Adult and Family Kenya Brochure

Adult and Family Kenya Brochure

TRIPS

Meaningful Purposeful. Downright unforgettable.

Welcome to a truly unique kind of travel experience.

Travel.MEtoWE.com | [email protected] | 1.833.999.6393

We build better travel experiences.

Our expertise comes from our over 20-year history of working alongside communities around the world. With years of experience, on-the-ground knowledge and our passion for doing good, we offer a travel experience unlike any other.

Culturally immersive

Learn about the culture of the country from local community members. Join them and experience these traditional arts first hand.

Adventure & discovery

Our itineraries are designed to actively demonstrate the WE Villages sustainable development model. Guests can participate in new experiences, meet a community and get to know a new culture firsthand.

Meaningful Service We understand that each of our travelers are unique. That’s why our trips are customizable to meet your interests; however, activities such as school building

Local experience

and water walks are always included for a truly authentic, genuine experience.

Working side-by-side with community members, participants dive right into the local culture in the most authentic way.

We didn’t start as a travel company—we started as a movement to change the world. For over 20 years, we’ve worked hand in hand with communities in Kenya, Ecuador and India, helping to empower them with the tools to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Along the way, we’ve met remarkable individuals who have welcomed us into their homes and lives, sharingwithus their stories. Today, we’re privileged to call them our friends and family, and because of that, they’re welcoming our travelers, too. Forget tour groups and buses—you will have the opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of daily community life, along with getting to know a country and its people through an extraordinary, unforgettable lens. We invite you to join us at our signature lodges in Kenya, Ecuador and India for a travel experience you won’t find anywhere else. Go beyond a safari to walk in the footsteps of families in rural Kenya, trek the Amazon jungle to meet the indigenous communities who call it home and discover India’s vibrant culture through the eyes of locals. With our over 20- year history of working with our charity partner, WE Charity, we’ve formed close bonds with local communities around the world, giving us the honor of offering our travelers an authentic, immersive travel experience. Our travelers connect with the people and places around them—joining families to collect water, participating in cultural traditions and even having the opportunity to contribute to a local project. This is a travel experience that stays with you. Meaningful. Purposeful. Downright unforgettable. What makes us unique? Our story.

Why we work in Kenya Kenya is a beautiful country with booming tourism and, in some places, great wealth. However, there are areas that also experience great poverty. • More than 75 percent of Kenya’s population live in rural areas. • Only 54 percent of those in rural areas have access to improved water sources. • The literacy rate in Kenya is 78 percent and the average for school attendance is six years. • Twenty-six percent of children aged five to 14 are engaged in child labor. • One out of five children suffer from malnutrition and 35 percent of children are affected by stunting.

POPULATION 47.7 million

CURRENCY Kenyan shilling (KSh)

TIME East Africa Time (GMT/UTC plus three hours)

LANGUAGE English, Swahili, other tribal languages

Kenya

Our work in Kenya Working alongside Maasai and Kipsigis communities, we’re implementing WE Charity’s five-pillar sustainable development model, WE Villages, with projects including:

OPPORTUNITY 125+ women’s, men’s and youth groups have been established, and over 1,400 artisans supported by WE.

EDUCATION 11,500+

Kenya

students who we have helped support from elementary school through to high school. WE is now building a WE College to help continue their academic careers.

HEALTH 36

mobile clinics held each year in the most remote communities.

Every traveler wishes to go on a safari and see the stunning Kenyan landscape, the wondrous wildlife and be a part of the story of Kenya. But with a ME to WE Trip, we’ll also take you beyond the safari and onto the beaten path—the one that’s not walked by tourists, but by the people who call this beautiful country home.

WATER 14 boreholes—half of which are solar —that are currently serving 15 communities, with four more boreholes planned for 2018.

FOOD 10

demonstration gardens that have been implemented in schools, along with three community farms in Sikirar, Pimbiniet and Kipsongol.

Trip highlights

Be part of a community project

Give back to the places you’re visiting—we can arrange for you to spend time contributing to a local project like building a school or water well.

Meet local artisans

Join Maasai women under the shade of acacia trees to practice the traditional art of beading, learning how their work empowers them to earn a sustainable income.

Elephant Orphanage Visit the Sheldrick elephant orphanage where you’ll get the chance to experience these fascinating animals close up.

Local experience

Walk in the footsteps of a Maasai warrior Head out on a leisurely hike to learn about medicinal herbs from a Maasai warrior, and have the chance to train in the art of Maasai weaponry.

Walk side-by-side with local women as they fetch water, feed their animals and cook for their families—learning what it takes for a community to thrive.

Discover all Kenya has to offer as you enjoy Bogani, a sprawling 40-acre camp designed with authentic African décor, located in the heart of the savanna. Accommodations: • Private cottages and luxury tents, and Mara-inspired spaces, including fireplaces, bedrooms and gathering spaces. • Beautiful property situated on the edge of the Maasai Mara national reserve. • Modern conveniences, including hot water, electricity and en suite bathrooms. Food: Our chefs, Wesley and Shake, invite you to join them on a culinary journey of Kenya, including rich and savory Kenyan favorites like ugali, polenta and barbeque, enjoyed on our al fresco dining platform. Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp

Sample Itinerary

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 1

• Depart from Bogani.

