E30 Kenya: The Film
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#e30Kenya
Join me in Kenya
Oct 18 - 26, 2024
Safari
We’re not just going to any
safari - we’re wilding out at one
of the best wildlife destinations
in Kenya and Africa. The
Maasai Mara (aka the Mara) is
home to the Big 5 - lions,
cheetahs, elephants, zebras
and hippos. We’ll spend a few
days on the reserve with private
drives, guides and meal service.
Culture
Culture is why I travel. We will
have an authentic cultural visit
to a Maasai village and
market led by a local Maasai
guide. We’ll be staying in a
luxury tent (insect-proof) with
ensuite bathrooms, hot water
and wifi. Meals are also
included with a bush breakfast,
light alcohol and lunches.
Nature
Kenya also has beautiful white
sand beaches and I wanted to
add some slow travel days for
my beach lovers. Diani Beach
has been voted as Africa's
leading beach destination and
it’s perfect for all your favorite
water activities including camel
rides. We’ll also catch a sunset
dhow cruise to close it out.
Hi there...
If you’re reading this, you probably
already know about my love for travel. I
couldn’t imagine a more proper way to
celebrate this milestone birthday by
doing what I love with the people I love
most. This trip is all about authentic
experiences and exploration. This is
also your trip, the itinerary is yours to
opt in and there is no pressure at all to
do all. I know that this is a big trip and
I’d be honored to have you usher in
chapter 30 with me in Kenya.
-Ebitie
Summary
Nairobi
Oct 18 - 19
Welcome! Plan to fly into Nairobi early so you can rest, explore the city and visit the Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe center. Later enjoy lunch at Harvest restaurant or somewhere nearby. At night, I will host a rooftop welcome dinner at Jiko restaurant so you can enjoy the views and meet each other.
Maasai Mara
Oct 19 - 21
We’ll have private transportation to the
Maasai Mara at 7 am. The drive is 5
hours and we’ll arrive at a luxury camp
lodge, check in, relax, settle in, grab a
spa massage from Janet. Eat and then
head out for our first safari drive to spot
the Big 5 - Elephant, Lion, Leopard,
Cape buffalo, and Rhinos. Then repeat.
Diani Beach
Oct 22 - 24
Early morning start, we’ll head out to
the Syokimau train station to catch our
8 am train to Mombasa. We’ll arrive at 2
pm and be transferred by taxi to the
luxe Swahili Beach Resort. We’ll spend
the next couple of days exploring Diani,
soaking up the sun, sailing on a cruise,
snorkeling, camel rides, and more.
the Itinerary
October 18 - 26, 2024: 9 days, 8 nights
Nairobi
Oct 24 - 26
We’ll take the train back to Nairobi.
Check in to our hotel, explore the city,
nightlife, galleries, boutique shops and
markets. The next day is my birthday
and I’d love for you to join me for our
final dinner at Cultiva Farm Kenya. It’s
an acclaimed restaurant with farm fresh
ingredients and a unique cuisine menu.
Oct 21 - 22: drive back to Nairobi spend the night
the Pricing
Total cost*: $2,976usd per person sharing double occupancy rooms for 9 days, 8 nights
Supplement for single room: add $612 to the total cost to cover all single room accommodations
*Roundtrip airfare is not included in the pricing. Final costs may vary.
Travelers visiting Kenya must complete the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to travel to Kenya which can be
submitted up to 90 days before travel. As of Feb 2024, the eTA application fee is USD 34.09 per traveller, which includes
the cost of the eTA and bank and processing fees. Processing time is three (3) working days but could take longer. For all
travelers you will need a valid passport for at least six (6) months after your planned date of arrival into Kenya, with at least
one blank page in your passport book. This means that your passport cannot expire before April 2025 to be valid for the trip.
- RSVP with interest to the invitation by April 1st, 2024
- Enter all your trip details, preferences and payment option in the RSVP form
- Winda.guide will send you an individual invoice based on your selections
- Secure your spot by paying the deposit directly to Winda.guide by April 18th, 2024
- Complete your payment schedule based on your plan, you can pay in advance as well
- Settle all outstanding balances by August 18th, 2024 (~60 days before trip starts)
- Cancellations and refund policies will vary depending on the property and selected activities, your invoice will have your specific cutoff dates for refunds and cancellations
It might be worth considering trip insurance for any last minute trip interruptions/delays
How this works:
the Breakdown
Payments: as much as I would love to get all the credit card points, all invoicing and payments will be handled by Winda.Guide - a trusted and
highly recommended local Kenyan travel agency. Ndiko founded and runs the company and she has been outstanding to collaborate with.
Payment options:
- The Moja plan: pay full invoiced balance in one payment
- The Pacha plan: split invoiced balance into 2 payments
- The Tatu plan: split invoiced balance into 3 payments
Yes, I named the plans in Swahili 😄
Payment schedule:
- April 18th, 2024: pay deposit ($800) by April 18th to secure your spot
- June 18th, 2024: Pacha & Tatu plan payment #1 due
- July 18th, 2024: Pacha & Tatu plan payment #2 due
- August 18th, 2024: Tatu plan payment #3 & Moja plan due
All outstanding payment need to be settled by August 18th, 2024.
A member of Marriott Design Hotels, the
urban hotel is inspired by the cultural and
creative renaissance in Nairobi, reflecting
the city’s industrious and innovative
nature in its design. It’s also near the
village market mall for shopping.
Enkewa Camp is a small, exclusive,
luxury and all-inclusive tented camp in
the heart of the least explored area of
the Maasai Mara away from the
crowds. It is highly rated for its
accommodation and hospitality.
the Lodging
this is also your trip, different hotels can be arranged to suit your comfort and luxury levels
your final invoice may fluctuate depending on any room upgrades i.e. views, standard room vs suite etc.
