Kenya 2025

One World Brigades is a US-registered 501(c)3 Public Non-profit organization.

Our Kenya "Service and Safari" experience involves serving in our medical, dental, or health education clinics.

In our first week, we offer clinics in schools in Nakuru, Kenya, in partnership with Kenya Partners. We take a Safari break in the Maasai Mara, immersing the group in the culture of the Maasai Tribe. Our second clinic week is held at our modest primary school, located at the entrance of the Mara Conservancy. This area of Kenya is rich in culture but very poor in resources, access to care, and education. We are grateful for your interest in global service and our efforts in this area of the world.

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away" - Pablo Picasso

14 days $4950

It's all-inclusive with the following exceptions: airfare, Hot-Air Balloon ride, Park entry fees, Giraffe Manor fees, and Elephant Sanctuary fee.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 must be paid at the time of signup. Final payment is due 90 days before departure. If the trip is canceled 90 days or more in advance, all land fees are refundable, but booked flights may not. If a trip is canceled 89-31 days in advance, 50% of land fees are refundable, but booked flights may not. No refunds will be made if a trip is canceled less than 30 days in advance. There will be allowances for rebooking, and all efforts to accommodate you will be made.

Packing List

Clothing:

 Shirts

3-4 short sleeves

3 long sleeves

 Pants

2-3

 Shorts or skirts in discreet length

2-3

 Scrub bottoms – You can wear T-shirts tops (Disposable gowns

provided)

3-5 pair, depending on your clinical activities

 Jacket

Light rain jacket or windbreaker with hood

Fleece

 Shoes – Socks

Comfortable walking/running shoes or low-cut hiking shoes/boots

Sandals for shower/wear around the lodge

Socks help prevent bug bites

 Wide-brim sun hat or visor for sun

 Swimsuit

 Underwear

 Sleepwear

 Head Cover for men and women, scarf, ball cap for men

 One nicer outfit for City

Other Essential Items:

 Daily essentials: Toothbrush/paste, Floss, hairbrush/comb, shaving items, deodorant

 Washcloth

 Spare eyeglasses, sunglasses – extra readers are great to give away to the people

 Sunscreen SPF 30+

 Flashlight/headlamp with extra batteries

 Binoculars, if wanted. Safari vehicle has a pair

 Pocket size tissues

 Antibacterial handwipes and hand sanitizers

 Electrical transformer/power adapters

 Lightweight bag for souvenirs

 Water Bottle

Medicine:

 Personal prescription medicine

 Travel first aid kit: Bandaids, Ibuprofen/Tylenol, Anti-diarrhea tabs,

tums/Gaviscon, Pepto Bismol chewables, Cold remedy

 An antibiotic for GI upset (ask your travel clinic)

 Dramamine for motion sickness – as needed.

 Anti – Malarial – ( ask your travel clinic)

 Electrolytes

Optional Gear:

 Eye drops

 Reading material

 Travel journal and pens – kids love the extra pens if you have too

many at home

 Folding walking stick, if needed

 Snacks – Granola/Protein bars, nuts, fruit bars, anything portable.

AND DON’T FORGET:

 Passport

 Emergency Photocopies of Passport, Air Itinerary, Prescriptions,

Emergency Medical Insurance, Emergency Evacuation Insurance

 Yellow Fever Card ( and copy of YFC)

 Travel money belt

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Make copies of your passport, yellow fever card, visas, driver's license, and

airline tickets/schedule insurance. Leave a copy with a contact at home.

Place a second copy in your travel companion's luggage.

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WHAT NOT TO PACK:

 Aerosol Cans

 Glass Bottles

 Checkbooks, extra credit cards

 Valuable jewelry

 Anything you don’t want to lose

 Electric shavers or hair dryers

 Camouflage clothing of any kind

 Plastic bags ( they are illegal in Kenya)

More information:

Vaccinations: The only required vaccination is the Yellow Fever Vaccine.  You will need to plan ahead as the travel clinics usually need to order this vaccine.  You will get a yellow card as proof of your vaccination.  You will need this card with you in your Passport to get into Kenya.

