situated with breath taking views over the lake to the dormant volcano Mt. Longonot beyond. The farm house was built in the 1940’s and designed much as were settler houses of that era, around a small courtyard. The restored comfortable old style furniture within contributes to the warm and hospitable atmosphere. Bedroom accommodation is in the main building, or in separate en-suite cottages. Third generation Hopcraft family continue to farm the land, but Peter Njoroge, the house manager is renowned for making guests feel comfortable and relaxed and that nothing is too much trouble. “Much to return for”.

Loisaba Lodge and its Star Beds
Loisaba is a 65,000 acre private wildlife conservancy and working cattle ranch. The main lodge is constructed from local timber and thatch and is perched high on the edge of a plateau with 7 bedrooms. However, the main attraction of Loisaba Wilderness is the unique `star beds’. One set of star beds overlooks a waterhole which attracts wildlife, and the second set is located on the banks of the Ewaso N’giro River. The beds are on a raised wooden platform, partially covered with a thatched roof, with the four poster beds uniquely designed on wheels which can be wheeled onto the open deck area for a night under the stars or left under the shelter of the roof. Copious insect netting over the beds ensures bug free nights.

The Mukutan retreat
This is a unique refuge overlooking the spectacular Mukutan Gorge on the edge of the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. It is situated on conservationist and author Kuki Galmann’s 100,000 acre Ol Ari Nyiro ranch where she penned her haunting autobiography ‘I dreamed of Africa’. Three large and spacious cottages each with large double fireplace, built in elegant traditional style providing luxurious and romantic accommodation for up to 6 persons. The unique setting and the evocative sounds of Africa make Mukutan Retreat an exclusive hideaway.

Borana Ranch in Laikipia
A 35,000 acre ranch on the foothills of Mt. Kenya just sixteen miles from the equator settled by the Powys family in the 1920’s and still in family hands. It has 6 guest cottages built entirely from local materials, decorated in unaffected but luxurious `up-country’ style, giving each room an individual character. In addition to the usual activities mentioned above, Borana has a well stocked lake below the lodge, and they can organize helicopter or road trips to the challenging but rewarding trout streams on Mt. Kenya. “A stunning piece of nature and a luxurious lodge, make this one of the best experiences”.

Ol Malo in Laikipia
This is a 5000 acre game sanctuary, home to Colin and Rocky Francombe. The buildings are shaped by natural rock with thatched roof and the curve of ancient olive wood. The guest cottages are discreetly nestled between rocks and cliffs overlooking a much frequented water hole and salt lick below, surrounded by miles of rugged bush. The lodge boasts a swimming pool with stunning views. “The view is vast and beautiful”.

Lewa Downs at the foothills of Mt. Kenya
This is a 45,000 acre ranch nestled in the foothills of Mt Kenya, Lewa Downs is a vast tract of pristine wilderness dedicated to the preservation of Africa’s wild creatures. Among the many remarkable residents are a sizeable population of the rare black rhino. The delightful cottages comprise two bedrooms with en-suite facilities, a central living room with open fireplace, and a veranda.

These are some of the Home Stays in Kenya:
Giraffe Manor – Nairobi, Deloraine – Lake Nakuru, Kampi ya Kanzi – Tsavo West, Kilalinda – Tsavo East, Desert Rose – Lake Turkana, Longonot House – Lake Naivasha, Mundui Estate – Lake Naivasha, Mutumaiyo – Laikipia, Shompoli – near Lake Magadi, Richard’s Camp – Masai Mara, Dominion Farm – Siaya, Ulafu Village, Siaya Alego.

http://www.victoriasafaris.com/africa/homestays.htm

Layover,Transit Tourism in Kenya,Africa

April 13, 2013 Honeymoon Tours in Africa, Kenya Adventure Safaris No comments

By James Asudi

Africa, being a developing continent has a lot of its ups and downs on travel arrangements. Visitors from other continents have to change flights in order to reach their destinations. This sometimes takes several hours, if not a day or two before they can transfer into another plane which takes them to their destinations. Unlike in the first world, a traveler can take more than 24 hours in a city, booked in a hotel or at the airport waiting for a connecting flight. A case scenario is where an individual has to wait for hours at an African airport wondering what to do for many hours in the name of waiting for a connecting flight to her or his destination. This can also lead to a traveler being booked in a hotel by the airline for an overnight stay or more before boarding a scheduled flight.

In this case traveling becomes a bore for the traveler. Why not change into a transit tourist if you have more than 5 hours waiting at the African airport? Come out of the airport with a transit visa and visit the nearest tourist destination from the airport and return in time to check in for your connecting flight, if you have a day or two to wait then take a one day or two trips as the case may be to visit the most interesting destinations. Most African states have started implementing this type of tourism thus, Transit Tourism in Africa. If you are in Cape Town, visit the Robben Islands or visit the waterfront. If you are in Johannesburg, visit the Soweto slums and back to the airport.