• Arrive in Nairobi in the evening and check in to your hotel.

• A visit to the Kenya Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, home to orphaned baby elephants.

• Walk side-by-side with local women to collect water from the Mara River.

• Visit Mulot Market, an

• Take part in a community project.

• Embark on a sunrise safari through the Maasai Mara to look for giraffes, lions, elephants, hippos, buffalos, gazelles and resident zebra herds. • Visit Oleleshwa Farm to learn what is grown sustainably to supply nearby schools with lunches and Bogani with fresh ingredients for delicious meals.

• Visit the Duka, our on-site shop, which offers locally sourced gifts, Kenya- exclusive products and beaded accessories and homewares made by local Maasai women. • Visit Kisaruni, an all-girls high school opened by our charity partner in a nearby community.

• Take part in a

authentic Kenyan market.

community project.

• Check in to a hotel day room in Nairobi.

• Volunteer on a local community project.

• Join Maasai women

• Say a final kwaheri— farewell—to the local community. • Head out on a leisurely hike and learn about medicinal herbs from a local Maasai warrior.

• Meet the ME to WE guide.

• Fly from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara.

• Take part in a local community project.

and practice traditional beading, learning how it is helping them earn a sustainable income.

• Relax, recharge and enjoy lunch.

• Visit Baraka Hospital, a project owned by our charity partner.

• Arrive at Bogani and be welcomed by our team.

• Depart Nairobi or book an optional extension, including a multi-day safari or a retreat to the Kilifi coast.

• A lesson in Swahili, the local language.

• Train in the art of Maasai weaponry.

• Settle in to Bogani.

• Take a drive through the Mara on a sunset safari.

• Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner.

• Relax and enjoy a traditional Nyama Choma dinner— Kenya’s barbecue.

*Please note that this is a sample trip itinerary and details are subject to change. We are happy to work with you to customize an adventure. *This Itinerary is only available September to May, please connect with one of our travel experts for our special Summer itinerary.

Trip Cost

From $4,795 USD PP Bogani Tented Camp based on double occuppancy

$600 USD PP

$500 USD PP Single supplement

To upgrade to Bogani Cottages: minimum of 3 guests

INCLUSIONS

EXCLUSIONS

Please note that arrival and departure transfers are included in your trip cost. Pick-up time at the airport begins at 2:30 p.m. on your arrival day, to accommodate check-in at the hotel, which begins at 3:00 p.m. Should you decide to extend your stay by arriving earlier or departing later than the scheduled times of your ME to WE Immersive Volunteer Trip, airport pick-up and drop-offs can be arranged at an additional cost.

• All accommodations

• International airfare

• All meals and beverages

• Tourist visa

• All domestic transportation

• Travel insurance

• ME to WE professional guide

• Meals in Nairobi

• Entrance fees to sights in Nairobi

Customize Your Exper ience

Safari extension

Kichwa Tembo Safari Camp Located where the Riverine forest meets the sweeping plains in the path of the awe-inspiring Great Migration, the camp provides an authentic dose of African wildlife, delivered with legendary Kenyan hospitality. Simple yet contemporary, the Maasai-inspired suites are elegant and timeless, firmly entrenching Kichwa Tembo as a luxury tented camp of its size in the greater Mara.

FROM $2,495 USD PP Based on double occupancy

Transfer to/from safari property • Three nights full board accommodation • Twice daily game drives (six game drives) • All meals • Conservation fees Optional upgrades • Exclusive use of vehicle • Scenic flights • Hot air balloon safari • Lengthen or shorten stay • Private guide

Includes transfer from Bogani, laundry service, all drinks including selected house spirits. Excludes optional activities as well as champagne and premium spirits.

Richard’s River Camp Designed with privacy, exclusivity and adventure in mind, Richard’s River Camp is located on the banks of the Njageteck River and surrounded by 70 acres of private land in the Olare Orok Conservancy. The camp allows for total privacy and exclusivity with only seven tents. The Ngoyanai springs provide permanent water, drawing in large numbers of animals to the area around camp.

FROM $3,595 USD PP Based on double occupancy

If you’d like to extend/shorten your stay, please ask for more details.

Includes alcoholic beverages, guided bush walks and cultural visits, sundowners, laundry services and transfer from Bogani. Excludes champagne, premium spirits and cellar wines.

Angama Mara Welcome to Angama Mara, a remarkable owner-run safari lodge inspired by the Swahili word for “suspended in mid-air.” Located high above the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Angama Mara overlooks Kenya’s Maasai Mara, considered by many as the loveliest game reserve on the continent. Here guests will find a lodge where everything is as it ought to be: two intimate camps of just 15 tented suites each, a private airfield and access to the Mara below, tailor-made safari days and a famously warm Kenyan welcome. Includes alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, beers, house wines, and selected house spirits, laundry, child minding (6-10 p.m.). Excludes champagne, premium spirits and cellar wines.

