Meaningful safari – a different kind of safari! You will experience the traditional safari, driving through the national park of this magnificent country and seeing the range of animals the nature has to offer.
Meaningful part of this safari includes getting close to the real people who live in Africa; buying fabrics in large outdoor markets, cooking traditional dishes with natives and learn more about their culture.
The African people are a happy people and doing a safari you will see that they are ready to welcome you to their country and culture. Tourism is one of the best means of export in Africa, particularly for the poor people serving you along your Safari. This is a Meaningful Safari and a safari that makes sense.
Meaningful Safari in Kenya
Nairobi - Kitui - Rift Valley - Maasai Mara - Nairobi
29th September 2023 – 8th October 2023
(arrival Norway 9th October)
THE SAFARI DAY BY DAY
Departure day – Friday 29th September
Departure from Oslo Airport Gardermoen in the morning at 0740 (flight BA761) via London LHR. Arriving London 0910. Departure London at 1010 (flight BA065) Arriving Nairobi (NBO) at 2050.
On arrival you are met by your safari driver guide who are waiting for you at the international arrival wing. We will go directly to our guesthouse in Nairobi,
Accommodation: Scripture Mission Guesthouse.
Day 1, Saturday 30th September - Kitui
After breakfast at we leave Nairobi and drive directly to Kitui via Machakos town. On the way, You will be passing small-scale farmers. The drive from Nairobi to Kitui town takes about four hours via Machakos town, depending on traffic and stop on the way. From Machakos you proceed to Wamunyu where we will have lunch, and visit a wood carving factory.
We will drive 13 km out of town to our guesthouse in Kwa Wasya village. Penninah and Gladys will welcome you with dinner.
Accommodation: Flamingo Guesthose/Kitui Villa
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 2, Sunday 1st October - Be a Kamba for a day
Breakfast at Flamingo farm 8.30am. The program for today is called; Be a Kamba for a day. That means that you will interact with the locals, do home visits and learn a little bit about their daily life. Kwa Wasya is a small village, very dry and most people live in traditional African huts. They like to have visitors and are very friendly. Help to selfhelp has a women project called "Shamba-ladies". They are 26 ladies who grow vegetables in their homes. They are sponsored with water, and grow vegetables for their own consumption and sale. In this area they are used to only cultivat in the rain season, and they have mostly grown kale. Our aim now is to learn them how to grow other vegetables as well. Tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, peppers, chillies, fruit etc.
Accommodation: Flamingo Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast lunch and dinner
Day 3, 2nd October - Visit Kanini Women Group. The basket makers
Breakfast at Flamingo farm 8.30am. Today we will visit some of Help to Selfhelp`s projects. In the morning we will meet Kanini Women Group. They are 35 ladies who have their own small business weaving baskets. Help to Selfhelp buys the baskets and sell them in Norway. The project provides the ladies with income and the profits go to sanitary projects in schools in this community. Lunch at Flamingo Farm before we drive to Kitui Villa hotel for relaxation by the swimmingpool and to have dinner.
Accommodation: Flamingo Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4, 3rd October - Naivasha
After breakfast, we say goodbye to our friends in Kwa Wasya and start our drive up to lake Naivasha in Rift Valley. We will have lunch at Chania Falls.
Accommodation: Burch Resort Naivasha
Meals: Breakfast and dinner. Lunch at own cost.
Day 5, 4th October – Full day in Lake Naivasha
Today we have a full day in Lake Naivasha. We start before breakfast with a one hour guided boat trip on the lake to see hippoes, birds and other wildlife. After breakfast, we will visit a rose factory. After lunch in the hotel we relax at the swimmingpool.
Accommodation: Burch Resort Naivasha
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6, 5th October - Maasai Mara
After early breakfast, we start our journey to Maasai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy the drive through wonderful scenery and landscape.
Accommodation: AA lodge
Meals: Breakfast, picnic-lunch and dinner
Day 7, 6th October - Full day in Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara has the largest conservation of animals in Kenya and in the northern part of the Tanzanian Serengeti National Park. We have a full day in the park and will have picnic lunch in the wilderness. You will see the Mara River with hippos and crocodiles. In Maasai Mara National Reserve there is almost a “Big five” guarantee! In the evening, we will sit around the bonfire in our camp. Maasai Mara National Reserve has won the Africa's Leading National Park award for the sixth time in a row.
Accommodation: AA lodge
Meals: Breakfast, picnic-lunch and dinner
Day 8, 7th October – back to Nairobi
After breakfast we drive back to Nairobi. Picnic lunch on the way. Back in Nairobi we will visit Kazuri beads factory and a local marked. Dinner at 4-you restaurant.
Accommodation: Scripture Mission Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch (dinner in Nairobi at own cost)
Day 9, 8th October - Sightseeing in Nairobi
We leave our guesthouse after breakfast for our visit to Kitengela glass blow factory and Karen Blixen Farm. After lunch at Karen Coffee Garden we will drive back to our guesthouse for final packing. At 1800 the drivers will take us to the airport for our flight at 2245, BA064.
Meals: Breakfast. (Lunch and dinner in Nairobi at own cost.)
9th October - Back home in Norway
Arrival London LHR 0550. Departure London 0710 (BA762). Arrival Oslo Gardermoen at 1035.
FLAMINGO WISHING YOU A SAFE FLIGHT BACK HOME
Terms and conditions
The price is NOK 22 000,- pr person. Additional charge for single room: NOK 2000
Included: Air travel from Oslo Airport Gardermoen to Nairobi Jumo Kenyatta International and return, accomodation and meals as mentioned in the program, entrance-fee to Maasai Mara National Reserve, all transport and excursions in Nairobi and Kitui. .
Not included: Visa to Kenya USD 50, tip, drinks to the meals, and entrance fees for Hells Gate National Park (Appr USD 30, including driver and guide) .
We have to take reservations for variation in the different currencies and other conditions we do not control. There may be minor changes in the program depending on weather conditions, special wishes from the participants, and other issues we can not forsee.
You will have proffesional drivers and tour guides.
Here is some general information in Norwegian
Here is Reisehåndboka in Norwegian
2 weeks before the travel you apply for visa to Kenya. http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html (You need an image of your passport cover, an image of your passports biometric page and an passport image of you. JPEG-format uploads upto 293 kb).
Here is travel-advices for Kenya:
For Norwegians: Download reiseklarappen from UD.
Here is a general map of the safari
Here is a map of Maasai Mara National Reserve
Binding registration by paying NOK 2000 within 25th January 2023. Send mail to: post@meaningfulsafari.com
Final payment 15th August 2023.
Hjelp til selvhjelp i Afrika
Sanderveien 23, 1400 Ski, Norway
Bank: Sparebanken Sør
Bank account 2801 24 26447
IBAN NR: NO7928012426447
SWIFT: SPSONO22
We can recommend travel insurance from Gjensidige
2023--02-06 2040 EAT