Transit Tourism (Layover Tours) in East Africa

East African countries, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania have pleasant touristic destinations just few kilometers from their capital cities or their International Airports. If you are in Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – Nairobi, Nairobi National park and other tourist destinations are just 8 kilometers away and if you are at Mombasa’s Moi international Airport, visit the beaches and the Heller Park at Bamburi. While at Uganda’s Entebbe Airport, take a trip to Speke Resort-Munyonyo for leisure or take a boat to Sesse Islands for a days boat ride or alternatively, visit the source of the Nile at Jinja through the Mabira Forest for the lovers of Nature. In Dar es Salaam, take a city excursion and if time allows, take a boat ride to the Pemba and Zanzibar Islands. As an alternative you can book a day in a five star hotel for your health club activities.

Transit Tourism (Layover Tours) in Kenya

Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (JKIA) is the gate way(Airline hub) into and out of Africa. Most Africa destined flights connect in Nairobi, thus; it is a hub and transit point for travelers to other parts of the world to an extent that many people regard Nairobi as the Capital city of Africa. This being the case, many transit(layover) travelers stay many hours at the airport or are booked into various hotels in the capital city of Kenya-Nairobi or in Mombasa for a day or two before their flight connections. This has made the Kenya government to issue transit visas to transit travelers @ US$ 20 per traveler. The travelers then turn into transit tourists for the hours or days they are in Nairobi or in Mombasa.

Nairobi City, in the entire World, is “The World’s only Wildlife Capital city”. This is because it has the Nairobi National park which is 3 kilometers from the Airport fence with its official entrance gate 7 kilometers away from the airport. Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (JKIA) is centrally located in Kenya and as such offers diverse options for hours or one day Nairobi city tours and safaris. These tours will range from having a Nairobi City Center tour, to simply whirling away in a 5 star hotel in the city. The other tourist destinations are so close to the city or are within the Nairobi city. Private tours and safaris to these destinations can be organized by Victoria Safaris within minutes using our Car Hire Services and Customized Mini Vans with Pop up roofs for Photography and Game viewing.

Transit (Layover) Tourism Destinations within Nairobi City

(Nairobi National Park, Nairobi Animal Orphanage and the Nairobi Safari Walk, Carnivore restaurant)

Nairobi National Park is the only park within a capital city in the entire world. It is located 15 min from the central business district; the park is an attraction to transit(layover) travelers as it incorporates the Nairobi safari walk as you enter the official gates of the park and the Animal Orphanage just less than 100 meters from the Nairobi safari walk gates.

This tour takes you to the Nairobi National Park where it is possible to find a variety of wildlife which covers an area of 44 square miles, and is followed by a visit to the Animal Orphanage where sick and stray orphaned animals are taken care of before being returned to the wild. Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a major city. The park has a diverse bird-life with over 400 species recorded and four of the “Big Five” can also be seen here. However some species are seasonal. It is one of the successful rhino sanctuaries and is the natural habitat of the black rhino. An optional add-on for this tour is lunch at the nearby Rangers Restaurant or Carnivore Restaurant.

Carnivore Restaurant

(The Carnivore Restaurant)

Carnivore has been voted as one of the world’s 50 best restaurants and one of the only two in Africa. The disclosure was made in a survey conducted by a panel of 71 famous restaurants, food writers, chefs and gourmands. Featured in the Restaurant Magazine, a unique guide to the world’s finest restaurants covering a wide range of restaurant styles from the haute cuisine to the finest down-to-earth good food, the Carnivore is complimented for its credible range of exotic meat describing its eat-as-much-as-you-can atmosphere as totally amazing.

“Carnivore, often referred to as ‘Africa’s Greatest Eating Experience’, has been nominated as restaurant of the year in Kenya on many occasions, but this recent recognition confirms Carnivore as one of the greatest eating places in the world,”

Started by the Tamarind Group in 1980, the Carnivore has played host to more than 2,000,000 customers from all over the world, including a multitude of celebrities through its 25 years of operations. It is one of Kenya’s greatest exports and has greatly enhanced the country’s reputation as a tourist destination, with visitors making a compulsory stop over for the famous Nyama choma feast. You are not in Kenya before you visit the Carnivore for lunch or dinner.

Nairobi city tour

(National Museum, Nairobi City, the Parliament, the Bomb-Blast Area and Nairobi Railway Station)

The National Museum, located within the Nairobi City, is a beehive of activity for tourists and transit travelers. You expect to see the origin of Man, the African artifacts, the African snakes and the fossils remains of Man and more at the Nairobi Museum. You proceed to the city center where you visit the Bomb Blast area where the American Embassy was located before it was bombed by the terrorists, pass through to the adjacent Nairobi Railway station and see the Old Locomotives and the lunatic train before you reach the Railway Museum in the adjacent location of the Nairobi Railway Station.

