$6,900per participant
or $1,150/month
Or pay monthly, no deposit
$1,150 today, then $1,150 a month for 5 more months, finishing by May 1, 2027. Total $6,900. No interest, no fees.
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Travel with purpose
This programme connects Kenyan American young people and other interested participants with Kenyan peers, community hosts, heritage, working landscapes and wildlife. The added time makes room for practical activities and reflection alongside sightseeing, while retaining the village service learning and coastal experience. Proposed 21 day programme including outbound travel and departure from Kenya; return arrival in the United States may be on Day 22.
- Length
- 21 days
- Starts and ends
- United States, via Nairobi
- Ages
- 16 to 34, in age bands
The route and daily learning
Iten adds a northern loop; it is not on the direct Nakuru to Kisii route.
| Days | Base or region | Learning focus |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | International travel and Nairobi | Arrival recovery and university exchange |
| Days 3 to 5 | Naivasha | Lake ecology, school exchange and geothermal energy |
| Days 6 to 8 | Nakuru | Hyrax Hill, market, Menengai, civic learning and wildlife |
| Days 9 to 11 | Bogoria and Iten | Lake visit, hosted lunch, athletics and youth exchange |
| Days 12 to 14 | Kericho and Kisii | Tea, village relationships and community-selected service |
| Days 15 to 17 | Maasai Mara | Craft livelihoods, Maasai exchange and conservation |
| Days 18 to 21 | Coast and Nairobi | Swahili heritage, restoration, reflection and departure |
An academy thread throughout the journey
Before departure, the cohort holds an orientation and sessions on Kenyan history, cultural humility, practical travel and the agreed service project. On most learning days there are 20 to 30 minutes of practical Swahili and a short journal or group reflection. Participants collect a small portfolio of observations, questions and collaborative work.
Ages 16 to 17 travel with guardian consent, supervised accommodation and chaperoning. Ages 18 to 23 emphasise peer leadership and study pathways; ages 24 to 34 extend into enterprise and professional discussions. Final age bands and staff ratios are confirmed before enrolment.
Driving times are approximate planning allowances, not verified schedules. The transport provider confirms each leg for the chosen properties, road conditions, vehicle and stops. Optional activities are not added to already full travel days.
Day by day
Day 1International flight
Depart the United States
Overnight Travel day
Experience and learning
Check in for the confirmed international flight to Nairobi. A JFK group departure can be retained if it suits the final cohort; the airline, flight number, connection and schedule are quoted for the actual travel year.
Chaperones check passports, entry documents, consent forms and emergency contacts. A first journal prompt on identity, expectations and what respectful exchange looks like.
Planning details
Carry essential medication and a change of clothes in hand luggage. Any school to airport coach has a separately confirmed pickup point and timetable.
Day 2Nairobi
Arrive in Nairobi
Overnight Nairobi hotel
Experience and learning
Meet the arrival team, transfer to the hotel and settle in. The afternoon stays light with meals, rest and a short orientation rather than a long onward drive after an overnight flight.
An introduction to Kenyan cultural etiquette, practical Swahili greetings, group agreements and the learning journal. A neighbourhood orientation only if the arrival time and participant energy allow.
Planning details
Time is allowed for immigration, baggage and traffic. A welcome visit to the University of Nairobi is scheduled for Day 3 and remains subject to written host confirmation.
Day 3Nairobi to Naivasha
University exchange and the Rift Valley
Overnight Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort or equivalent
Experience and learning
A proposed morning exchange with the University of Nairobi Department of Diplomacy and International Studies: identity, diaspora connections, civic responsibility and youth leadership with Kenyan students and faculty.
After lunch, travel to Naivasha with a safe Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop. Check in to Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, or a comparable lake-area property, and an introduction to the ecology of the freshwater lake.
Planning details
The university exchange is described as confirmed only once its current written scope is received. A locally hosted youth dialogue is the alternative if the university cannot receive the group. Road time is about 2.5 to 4 hours, excluding visits.
Day 4Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha and student exchange
Overnight Naivasha
Experience and learning
A morning boat excursion with a licensed operator to observe waterbirds and hippos from a safe distance. Participants record species, habitat pressures and the role of fishing and tourism in local livelihoods.
