Before Your Trip

What’s included and what’s not

Just about everything is included in your fare:

• Accommodations for 8 days/7 nights in the finest hotels, lodges and tent camps
• Private day-use rooms on the day of departure
• All meals while in Kenya
• Special dinners
  • Welcome cocktails and dinner at the home of Felix and Jane Pinto
  • Moon over Kilimanjaro – Ambolseli Barbeque Dinner
  • Farewell Bush Dinner in the Maasai Mara
  • Farewell Dinner at Carnivore Restaurant
• Special lunches
  • Lunch in Gemini Desai’s Garden
  • Departure lunch at the Norfolk Hotel
• Special cocktail receptions:
  • Amboseli Spectacular (Drinks billed on consumption)
  • Maasai Mara Sundowners  (Drinks billed on consumption)
• Coffee and tea during breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Sightseeing tours and special enhancements
  • Visit to Karen Blixen’s home (Author of Out of Africa)
  • Visit to Giraffe Centre
  • Meeting with Maasai Elder
  • Visit to Maasai village
  • Option to visit and participate in America Share project
• Safari briefing conducted by your Micato Safari Director
• Three flights to enhance comfort and minimize lengthy drives
  • Nairobi to Ambolseli
  • Amboseli to Maasai Mara (charter)
  • Maasai Mara to Nairobi
• On safari, we seat a maximum of 6 guests in our 9-passenger vehicles, guaranteeing a window seat for each guest and access to a pop-up roof hatch for guest. Each vehicle is equipped with:
  • Binoculars (one per guest)
  • Ice chests with complimentary beverages
  • Safari Library with wildlife guidebooks
• Airport arrival and departure transfers on first and last days of program (Oct. 15 and Oct. 22) with personal “Meet and Greet” upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyata International Airport
• Services of the Flying Doctors’ Society, an emergency airborne medical unit
• An authentic safari hat and wooden animal necklace as a welcome gift
• An Olivia safari vest
• All entrance fees to parks
• Government taxes, VAT and service charges relating to accommodations and included meals
• All porterage
• All gratuities, including those for your driver, guides and Safari Director
• Micato’s concierge service
• Hospitality Desk in Nairobi and on safari 
• Olivia representative to accompany the group

The following things are not included in your fare:

• Personal expenses
• Beverages during lunch and dinner (except coffee and tea)
• Laundry
• Individual insurance
• Excess baggage fees
• Phone calls
• Faxes
• International flights
• Cost of obtaining passport, visa, and other travel documents
• Medical treatment

Travel documentation and identification

A valid passport is required for entry into Africa, and should be kept on your person or in the hotel safe deposit box. Your passport must be valid 6 months after travel. All visitors to Africa are required to have a minimum of two blank pages in their passport book, so that there is room to place their entry visa. If there is insufficient space in the passport, entry into the country will be denied.

U.S. citizens entering Kenya need a visa, which may be purchased upon arrival at the Kenyan airport for about $50. However, to avoid potentially long lines, we strongly encourage you to get your visa ahead of time.

Vaccinations

Please check with your local Public Heath Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations.”

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance. Olivia has recently partnered with Travelex to make things easier for you; you can now add your travel insurance when you book your trip, all in one call. In order to receive the most comprehensive coverage, please purchase your insurance within 14 days of your initial invoice. If you have questions about Olivia’s travel insurance, call (800) 631-6277 to talk to one of our travel consultants, or visit the Olivia Travel Protection Plan page for more information.

Joining the Olivia.com trip group

If you’d like to chat with people who are going on the trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group.

About Our Destination

Currency

Kenya uses the Kenyan Shilling.

All East African countries have stringent exchange regulations; their currencies are not interchangeable. We recommend that you carry as little local cash as possible. We suggest cashing about $100 per person in Shillings to use for tipping room service or to buy small items along the way. Ask for $50/$100/$1000 shilling bills.

Languages

The national language of Kenya is Swahili, but English is widely spoken. There are also approximately 78 tribal dialects.

Travel and arrival

Air travel and discounts

We have arranged special discounted fares through American Airlines. To take advantage of these rates, please call (800) 433.1790 and refer to discount code A12H0AP. The dates of travel are October 8-29, 2010. This cannot be booked on-line. This is a 5% discount on airfare originating with an American Airlines flight that connects in Europe to a One World Partner. Flights may be booked after November 12, 2009.

In order to take advantage of the Olivia transfer from the airport to the Norfolk hotel, your flight should be scheduled to arrive in Nairobi on October 15, 2010. Most flights arrive in the evening. Your departure flight should be scheduled out of Nairobi after 10:00 p.m. on October 22, 2010. Again, transfers are not included with any flights arriving or departing on non-program dates. Information on additional hotel nights and pricing will be available one year from the date of trip.

We encourage you to contact the airlines directly to confirm your flights, baggage allowance and seat assignments prior to departure.

Luggage allowances

On light aircraft flights in Kenya, the baggage allowance is 33 pounds, excluding camera and video equipment. Please pack a soft-sided “safari bag” (a small duffle bag with or without wheels) as they are much easier to load onto small planes. All excess luggage can be stored at the hotel in Nairobi. Luggage and personal effects are at owners' risk throughout the tour, and we advise you to obtain baggage insurance. For your trip over to Africa, please contact your air carrier for the latest baggage requirements and allowance.

Transfers and meeting up with Olivia

Your Micato Safari Director will meet you after you pass through customs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and you will be transferred to the beautiful Norfolk Hotel.  A dedicated Airport Team will coordinate and handle your arrival, and your Micato porters will expedite your luggage at the airport. Enjoy a cool drink in the vehicle while you transfer from the airport to the hotel, where you are pre-registered for check-in. You will be greeted with a drink and welcome package. Should you have any queries, your Micato Safaris Concierge staff will be at their desk in the lounge to answer all your questions.

During your trip

Electricity

The voltage is 220, which is the same as in Europe. However, the plugs are shaped differently than in America and most parts of Europe. You will need 3-prong square adapters. As outlets sometimes vary, if you plan to operate electric appliances, we suggest you travel with a set of international adapter plugs as well as a voltage converter. Most camera battery and computer chargers have the 110/220 converters built in, but double check this. With the proper converters, you can easily re-charge your batteries in all of the accommodations on safari, including the tents.

Please note that lodges in the game parks sometimes turn off their generators during the day, which means no electricity is available during that time.

Excursions

Certain tours are included in the cost of your trip. There are also optional excursions you may book at an additional cost.

Gratuities

Gratuities, including your hotel staff (except for room service delivery), porter, driver/guide and Safari Director are included. If you received exceptional service from someone, you are welcome to give an additional gratuity. If you take an optional excursion, you may want to tip your guide/driver.

Laundry and dry cleaning

Laundry, pressing and dry cleaning service is available onboard. No self-serve laundry is available.

Medical services

We utilize the services of the Flying Doctor's Society, an elite, airborne medical unit. Should you require emergency medical assistance, they will be dispatched. If necessary, they evacuate travelers to Nairobi, where excellent medical facilities are available. Medical treatment is available for a fee.

Phone

Most lodges do not have readily available phones; in an emergency, you may be contacted through Micato Safaris offices in Nairobi. Complete information about this is available in your trip guide.

Smoking policy

Please refrain from smoking in safari vehicles and other enclosed places where it may affect others.

After your Trip

Transfers to the airport

After the trip, you will be transferred to the airport. Those joining us on the Mount Kenya Safari Club Extension will be transferred back to the Norfolk Hotel for an overnight stay.

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