The Maasai Village

Visit an authentic Maasai village to see and learn about the culture of one of Kenya’s indigenous peoples. The Maasai tribe lives in Kenya. They are predominantly a warrior tribe whose lives revolve around herding cattle. One of their beliefs is that God entrusted His cattle to them. Thus, they measure their wealth by the number of cattle they acquire. They live in small settlements of 8-15 huts per kraal. The huts are made of branches, twigs, grass, and cow dung and urine formed into a plaster and applied to a branch frame. The mixture is as strong as cement after it dried in the sun and does not smell. On a typical visit to a Maasai village, you will be welcomed with song by the young “Morans”. They demonstrate various unique aspects of their lifestyle including how to make a fire using sticks, how to get blood from their animals (the blood forms an important part of their diet), a tour of their huts (manyattas) and give a lecture on their culture and lifestyle. This is a tour well worth opting for to learn more about Kenya’s indigenous peoples and is an add-on option available on tour in Amboseli or Maasai Mara.

Daphne Sheldrick – Elephant Orphanage

Daphne Sheldrick (As part of the David Sheldrick Conservation Foundation) rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants and other wildlife here at her home just outside of Nairobi National Park. These babies have lost their mothers to poaching, death, injuries, on getting lost in the wild or other tragedies. Daphne and her dedicated staff raise them to be released back into the wild when they are ready. Tour departs at 09:00 a.m. on Mondays to Saturdays. An optional add-on for this tour is lunch at the nearby Rangers Restaurant or Carnivore Restaurant.

Giraffe Manor

The Giraffe Manor, built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan, is situated on 120 acres of land just a few miles from the centre of Nairobi. Since 1974, the Giraffe Center has been the home pf the endangered Rothschild Giraffe whose numbers have increased from the original 5.Guests can feed and photograph the giraffe and the Warthogs at the Center, and also wander through the adjoining primeval forest to view the bushbuck, Dik Dik, and more than 180 species of birds.

Karen Blixen Museum

This museum was originally the home of Karen Blixen, who came to Kenya from Denmark in the early part of this century; the present museum site is at the heart of the larger coffee plantation run by Blixen between 1914 and 1931. The house and surrounding land was donated by the Danish government to Kenya at independence; the house was restored by the Danish government and was used during the filming of Out of Africa, which immortalized Karen Blixen’s book by the same name. The Museum was opened to the public in 1986.Much of the original furniture is on display in the house, and combined with the beautifully landscaped gardens and encompassing view of the Ngong Hills, the Museum has continued to be very popular destination for international and local visitors.

The Bomas of Kenya

Bomas of Kenya is the unique entertainment spot of is own kind in Kenya, providing a cross-section cultural education of Kenya lifestyle and the original African music. Located only 10 kilometers from Nairobi city, Bomas is surrounded by a natural setting of forest trees and quiet suburb. In this exciting African spot, ethnic groups and their living styles including music, crafts, and dancing are displayed in traditional African huts. The auditorium has a capacity of 3,500 seats and performances are usually made in the open air stage during non-rainy days. The vast space and perfect lighting echoes the magic African drum music and dinner entertainment in a most wonderful evening in Africa. There are daily performances showing different tribal dancers including the famous Kamba and Maasai warriors. Bomas of Kenya is a whole African experience, giving you the African magic dance and our traditional age warm hospitality.

Transit (Layover) Full Day Tours from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,

(One Day Layover Tours from Nairobi)

Nakuru National Park

Located 160 kilometers away from Nairobi, this safari takes you to the most visited National Game park and bird sanctuary-The flamingos of Lake Nakuru. It has an abundant wildlife species; it is where you will definitely see the Black and white rhino and is located few meters from Nakuru town on your way to western Kenya. This park is 188 sq kms, enclosed and managed by the Kenya wildlife service. Among other animals found in the park include lion, flamingos, geese, leopard, waterbuck, giraffe, hyenas, buffalos, baboons, monkeys, zebras and gazelles. This 1 day trip tour is ideal for the transit tourist since it allows you time to come back to Nairobi to catch you flight. End your 1 day tour and drive back to Nairobi in time for dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant on your way to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for departure.

Mount Longonot Crater

A drive into the Rift Valley Escarpment and catching a glimpse of the beautiful escarpment is quite adventures for a transit tourist. Hike the Mt. Longonot and see the inside of the crater, this can take 3hrs if you can manage. Have picnic lunch and depart for Lake Naivasha and its environs, you can enjoy a boat ride as you view hippos, crocodiles and fishes in the lake. End your 1 day tour and drive back to Nairobi in time for dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant on your way to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for departure.

