Magical Lamu | 2023

Join us for a 10-day adventure in Kenya where you'll stretch under palm trees, sail on traditional Swahili dhows, and relax poolside on the magical island of Lamu. Along the way, you'll get to meet the women of Zawadisha, gaze at the stars, and be wowed by the wildlife. 

Dates: July 16th through the 25th, 2023

Dates for Change Makers Cycling add-on: July 19th - 25th

Cost: $2,499 for those who commit to fundraising a minimum of $500 of tax-deductible donations to Zawadisha or $2,999 with no fundraising; you can reserve your spot here for a non-refundable deposit of $250.

Cost for add-on: If you are joining us on the cycling trip and would like to add this on to your Itinerary, the cost is $1,500 if you are fundraising and $2,000 if you are not fundraising. 

What's included: 

• One wildlife game drive
• Community visits and basket-making with the women of Zawadisha
• Two dhow sailing trips
• One massage
• One sound healing session
• One yoga class
• A guided tour of the Island
• Accommodation in shared rooms, including Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy and the Banana House and Wellness Center in Lamu
• All in-country transportation including train and flights
• All meals except for two lunches and two dinners in Lamu (so that you can explore the island yourself)

Zen level: ALL-TIME HIGH

Impact: TREMENDOUS as this is a fundraiser for Zawadisha; all proceeds benefit our micro-lending program in Kenya that you will get to see IRL

Read this: Please note that airfare is not included. You will need to purchase that separately. The payment you make today is to reserve your spot. You will be invoiced for the remaining payments once your participation is confirmed. COVID-19 vaccines and travel insurance are required. We are committed to creating a safe space for all participants and as such, have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, intimidation, and/or verbal/physical abuse.

Itinerary

DAY 1 | July 16th: Evening orientation in Nairobi with Monica, our head of operations in Kenya, and hotel stay

DAY 2 | July 17th: Train to Maungu to meet the women of Zawadisha, afternoon activities with Zawadisha and evening sundowner, lodging at Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy 

DAY 3 | July 18th: Morning game drive and afternoon activities with the women of Zawadisha, lodging at Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy 

DAY 4 | July 19th: Train to Mombasa and beachfront hotel stay

DAY 5 | July 20th: Meet up with the cycling team at the Mombasa Airport and fly to Lamu for the beginning of our stay at the Banana House and Wellness Center

DAY 6 | July 21st: Spend time at the pool, book a massage, stretch out in yoga, walk through the carless streets of Lamu, enjoy a coffee, or sun on the beach -- the options for relaxation are endless

DAY 7 | July 22nd: Rinse and repeat the previous day + sunset dhow sail

DAY 8 | July 23rd: More relaxation and exploration

DAY 9 | July 24th: Last day to adventure on the island + dinner dhow sail

DAY 10 | July 25th: Depart Lamu for Nairobi

FAQS

What will our days in Lamu be like? Coffee and tea will be served in the morning before our group vinyasa flow yoga class. We will break for breakfast and then a skill-building workshop will be scheduled before lunch, as well as a guided meditation on the beach. After lunch is your free time to explore the town, relax by the pool, enjoy the spa, or walk to the ocean.

Who is facilitating the yoga? We will be working with professional, certified yoga instructors who reside in Lamu.

How many people are going? Maximum 15 people will be on this trip; it requires six people to run. We will all have a chance to get to know each other before the trip through optional monthly Zoom calls. Anyone regardless of identity is welcome to join us; we will be centering the experiences of women, non-binary, and trans participants. 

What will meals be like? Meals will vary from Western dishes, to Swahili dishes such as ugali and Sukuma wiki, to Indian food. All meals will be prepared for you, and we can accommodate dietary needs. It is all healthy and delicious.

What about accommodation at Kivuli Camp? Expect double occupancy, a cozy bed and mosquito net, uninterrupted views of the landscape, and the sounds of wild animals at night.

And at Banana House? Expect double occupancy, a cozy bed and mosquito net, views of the ocean from the property, a private pool and veranda, and daily breakfast. 

Who's organizing this trip? Jen Gurecki, the founder of Zawadisha, is organizing this trip in collaboration with the local Zawadisha team.

How do the payment plans work? We will work with you to set up a payment plan. You will need to pay the full amount before the trip starts. You also can pay the full amount at one time if that is more convenient. 

What about the donation/fundraising part? We will create a fundraising platform like this one from our 2022 cycling trip that makes it easy for you to raise tax-deductible donations for Zawadisha. If you choose the lower fundraising rate, you are required to fundraise at least $500. We do encourage everyone to fundraise so that we can make the most positive impact in the lives of the women we serve. 

What's your refund policy? You can receive a full refund up to six months before the departure of the trip. If you need to cancel within three to five months of the departure, we will provide credit for a future trip. There is no refund provided for cancellations within one month of the departure date. If we are not able to run the trip due to COVID-19 or other circumstances out of our control, we will reschedule the trip for 2024. 

Want to learn more before you reserve a spot? Please contact us!