After lunch, a prearranged school or youth group for conversation, shared sports, reading or a creative project chosen by the host. The day ends with Swahili practice and a discussion of school life in Kenya and the United States.
Planning details
Correctly fitted life jackets and approved passenger limits. No swimming in the lake or walking close to hippos. A Crescent Island guided nature walk may replace the school session if hosts are unavailable; access and fees to be confirmed.
Day 5Olkaria and Hell's Gate
Geothermal learning and outdoor activity
Overnight Naivasha
Experience and learning
A proposed KenGen renewable energy learning session at Olkaria, booked through the official tour process, on how geothermal resources support electricity generation and other uses.
A supervised visit to the Olkaria Geothermal Spa, with optional bathing for suitable participants. A short guided walk or cycling route in Hell's Gate only if park staff approve conditions and the group has the equipment and ability.
Planning details
A power station tour and spa admission are separate arrangements. KenGen access, park charges and spa rules to be confirmed. Gorge access is not promised; current closures and weather instructions apply. There is always a non-bathing option.
Day 6Naivasha to Nakuru
Archaeology and Nakuru market life
Overnight Nakuru hotel or lodge
Experience and learning
Transfer to Nakuru and visit Hyrax Hill Museum and prehistoric site with a guide: archaeological evidence, settlement patterns and how historians interpret objects and landscapes.
After lunch, a host-guided visit to a Nakuru market. Small groups compare produce, practise Swahili greetings and learn how traders source and price goods. A short food budgeting exercise connects enterprise with daily life.
Planning details
About 1.5 to 2.5 hours of road travel before visits. The market route and photography etiquette are agreed in advance. Any tasting follows group food hygiene and allergy arrangements.
Day 7Nakuru
Menengai and civic learning
Overnight Nakuru
Experience and learning
The Menengai Crater viewpoint for guided landscape interpretation and a short, suitable rim walk: Rift Valley geology, and how geological evidence differs from local oral traditions.
A requested educational visit to Nakuru State House (State Lodge), included only after written approval and security instructions. If unavailable, a county civic learning session or an extended Hyrax Hill heritage programme.
Planning details
No State House access, exterior photography or stop at a security perimeter is assumed. No steep crater descents; the approved viewpoint route is used. The civic alternative also needs a host appointment.
Day 8Lake Nakuru National Park
Rhino conservation and youth connection
Overnight Nakuru
Experience and learning
A game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park focused on rhino conservation, habitat management and bird identification, with an approved picnic or lodge lunch and a discussion led by the driver guide.
If arranged in advance and compatible with park timings, a short youth exchange in Nakuru. The exact school, calendar, permission and safeguarding arrangements are confirmed before any institution is named.
Planning details
Wildlife sightings and flamingo numbers vary. No approaching wildlife on foot outside approved places. Any school visit is brief; a full-day conservation programme is an equally valid option.
Day 9Nakuru to Lake Bogoria
Lake Bogoria and a hosted lunch
Overnight Bogoria area
Experience and learning
Leave Nakuru after breakfast for Lake Bogoria. Accessible birdwatching areas and geothermal viewpoints with a local guide, subject to current water levels, reserve rules and road conditions.
A prebooked lunch at Lake Bogoria Spa Resort or another approved venue, with a local natural history or livelihoods conversation if a community host is available. An overnight nearby avoids combining the lake with a long drive to Iten.
Planning details
Roughly 3 to 4 hours on the road before local touring. Reserve access and the hotel lunch are separate bookings. The group keeps clear of hot springs and unstable ground; geysers, accessible shores and flamingo numbers cannot be guaranteed.
Day 10Bogoria to Iten
Travel to the home of champions
Overnight Iten or Eldoret
Experience and learning
Travel towards Iten on the locally advised road through the Baringo and highland corridor, stopping only at safe designated viewpoints, with time for lunch and comfort breaks.
After arrival, an easy town orientation and a conversation about how sport, education, agriculture and enterprise shape local life. A coach or athlete meeting only where a session has been arranged.