Hell’s Gate National Park

The Hell’s gate National Park is located in Naivasha, 1½ hours from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The park is famous for its sheer vertical cliffs that are popular with rock climbers and trekking enthusiasts. The rocky cliffs create a facade so beautiful and multi-colored that it rivals the Grand Canyon especially when stricken by the afternoon sun. Walks and biking are offered at the park. Animals to be found in the park include zebra, buffalo, gazelles, and other small game. This one day tour is ideal for adventure seekers who want to knock themselves out with a trekking, biking, and sightseeing safari. End your 1 day tour and drive back to Nairobi in time for dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant on your way to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for departure.

Victoria safaris urges the transit(Layover) travelers to customize their tours with us as they book for their travels into Africa or call on to us as you arrive at the airport. We will meet you at the airport and take you for a memorable tour of your choice.

Send Enquiries to: info@victoriasafaris.com

http://www.victoriasafaris.com/africa/transittourism.htm

8 Days, 7 Nights, Best of Kenya Camping Safari Trip

April 13, 2013 Kenya Adventure Safaris No comments

SPECIAL OFFER!

Departs Daily

(Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park)

Trip Highlights: This exciting budget camping road safari takes to visit the above parks for game viewing. During this safari, you will have an opportunity to spot plenty of wildlife varying from the big five and other plains game. You will travel with an experienced tour driver/guide in a customized safari minivan and stay in camps during the nights. Our experienced chef will also accompany you to prepare all your meals.

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival – Nairobi – Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Meet and greet at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, after briefing depart to Maasai Mara Game Reserve arriving for check in and lunch. After lunch, depart for afternoon game drives.

  • Camp: Maasai Mara Manyatta  Camp
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 2: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Spend a full day within the pristine wilderness of the Mara Reserve enjoying morning and afternoon game drives. Carry with you packed lunch to avoid disruption of game viewing during your drive.

  • Camp: Maasai Mara Manyatta  Camp
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Maasai Mara Game Reserve – Lake Nakuru National Park
After early breakfast check out of the camp and depart to Lake Nakuru National Park arriving for lunch and afternoon game drives.

  • Camp: Makalia Camp
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park – Lake Naivasha
Enjoy early morning game viewing for a chance to spot the early risers as they start off the day. After breakfast depart to Lake Naivasha where you will spend the rest of the day. Activities available are horse riding, boat rides, hiking, cycling, and walking safaris, bird watching and indoor games.

  • Camp: Crayfish Camp
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Nairobi – Amboseli National Park
After early breakfast, you will carry packed picnic lunch and check out of the camp and depart to Amboseli National Park via Nairobi. Arrive at the Amboseli in the afternoon and check in to the camp. Afterwards, depart for an afternoon game drive till evening.

  • Camp: Kimana Camp
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 6: Amboseli National Park

Spend a full day within this beautiful park enjoying a morning and an afternoon game drive with packed picnic lunch.

  • Camp: Kimana Camp
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 7: Amboseli National Park – Tsavo West National Park
After early breakfast, depart Amboseli and head into Tsavo West arriving for game drives. Carry packed picnic lunch with you to eat en route. Visit Mzima Springs and Shetani Lava Flows and explore the park which is famous for its abundant fauna and flora.

  • Camp: Ngulia Bandas
  • Meal plan: Full board

Day 8: Tsavo West National Park – Nairobi – Departure
After breakfast, check out of the camp and enjoy final morning game viewing within Tsavo West National Park After the game drive, depart back to Nairobi with packed lunch en route. Upon arrival be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your outbound flight to your next destination.

End of Safari!

Cost: Send Enquiry to : info@victoriasafaris.com.

(Cost per person depends on the number of participants and date of travel)

Package Includes:

  • All park entrance fees
  • Full board accommodation in camps
  • Services of a professional English-speaking driver/guide
  • Services of a professional chef
  • All airport transfers
  • Transport in a safari minivan with pop up roof for game viewing and photography
  • Driver’s allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
  • Game drives as indicated in itinerary
  • Applicable government taxes

Package Excludes:

  • Optional activities not included in the costs
  • Extras at the camps i.e. beverages and drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
  • International or local flight fees and departure taxes
  • Tips to tour driver/guide, chef or gratuities to camp staff
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Any other item not included in itinerary

Please note that:

  • All costs are inclusive of government taxes
  • All costs are based on per person sharing and are in Euro
  • This itinerary is flexible and can be customized to suit your requirements

Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro Through Marangu Route in 8 Days / 7 Nights

April 13, 2013 Specialty Travel in Kenya No comments

Highlights:

Marangu route is the most popular, easiest and least expensive of all Kilimanjaro climb routes and is nicknamed the “Coca-cola” route followed by ninety percent of all climbers. The paths are well defined and climber friendly to make your adventure a little easier. Both experienced and inexperienced climbers are welcome to use this route because it is fairly easier than the other routes.

