Secret Gems of Kenya Tour | 2023

Join us on a 10-day trip through colorful Kenya

While hoards of travelers will be departing for the north, the founder of Zawadisha is taking you on a 10-day fully guided trip to our home in the vibrant south.

+ Explore bustling Nairobi and visit our favorite local spots

+ Hang out with the change-making women of Zawadisha 

+ Safari through the secret gem of Tsavo National Park

+ Soak in the sun on the pristine beaches of the Kenyan coastline and learn more about the Kenyan culture from the executive team at Zawadisha

Dates: August 4th through the 13th, 2023

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.

What's included: 

• All in-country transport including first class tickets on the train and a flight from Diani to Nairobi
  

• Full day guided tour of Nairobi with entrance to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Centre

• Activities with Zawadisha and a visit to our HQ to meet the team and learn about our work with accommodation at the Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy
  

• Two evening and two morning safari game drives in Tsavo National Park

• Sunset dhow sail in Diani

• All accommodation in shared rooms; private rooms available for an additional cost

• All meals, dietary restrictions can be accommodated 

Wow level: ALL-TIME HIGH

Impact: HUGE, but in a good way 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 | August 4th | Nairobi: Arrival + private transfer to the start hotel. Welcome meeting at 6pm. 

DAY 2 | August 5th | Nairobi: A day of guided exploration through Nairobi, "the green city under the sun." Visit the elephants at the renowned Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn about the rehabilitation of orphaned elephants. Visit the giraffes African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Stop for lunch at a garden cafe contributing to peace and reconciliation for women from many African nations and cultures through art. After an action-packed day, sit down to a delicious meal of Kenyan home-style cooking. 

DAY 3 | August 6th | Nairobi to Maungu: Catch the train down south to our second stop, the village of Maungu, where you will be welcomed with a traditional dance performance by the women of Zawadisha. She our shop and learn more about our work. After our afternoon activities, settle in to our  charming open-air home in the savannah. You'll quickly feel at home here. Lodging at Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy. 

DAY 4 | August 7th | Maungu: Spend the day with the women of Zawadisha. Learn about the Neema Women's Group and learn about their tree planting and crafts, like basket making and paper making out of upcycled elephant dung (thousands of African elephants call the Kasigau corridor their home between Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks, so there's never a shortage of dung!). Lodging at Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy. 

DAY 5 | August 8th | Maungu to Tsavo National Park: Continue to Tsavo National Park, where you will enjoy your first game drive in the early afternoon in company of an expert driver-guide. Keep your eyes peeled for the eastern black rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, Cape buffalo, elephants, leopards, and lions. Lodging in Tsavo National Park at a safari camp.

DAY 6 | August 9th | Tsavo National Park: Morning and evening game drives with lunch and a rest in between. Lodging in Tsavo National Park at a safari camp.

DAY 7 | August 10th | Tsavo National Park to Diani: Rise and shine with your last morning game drive before continuing to the coast. Hop on a train to Mombasa and continue to Diani: "A flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves" - Lonely Planet.

DAY 8 | August 11th | Diani: Full beach day. Opt to hammock or visit the sacred forests or take an eco-tour at the Colobus Conservation.

DAY 9 | August 12th | Diani: Full beach day. Opt to take a kiteboard lesson or shop for gifts. Sunset dhow cruise and farewell seafood dinner.

DAY 10 | August 13th | Diani to Nairobi: Catch a flight from Diani to Nairobi. The trip comes to an end upon arrival at the international airport. ( Please book your flight to depart after 2pm on this day. If you require help with booking extra accommodation in Nairobi, don't hesitate to reach out to hello@shopzawadisha.com.)

FAQS

How many people are going? Maximum 12 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 and on the safari? Expect double occupancy, a cozy bed and mosquito net, uninterrupted views of the landscape, and the sounds of wild animals at night. Most accommodations will have wifi and hot water.

What are safaris like? Game drives will be about two to three hours in the evening and in the mornings, which are the best times to see the animals. For morning game drives, we depart at 6 am with coffee and snacks. Breakfast is after the drive at the game lodge, as is lunch. Evening drives start around 4 pm and dinner is served at the lodge afterward.

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

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!