I have a photo of my card in my phone and a photo copy in my carry-on of my YFC. 

Other vaccines: (Talk to your travel clinic to decide what is best for you) Many of the healthcare providers will have Hep A/B. We should all have TDAP and MMR. Covid vaccine is no longer required. I took the Typhoid vaccine years ago and a Polio booster.  

Typhoid

HepA

Polio

Hep B

Shingles 

TDAP

MMR

Covid 19 

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ANTI-MALARIALS FOR THE MAASAI MARA REGION. Mosquitos are Chloroquine resistant so you should bring Malarone

Airline pick up- I will be at the airport to pick you up.  I will need everyone's flight information when you book.

 Kenyan Visa:  Kenya uses an Electronic Travel Authorization. You will need to apply at home after you get your airline tickets. I will provide your booking for your first night's stay.  This is all you will need.  Once you apply, it can take up to 7 days to receive your ETA. You will want to do this in early February. 

https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en

Customs and Immigration- You might be "selected" to open your bag at customs and immigration as you are departing the airport.  They could ask you for bribes which is illegal so don't be intimidated.

- If you have a bag of donations just say that they are all of your personal belongings, don't waiver!

Be courteous but firm.

-They may say you owe money.  Just say that everything is your own personal possessions.  

Jet Lag: Take frequent naps on the plane, don't drink very much alcohol, and eat lightly. We will arrive in Nairobi at night and will be able to get a good night's sleep.

Homeopathic:  I use Xyletol nose spray to prevent colds when traveling on airplanes. XCLEAR  coats the nasal lining, helping to prevent other people's germs from attaching to the mucosal tissue of the nose.

NO PLASTIC BAGS  The law states no plastic bags but what they mean is none of those one time use plastic grocery bags.  I still personally don't take zip lock baggies. I'm not terribly worried about it if you do bring one or 2, but please, nothing bigger than a quart, and they MUST be "ziplock" closure. Whatever plastic you bring in, you should plan to take home.

CREDIT CARDS I suggest bringing 1 ATM card (debit card) with chip and pin,  1-2 credit cards,

Bring US dollars in $100’s, newer bills, printed after 2009. There should be no tears or writing on the bills, the corners should not be folded. The banks are very picky when exchanging. Bring the amount that suits your needs. Last year we had to pay for the Park fees in cash ( $100 per person per day) Usually we use the credit card that matches your name on your passport.

Smaller bills ( $10-$20) are good for tipping 

I will have plenty of Kenya Shillings so I can exchange money. I buy shillings in bulk and get the best exchange rates.

MONEY and CREDIT CARDS:

1 USD = 120 Kenya shillings KES (current rate as of July 2024) It can fluctuate. 

-I recommend taking around $500-$800, depending on your spending and drinking habits.  (alcoholic drinks are additional as well as tipping for the drinks, Which is nominal)

-Some of the larger gift shops will take credit cards. The local vendors and our Maasai Mama’s market at our school will want Kenyan Shillings.

-You can use US dollars for purchases or tipping (i.e.. for your room steward you can leave $5-25 in your safari camp at the end of the week)  

 Please keep all valuables, passports, money and medications with you at all times.  

Travel: Once in Kenya, we will be traveling by van/Landcruiser. The trip from Nairobi to Nakuru is approx—3 hours, with stops. Daily in Nakuru, our clinics are either in town, close by, or about an hour's drive. 

The trip from Nakuru to our Safari lodge on Thursday is approx. 4 hours, through the Great Rift Valley, with stops. There are wonderful places to get gifts and shop for local crafts on the way. That weekend, we will have some relaxation time between safaris. 

The trip from the safari lodge to our lodging near the school in the Mara is approximately 1 hour. We will be in Aitong/Lemek for a 4-day clinic. We leave on Friday to drive back to Nairobi. This is an approximately 4-hour trip, with stops. 

Medical Insurance:

Bring proof of medical insurance... I advise you to check to see if you have an international plan. 

Flydoc AMREF insurance is worth considering. It is only for transportation in an emergency, but cheap to buy. I recommend the Gold plan if you are considering it. 

https://flydoc.org/maisha/products/

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