Day 1: Arrival – Nairobi – Arusha – Moshi

Meet and greet at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport then transfer to Arusha shuttle bus station for afternoon bus to Arusha. Arrive at Arusha in readiness for lunch and proceed to Moshi for dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight at a Hotel, Moshi

Day 2: Moshi – Marangu Gate (1980m) – Mandara hut (2700m)

  • Hiking time – 5 hours; Distance – About 12 km; Habitat – Montane forest Moorland
  • Overnight at Mandara Hut

Day 3: Mandara hut (2700m) – Horombo Hut (3720m)

  • Hiking time – 6 hours; Distance – About 15 km; Habitat – Moorland
  • Overnight at Horombo Hut

Day 4: Kilimanjaro Climb – Aclimatization – Horombo Hut
Acclimatization day beyond 12,000ft and return to the hut.

Dinner and an overnight stay at Horombo hut

Day 5: Horombo hut (3720m) – Kibo hut (4700m)

  • Hiking time – 6 hours; Distance – About 15 km; Habitat – Alpine desert
  • Overnight at Kibo Hut

Day 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT!! Kibo Hut (4700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo Hut (3720m)

Hiking time – 8 hours to Uhuru Peak; 6 hours to descend to Horombo; Distance – 6 km ascent – 21 km descent; Habitat – Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Overnight at Horombo Hut

Day 7: Horombo hut (3720m) – Marangu Gate (1980m) – Arusha

  • Hiking time – 6 hours; Distance – About 27 km; Descend from Horombo Hut
  • Dinner and overnight at Charity Hotel, Arusha

Day 8: Arusha – Nairobi – Departure

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and be transferred to catch the morning bus back to Nairobi arriving in the afternoon. Upon arrival be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to catch your outbound flight to your next destination.

Costs: Cost Depends on the Number of Climbers. Send Enquiries to : info@victoriasafaris.com

Costs include: All transfers from Nairobi and back; 2 nights half board accommodation in Arusha or Moshi; Accommodation and meals while on trek; Services of a mountain guide, porters and safari chef; All park fees; Treated/boiled water on trek

Costs exclude: Tips, laundry, sleeping bags, soft drinks; Climbing Gear; International or local flights and departure taxes; Visas; Items of personal nature; Oxygen (100litre oxygen bottle, regulator and mask; Hyperbaric Chamber; Any other extras not indicated in itinerary

Volunteerism in Kenya, East Africa

April 13, 2013 Specialty Travel in Kenya No comments

By James Asudi ( Ceo – Victoria Safaris)

Volunteerism – is defined as; a combination of traditional travel with volunteer work.Combining a holiday vacation or trip abroad with volunteering on local projectsis one way to immerse yourself in local cultures and making a difference in the life of the local host communities.Voluntourism is a rapidly growing trend today inAfrica as many tourists are currently interested in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation. In Africa, victoria Safaris, a Destination Management Company based in Nairobi, Kenya with a branch office at Kisumu city, around Lake Victoria is practising Voluntourism in Kenya and within the Lake Victoria region.

Voluntourism is a holiday vacation with a purpose which allow individuals,couples, families, students, researchers, and corporates and groups such as churches,colleges, and student Societies to participate together. Majority of Volunteers travel year after year, applying their Voluntourism holiday vacation time to experiencesand projects that help others, while thoroughly enriching themselves in the process.Tourists are given Voluntourism packages which are valuable to them to really make them feel connected with various communities in both the rural Villages and Urban set ups such as the Slums above and beyond seeing tourist sites. From experience, it is very rewarding and actually one of the most enjoyable holiday vacation.

Why Voluntourism in Kenya?

Kenya is a great country in Wildlife, Beach,Adventure travel, Cultural and community tourism in Africa. Voluntourism vacations are a way of giving back to ourselves. Whether it is delivering crucial medical supplies to an orphanage or a Community in Kenya, or building a health centre in rural kenya, each trip allows you to get up close and personal with those in need. Voluntouism make a real difference while exploring the world with a real sense of adventure.World over, we are becoming more and more committed to giving back when we travel and contributing to host communities rather than taking from it.

Why should young people volunteer?

The youth is energy directed towards change of livelihood. Voluntourism among the youth is self satisfying after giving time, efforts and energy to be of service to the elderly and community at large.Youth Volunteers are an inspiration to our communities especially to the aging population.It is a requirement experience afterhigh schooll education in some parts of the world.It is a required reference when applying for jobs in various parts of the world when completing employment applications as it makes positive impressions to the interviewer when the application shows the potential employee was a youth volunteer.Youth Voluntourism is very important to our aging population. At old age, old people brighten up and respond positively to the young ones, when a story is shared about a service volunteer project that has been carried out successfully within a country or in a foreign land.

