Planning for Your Safari

PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP

Now that you’ve decided to travel to Kenya for your safari, you probably have questions as to how to prepare. Below are some helpful hints and links to sources of information. If you have questions regarding preparations for your particular safari that we can assist with, please ask.

Email us at: tours@villagelifesafari.com
Or give us a call: Telephone: +254 020 4475631 • Mobile: +254 716 512 913
(We are Greenwich Mean Time plus 3 hours.)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQ: Do I need any special vaccinations before traveling on a safari?
Yes, visitors to Kenya need vaccination against cholera and yellow fever. Other recommendations include typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis.

FAQ: What can I do to protect myself against Malaria?
The best protection is to minimize mosquito bites. Use insect repellant, wear covering clothing and sleep under mosquito netting. You may want to consider antimalarial drugs, if so, we recommend you consult your local heath care professional in a timely manner before departure.

FAQ: What medical facilities are available?
You have two basic types of medical facilities to choose from. Government Hospitals offer the cheapest and almost free medication but are crowded. Private Clinics offer excellent services but are a bit expensive. Please discuss any specific medical needs with us and be sure to bring all your medications with you.

FAQ: Do I need to bring water?
Village Life Safari provides bottled mineral water throughout your safari.

FAQ: Do I need a VISA or other paperwork to travel to Kenya?
A valid passport is required for all visitors. VISAs are required for residents of some countries, for details got to the VISA IMFORMATION CENTRE.

FAQ: Are the parks safe  for travelers?
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) considers security for visitors its most important concern and provide extensive park patrols including around campsites and lodging. As with any travel, basic precautions should be observed, such as not walking alone at night and avoiding carrying valuables. Ask your guide or a park ranger if you have particular concerns.

FAQ: Who do I ask for help if I need?
Always seek guidance from your official safari guide, uniformed Police, security guards or tourist information center staff.

Ministry of Tourism – Kenya Website
Lots of information for the traveler is located at this official tourism site. Of particular interest are the following sections of this website:

Magical Kenya – Kenya Travel Guide Website
This is the official Destination website for Kenya tourism, chock full of info about Kenya and travel to our wonderful country.

Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Website

CHARITY CONTRIBUTIONS: If you have extra space in your luggage, please consider bringing used clothes, books, pens, pencils, crayons, a used laptop or other items to donate to children’s homes or rural Kenyan schools. Please ask us for an updated list of specific needs.

The Mukuru Slums are the second largest in Kenya, second only to the Kibera slums, which is considered one of the largest slums in the world. Within the Mukuru Slums there is a population of over half a million people where access to clean water, sanitation, education and medical facilities is at its lowest. Crime, drugs, prostitution, abortions and many other vices are the order of the day. It is a normal thing to find a premature baby aborted and thrown along the pathways, robberies during the day are common and drugs are a persistant problem.
It is these conditions that made us initiate the idea of starting education programs within these slums. We established Joy House Education Center that oversees three Mukuru Education Centers with over 600 kids. The challenges we face today is the high number of kids who want to join the centers but the space and resources are limited. We have very few volunteer teachers compared to the number of kids who want to attend. We receive school supplies from volunteers and tourtists who come to travel on safaris in Kenya. We also welcome volunteer teachers. Through Pack For A Purpose, we get some school supplies though the demand is very high. In addition the donations given help us construct more classes and hire more qualified teachers. Our doors also remain open to volunteer teachers, donation of school supplies, new and used clothes and shoes, gently used or new laptops among others. We are also open on new ideas on how we can improve this slum through educa