FROM $5,595 USD PP Based on double occupancy

Retreat to the Kilifi Coast

Inclusions • Accommodation at Toriana extension

Day 1 Depart for Kilifi from the Maasai Mara Fly froman airstrip near Bogani andmake your way to the beautiful Kenyan coast. Check-in to Toriana Graceful arches and authentic detailing welcome you home to Toriana after a short drive from the Vipingo Airstrip. Discover Swahili culture and history from the comfort of our coastal beach house. Situated on four waterfront acres near Kilifi, we encourage you to enjoy fresh meals served on the vast terraces, inspiring Swahili and Moroccan architecture, and the white sand and blue waters of Bofa Beach footsteps away. Sunset stroll Walk along the beach to take in the breeze and experience a sunset over the Indian Ocean. Beach-side welcome Warm yourself by our beachside firepit under the stars as you enjoy a complimentary drink. Day 2 Recharge or discovery day Continue to relax by the pool, explore the coastline and indulge in the serenity of Toriana. Or, if you are craving some more action, take a look at some of our optional activities and discover all that coastal Kenya has to offer, from scuba diving to golfing nearby. Relax and recharge As the local people say, “There’s no rush while you’re in paradise.” Reward yourself after a week of volunteering and spend the afternoon unwinding on a breezy lanai terrace or exploring the beach. Day 3 Yoga beats Take some time to treat your body and mind with a private yoga class. Whether it’s early morning by the beach or on the rooftop patio at sun set, our instructor will lead you through a fun and casual session to invigorate your body! From beginner to advanced, all levels are welcome. Dhow boat excursion The best way to experience Kenya’s beautiful coast is from the deck of a dhow boat. These traditional sailing vessels have been used for hundreds of years to transport goods up and down the coast, and on your excursion they will grant you access to a unique view of the coast and the beautiful wildlife that surrounds you. Farewell dinner Spend your last night of the trip watching the sun set over the ocean.

FROM $1,295 USD PP Based on double occupancy

Toriana Beach House (three nights) • Domestic airfare (Mara to the Coast & back to Nairobi) • All activities as identified in the itinerary • All meals Exclusions • Optional activities while at Toriana • Beverages at Toriana • Gratuities are not expected but appreciated, and are shared among all staff. We humbly suggest $10-15 per adult per day

If you’d like to extend/shorten your stay, please ask for more details.

Don’t worry about the details, our team is on call to provide:

International and domestic flights on world-class airlines Our ME to WE Travel Teammembers are experts at buying the best flights and finding you the top sales on international airfare. Whether you want to fly first class, or snag the most cost-effective deal, our team can book your travel from door-to-door. Travel insurance Whether it is medical, cancellation or lost baggage (or any combination of the above), we are able to create and purchase the plan that will give you and your family peace of mind. Passport and visa information If you are unsure about what is needed to enter Kenya, we will walk you through any and all special requirements and make sure you have everything you need to begin your journey worry-free! Immunization information At ME to WE, our participants’ health is our top priority. We always recommend visiting a travel doctor a minimum of six weeks before your departure date. If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, we are happy to recommend a travel doctor that is familiar with ME to WE Trips. On-ground transportation and local guide Once you arrive in Kenya, we take care of all your transportation, so you can sit back and enjoy the vast rolling plains of the Mara unfolding in front of you. Your experienced local guide will welcome you into the communities and be an invaluable resource for in-depth information about the places and people you visit. Travel recommendations From the Mara, you are at the perfect gateway to explore either safari or sand options—both of which we are more than happy to arrange for you. Whatever you choose, we are more than happy to arrange the next leg of your journey!

Our signature service

Whether you’re preparing for your trip or experiencing the real deal on the ground, we take care of all the details! Leave the planning to us—including flight arrangements, packing lists and information about vaccines and visas. While in country, we encourage you to focus on what’s really important: being in the moment. That’s why we ensure every detail is accounted for— from world-class accommodations and meals, to in-country transportation and excursions with your local guide.

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NEW YEAR TRIP 2018-2019

Health & safety

Your safety is our top priority! We take care of all the details to ensure you stay safe and healthy throughout your trip including: • Airport arrival assistance • 24-hour security staff • Filtered water available at all times

“The water we will drink is filtered. The food is prepared by their own kitchen, their own chef. We have these wonderful facilitators around us that are fountains of knowledge, but they also make sure that everything is seamless.”

Donna MacFarlane ME to WE Immersive Volunteer Trip, 2013

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We build better travel experiences.

Your safety is our first priority.

• Travelers are encouraged to register with their respective embassy before departure to ensure accountability in case of emergency. • Facilitators are from North America and from the local in country team. • 24-hour security on-site. • All transportation is run by our trusted private transportation providers, and all travel occurs under the guidance of our in- country team with a representative in every vehicle.

Join us! ME to WE Trips

[email protected] 1.833.999.6393