Why Youth voluntourism in kenya?

The Main reason fot the youth to visit Kenya for Voluntourism is to travel to Kenya and experience its peoples cultures more deeply than they would on a normal vacation,take up on a new challenge and learn new skills,as they take part in something worthwhile and meaningful as part of an international team. Join an international Volunteer Service with projects that offer either short or long term basis service in rural and urban setups.The above help the youth volunteer to; promote quality awareness, socially responsible and environmentally sound Voluntourism for young people and families,keep human relations as a focal point and lastly, live up to the idea of partnership at all levels with the youth internationally.

Type of voluntourism travel Placements

Before coming to Kenya, one need to ask himself / herself some serious questions to help decide where and what type of volunteer travel vacation he/she would enjoy.Choose a cause that you feel passionate about, or one that sounds like a project where other travelers could offer valuable physical or mental expertise.

In kenya, some of the Voluntourism activities include:

1.Volunteer Work at a children’s orphanage
2.Volunteer Work at a Rural Village Health Centre or hospital weighing babies or offering Clerical duties within the Health facility
3.Volunteer in teaching in either Kindergaten or primary schools where they volunteer their time playing with children, assisting in teaching classes, and helping with daily chores such as cooking, feeding within the educational facility
4.Volunteer work in repairing or building certain parts of the infrastructure in schools, homestays and building homes for for widows to improve their living conditions within the communities where they reside.
5.Volunteer work in teaching in the Slum schools of Kibera slums, MUkuru, Gomongo and Mathare slums within Nairobi.

All the above activities are combined with visits to tourist sites within the regions the tourists participate and also within East africa. These include visits to Wildlife Sanctuaries, Water rafting, Biking, Hiking the Africa mountains and a visit to the famous Maasai Mara; The New 7th Wonder of the world. Lastly, Volunteers sum their experience with a visit to the Coastal City – Mombasa for beach holidays before departing if they so wish.

Accommodation for Volunteers on Voluntourism Project

Volunteers must be willing to live and work with people whose culture and outlook is very different than theirs and can handle living in a tent or shack with an outhouse or live in a youth hostel, YWCA or a homestay in a rural set up and eat local foods as the host.

Duration of Voluntourism

Volunteers have a minimum of 4 days and a Maximum of (3)three months to stay in Kenya as per the Visa requirements. Any extensions can be arranged in consultation with the immigration department.

Age Bracket for Volunteers

Those interested in taking a volunteer vacation mostly fall into the 20-54 year-old range, but this can be flexed considering the interest and physical participation in every project. If you are an armchair traveler, where you can donate money to support volunteer projects or to help fund other travelers who want to donate time but may not have sufficient funds for a volunteer trip, then age do not matter in this package.

Planing Your Voluntourism Placement in Kenya or Africa?

If you are planning a meaningful Voluntourism in Kenya, or Africa anytime of the year and need to make a difference in the livelihood of other communities Or searching  for an Niche Voluntourism travel program allowing you to Voluntour and provide ample opportunities to further deepen your abroad experience by exploring amazing cultures, exotic tourism attractions, all while further emersing yourself into a new, unique experience, then, Victoria Safaris is your best choice for your Voluntourism placement.

Victoria Safaris Voluntourism programs are western Kenya directed and are flexible in time and placement. VolunTourists may customize their Voluntourism Programs and visit Kenya through us on any day of the year.

http://www.victoriasafaris.com

Pro Poor Tourism in Kenya, Kibera Slums Tours

April 13, 2013 Kenya Propoor and Charity Tours No comments

By James Asudi

Kibera Slums Philanthropic Tours
(A tour of Africa’s Second largest slum in Nairobi Kenya)

Kibera Slums is ranked the second largest slum is sub Saharan Africa second to Soweto slums in South Africa. The name ‘Kibera’ is a Nubian word for ‘forest.’ The original settlers were Sudanese soldiers who settled there after fighting for the British in World War One. The Kibera Slums is located in an area 5 Kilometers South East of City Centre Nairobi. It is the most populated informal settlement in East Africa, housing about one third of Nairobi’s population.

Kibera is divided into nine official villages, each with its own Village Elder. They are: Gatwekera, Kianda, Soweto, Kisumu Ndogo, Lindi, Laini Saba, Siranga/ Undugu, Makina, and Mashimoni. These villages, excludes Raila centre which rest on the northern half of the valley east of the Nairobi Dam.