Swahili Beach Resort on Diani Beach
offers a luxurious blend of Swahili
architecture and modern design. The
rooms feature extensively carved
niches and are exquisitely furnished
with Swahili furniture and decor.
Why you need to visit Nairobi
the Visuals
*spoiler alert* don’t watch these if you want to experience everything for the first time in real life
this is for my visual folks who like to see what we’ll do, so I curated my favorite highlight videos to bring you inspiration for the trip
Enkewa Camp on the Maasai Mara Reserve
The Magic of the Maasai Mara
Top 10 things to do in Diani
the FAQs
- How do I get to Kenya?
- There are roundtrip flights to Nairobi with 1 stop (advised) from SFO, LAX, SEA, LAS, JFK etc.
- Most flights take around ~20hr - 25hrs from US depending on the duration of layovers and stops
- Consider booking your flight to arrive in Nairobi on Oct 17th (requires an extra night) or early on
October 18th so that you have time to explore/rest before we leave for the safari early on Oct 19th. - Tourists need to complete the eTA application online at least 2 weeks before travel - $34USD
- What if I can’t make the full 9 days of the itinerary?
- We can make it work! There’s a break in the itinerary into two halves. You can join us for the first
half and the safari and head back when we return to Nairobi or you can join us for the second half
and enjoy Diani and Nairobi. My dates are extended outside of this itinerary so just let me know.
- We can make it work! There’s a break in the itinerary into two halves. You can join us for the first
- How many people are coming on the trip?
- I anticipate 7 - 15 people may join, the max is 20 people. I’ll have a better count by April 18th
- I extended invites to the incredible people in my life - my family, friends, and life mentors.
Seriously, they’re all amazing individuals with kind and beautiful spirits and a shared love for travel - Plus ones and additional guests are welcome, please let me know in the RSVP form
- Which languages are spoken in Kenya?
- English is widely spoken along with Swahili as the official languages
- Will we have a guide for the trip?
- Yes, we will have an incredible local guide that will also be onsite with us
- Is Kenya safe?
- I’m more scared walking around parts of San Francisco and Oakland but yes, it is safe
- I always recommend exercising standard caution when traveling anywhere as a tourist though
- What’s the weather like during the trip?
- In October, Nairobi ranges from 68 to 80°F with nighttime drops to 58°. Recommend bringing a
good rain jacket, bug sprays and sunscreen, the beach can be 80 to 88°F and 74° in the evenings.
- In October, Nairobi ranges from 68 to 80°F with nighttime drops to 58°. Recommend bringing a
- What should you pack?
- Be better than me and my always overpacked 50lb luggage - here’s a packing guide to check out
- Kenya is moderately conservative, be cute and comfy so sleeveless tops and shorts are fine
- It’s also good to pack any prescribed medication, in its original packaging or with the prescription
slip in case they ask for it at the airport, also pack some medication for headaches, antacids,
stomach and bug bite reliefs, or any specific allergy medicine that you may need.
- Should you get travel insurance?
- It’s good to have in case of trip interruptions/cancellations or any medical emergencies. You can
get a quote typically around $70 - $100. Check your insurance company or credit card for deals.
- It’s good to have in case of trip interruptions/cancellations or any medical emergencies. You can
- Are there any required vaccinations?
- Yes, Yellow Fever vaccination. You will be required to show a certificate of inoculation on entry.
- What about any other medications or advised vaccines?
- Nairobi and other highlands are low-risk malaria zones but it's advised to start taking anti-malaria
medicine a few days before the trip (Doxycycline - Rx only). In Kenya, you can also buy Malarone
which is an anti-malaria medicine commonly available in most pharmacies. - Here is the full advised vaccine list from the CDC, talk to your doctor a month before you travel.
- Nairobi and other highlands are low-risk malaria zones but it's advised to start taking anti-malaria
- Will I have phone and internet service in Kenya?
- Yes, most hotels and restaurants will have wifi but here are some options to stay better connected
- You can buy a Safaricom sim card (best network) at the Nairobi Airport starting at $7 for 5G/wk.
- You can buy an e-Sim and arrange everything online. Your phone has to be unlocked for all sims.
- You can purchase an unlimited data international plan from your carrier - $100 for Verizon users.
- What about money, can I use my debit and credit cards there?
- The currency used in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling abbreviated as KSH but people use the word
“bob” for shilling as slang. I prefer taking out cash in the local currency from ATMs on arrival and
during the stay vs bringing lots of dollars. Usually the exchange rates at those currency exchanges
aren’t favorable and they charge high fees unless you’re exchanging bulk amounts of money and
if you do that, I don’t recommend carrying that much cash on you anyway. - It’s good to have some Kenyan Shilling on you for the road trips in Kenya, local markets, tipping
people, local restaurants, souvenirs, etc. - Your debit cards should be fine at ATMs (recommend using bank-issued ATMs) and most
restaurants/hotels accept Visa or MasterCard credit cards - Amex might not be widely accepted.
- The currency used in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling abbreviated as KSH but people use the word
- Can I drink the water in Kenya?
- It’s advised to only drink premium bottled water, most hotels and restaurants use filtered water
which is fine but be mindful of drinks with ice or street fruits/vegetables washed in local tap water.
- It’s advised to only drink premium bottled water, most hotels and restaurants use filtered water
- Any other interesting things to know?
- Kenya is religious and conservative so big public displays of affection is generally frowned upon
- For LGBTQ+ guests, Kenya is considered a safe place to visit but read more about it here
- Kenya banned single-use plastic bags in 2017. The bag ban is countrywide – luggage is often
scanned, so don’t pack shoes or other items in plastic bags. Single-use plastic bottles and straws
are banned in national parks – bring a reusable water bottle from home.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