Kibera is roughly 2.5 Kilometers squared with an estimated population of over 1 million people. There are no permanent residential buildings over a single storey. The average home size in Kibera is 3 meters by 3 meters, with an average of five persons per dwelling. Urban services such as water or sanitation are minimal. There is an average of one pit latrine for every 50 to 200 people, save to the new latrines recently built by donors. Eco-toilet Bio-gas plants are under construction within Kibera Slums which will use human waste as its raw material for the production of gas for both cooking and lighting 200 households once it is fully operational.

Drinking water is sold to the inhabitants in plastic containers after it has been pumped through metal and plastic pipes along side sewage trenches. These trenches carry refuse and human waste to the river at the base of the valley. The river partially runs into Nairobi Dam and also passes the city into the Nairobi River. Both the river and the dam are used for recreation (e.g. swimming) and resource (e.g. bathing; clothes washing). The plastic pipes are brittle and exposed, often breaking, to be repaired without care for sanitation. That is, these pipes are jammed or taped back together often without being cleaned, creating suitable habitat for water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid.

Health Services and Sexual Education are minimal in Kibera. There are several individual and NGO run health clinics within the slum .Health mobile clinics are frequently conducted by the health NGO’s and the government. Many people living in urban areas in Kenya are either HIV positive or have AIDS.

Housing in Kibera, it is sad to note that many Kibera slum dwellers are tenants to those living within and outside the slums. 90 % of the residents in Kibera are tenants who are not able to pay for their monthly rents regularly. Thanks for the UN – Habitat for constructing the New 600 units at the Kibera decanting site. The construction is underway. Hopefully, the buildings will be occupied by the Kibera residents many of whom cannot pay their rents currently. They are expected to sublet other rooms in order to meet the monthly rent for the new houses once they occupy them. Good luck.

There are few schools within the Kibera slum run by well wishers. These schools are run by donations from individuals and corporate bodies which occasionally donate items like: food, books, and desks, pens, building materials and teacher’s salaries for the volunteer teachers. The case study is the Baraka Za Ibrahim Children’s Center which is a school offering education to kids as from pre – unit, primary up-to secondary level on charitable basis. All activities are run by donations from well wishers. Orphan children are accommodated within the center which also offers boarding facility in tiny iron sheet rooms. A small kitchen is in place for the preparation of lunches and supper. The Classrooms, kitchen, boarding rooms, toilets, staff room, children playing ground are all crowded in an area of about 1 acre of land.

“Imagine that one day you wake up and find that Kibera does not exist and that that the tin roofed mud houses have all been replaced with permanent tiled roofed housing fitted with all basic human amenities including sewerage and sanitary facilities, tarmac roads and it is the same inhabitants of the tin roofed houses occupying the New housing facilities and that Kibera is a New Kibera.”

Kibera Slums Charity Tour  – 2- 4 Hours (Normal itinerary)

Highlights: “This is a 2 – 4 hours escorted walking excursion Philanthropic / Charity tour of Kibera slums. This tour is recommended for all types of visitors such as business travelers, church missionaries, journalists, and business executives who would like to have a quick feel of slum life in Kenya . It can also be done before or after a normal safari as part of a City Tour. This excursion is famous for those who would like to visit Kibera slums as first time visitors and is available for both the foreigners and the Kenyan populace who have never visited the Kibera Slums or those who will want a repeat of the Kibera Slums visit “. This tour can be done on any day of the week apart from Sunday. If we have any other visitors for this tour on any of these days, then we will have to pair you when need be.

Our Tour Manager together with the Tour Guides plus your Tour Driver will meet you at your hotel or place of residence at 9.00am. Being a Philanthropic / charity tour, you are requested to bring some donations such as clothes (new or second hand), food stuff, school books, pens and sweets or anything that pleases you. Security will be provided during the tour. We expect to have 3 persons walking with you in the slums during this visit.

Itinerary:

Kibera Slums Tour – 2 – 4 hours
On any day apart from Sunday, we will meet you and brief you about this safari before we start the safari. This is an escorted tour which starts at 9am from your destination/hotel to the city centre and goes through Ngong Road past Uchumi Supermarket, turn left just next to the Nakumatt Supermarket. Pass by the DO headquarters through to Bombolulu stage where you start your tour.

Proceed to Tunza Children’s Centre which is an Orphaned Children’s Home. In this home you will be able to see the devastation of HIV / Aids on the slum population and the overcrowding of Orphaned children in a small centre on a 0.01 acre of a plot. Meet Mama Tunza – M/s  Timina Khasiala who runs the centre from well wishers’ donations.

Visit the Soweto – Power Women Curio (handcrafts) Workshop where you will witness how those living in the Kibera slums are innovative in making ornaments. Proceed to Centre housing the sick and share your moment with these deserving mothers of the slum. Continue with visits of the Kibera Slums Nursery School at Little Rock . You will then proceed into the real slum past the railway line and pass by to see the Water vender and the Shower shop as you meet other slum dwellers mingling with you as they carry on with their daily chores.

Turn right past the roadside fish mongers into the Biogas toilet, the only one of its kind in Africa which will use human waste as its raw material in the production of Biogas which will be used as cooking gas as well as lighting about 200 households once it is fully functional. Climb to the top roof canteen on this building for a panoramic view of the entire Kibera slums and a photographic session while on top the roof canteen.
Proceed to the Baraka Za Ibrahim School which is a charitable school, run with the donations from well wishers and caters for lower and upper levels of education starting from Nursery to Secondary School level. It has boarding facilities for few Orphaned boys and girls, a small kitchen and a laboratory not to mention a ramshackle over crowded staff room in the centre of  this tiny overcrowded institution.

Proceed to the other homesteads including those of the tour guides and security team members and witness their life styles in the slums. Pass by a popular pub within the slum for a drink, if you so wish, and pass over the bridge unto the Railway line. You may be lucky to witness the train pass on the railway line amidst the tin roofed houses with human beings and animals (goats, dogs, chickens crossing the railway line at the same time).
After your tour, you will return to the vehicle for your trip back to your hotel or residence.

End of Tour
Cost Send enquiry to : info@victoriasafaris.com

(Cost depends on the number of participants)

Cost Includes:

  •  Transport to Kibera Slums from your hotel / place of residence and back
  •  Tour guiding fee
  •  Security team members fee

Cost Excludes:

  • Donations to the project(s) that you may decide
  • Tips to the Tour Guides and security group

Group Tours and Safaris in Kenya, East Africa

April 13, 2013 Specialty Travel in Kenya No comments

By James Asudi,

Victoria Safaris as a DMC (Destination Management Company), has dedicated itself to creating exciting and adventurous group tours with plenty of flexibility.Since its inception, Victoria Safaris has been taking various groups for several different trips which includes;Family group travels, Business and Corporate incentive travel and Corporate Team building Trips which has exceeded the expectations of travelers both domestic and foreign. The Small groups comprise 4 – 7 tourists. The big groups are between 10 and 300 tourists.We have the capacity, know how and experience.Our professional Tour Leaders are ever enthusiastic when they tread extraordinary paths through different countries and meet different cultures. When you intend to go to Africa for an active adventure, a family holiday, or a cultural journey, Victoria Safaris should be your first Choice.Victoria Safaris group tours offer a great value and fun filled way to discover Africa whilst our carefully created itineraries ensure that you get the most from each and every trip.

Joining a Group Tour in Kenya

Traveling on group tours is an experience in itself, offering the chance to meet like-minded people and create true friendships with fellow travelers.If you can join a group tour, you save big, and at the same time, you enjoy the company of your fellow holiday makers.If you travel in a small group: a minimum of 4 persons and a maximum of 7, you save a lot since you share the resources amongst yourselves. As our normal rates are based on a minimum of 2 persons, your shared in transport and accommodation will bring down the cost considerably.You will not share a room unless you have specified so.

The benefits of joining our group tours are:

  1. The more people join, the cheaper it will be for you. The costs per person joining a group is low from a shared travel.You can enjoy a discount compared to normal rates depending on the type of travel and the number in a Group.
  2. If the number of a group reaches 15, then the team leader travels free of charge.

Tailor made Group Holidays to Exotic Africa Destinations

Our tailor made holidays take the stress out of planning your break, finding your perfect method of travel be it by boat, rail or plane and hand-picking comfortable accommodation in accordance with your needs.If you would like to create your perfect, tailor made holiday then Victoria Safaris is ready to help you achieve your goal.You also can create your own group and watch the price per person goes down. Invite your friends,Colleagues at work, Students, Family to travel with you. With our considerable travel experience in Africa and extensive knowledge, we can work with you in designing a bespoke itinerary that meets your specific requirements.

Our Team of Professionals

Victoria Safaris has an international team of Safari professionals, those who bring their passion for culture and adventure to each and every holiday that we offer. Combine this with our commitment to ensuring the highest level of services and you can be confident that we provide much more than than just a standard tour experience – we are your ticket to Africa.

Overland Group Safaris in Africa

Over-landing group safari is a great way of meeting like-minded travelers and we at Victoria Safaris are believers in the saying that; Strangers are just unknown friends. Whether you choose to go on a low-budget safari or a more luxury one, your fellow travelers will all share one thing with you; an experience for exploring Africa.Victoria Safaris offers a number of group budget tours and safaris that cater for a variety of travelers with varying budgets.It’s not a problem that somebody is traveling on his or her own when you join an Over-landing Safari,half our clients are individual travelers who get to know each other on the trip. The other half book their trip with friends or as a couple. While on our Overland group Safari, if you happen to come on your own,then you will normally be sharing a tent with somebody from the same sex.

http://www.victoriasafaris.com

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