Planning details
Iten is a deliberate northern extension, not a direct stop between Nakuru and Kisii. Allow about 4 to 6 hours for this transfer, depending on the road. A transport operator validates the route before booking.
Day 11Iten
Athletics and community life in Iten
Overnight Iten or Eldoret
Experience and learning
An optional easy morning walk or short jog with a qualified local coach; participants choose their pace and may observe instead. A hosted talk on training routines, education and the business of athletics.
A permitted Kerio Valley viewpoint stop and a youth sports exchange, community garden or local enterprise visit. The day finishes with a workshop on setting goals and supporting wellbeing without pressure to perform.
Planning details
Training camp entry, athlete appearances and school access are not included until confirmed. Altitude, hydration and individual fitness are taken into account; no intense running or technical descent is required.
Day 12Iten through Eldoret to Kericho
Tea landscapes and the production chain
Overnight Kericho
Experience and learning
Travel south to Kericho with planned breaks. In the afternoon, a prebooked tea estate or smallholder visit on cultivation, harvesting, labour and the journey from leaf to market.
Where the host permits, a simple leaf selection demonstration and a guided tasting comparing teas. A discussion of how weather, value addition and trade affect farming households.
Planning details
About 4 to 6 hours of driving before visits. Production visits depend on working hours and permission. If arrival is late, only a landscape stop is kept and the learning session moves to the next morning.
Day 13Kericho to Kisii and Nyanchonori
Kisii and village welcome
Overnight Kisii hotel
Experience and learning
Continue to Kisii and meet the local team for the Nyanchonori and Nyankoba community programme. Discuss local priorities and agree what visitors can usefully contribute during the stay.
A hosted village walk, farming conversation and a local food demonstration if offered, with a supervised sports or storytelling session with peers. Household visits take place only by invitation.
Planning details
Roughly 2.5 to 4 hours on the road before local activities. Host fees, group size, permissions and project materials are agreed in advance. Local staff verify village locations and the daily route.
Tea country near Kericho illustrates the regional landscape. This photograph does not depict the Nyanchonori or Nyankoba hosts. Day 14Nyankoba and Nyanchonori
Tea processing and community service
Overnight Kisii
Experience and learning
A visit to Nyankoba Tea Factory, subject to permission, working hours and production schedules, tracing the stages from green leaf to processed tea and connecting the factory to the farms visited earlier.
A host-selected service activity such as preparing learning materials, a school garden session, a reading exchange or an agreed facility improvement under local supervision. The group records what was completed and who will maintain it.
Planning details
No construction, clinical work, child care role or promise of long-term impact is assumed. Host priorities decide the final activity.
Day 15Kisii through Tabaka to Maasai Mara
Soapstone craft and onward to the Mara
Overnight Mara lodge or camp
Experience and learning
If the route and departure time permit, a brief prebooked visit to Tabaka artisans for a soapstone demonstration and a discussion of craft livelihoods. Participants may try a low-risk finishing or design activity under supervision.
Continue to the Mara, allowing for slow road sections and the exact lodge location. Settle into camp for a guide briefing and an evening discussion of people, land and conservation.
Planning details
About 5 to 7 hours of road travel plus the craft visit, depending on the gate and property. No game drive is promised on this transfer day. If the route is too long, craft learning moves to Day 14.
A Maasai cultural performance in Kenya. The final community host and activities are agreed separately. Day 16Mara community area
Maasai hosted cultural exchange
Overnight Mara
Experience and learning
A substantial half day with a Maasai community host, beginning with introductions and a host-led discussion of contemporary livelihoods, family life, land and cultural change.
Activities offered by the community: beadwork, language practice, storytelling, food preparation or a supervised livestock care demonstration. A shared sports session or dance lesson may be offered by willing hosts, and a short game drive later if distances permit.
Planning details
Fair host payment and consent are agreed for every activity and photograph. No home entry, sacred practice, spear activity or livestock handling is assumed. Participants may observe; food preparation is kept separate from animal contact.
Day 17Maasai Mara
Mara wildlife and conservation
Overnight Mara
Experience and learning
A full-day game drive with an approved picnic stop, or morning and afternoon drives with rest at camp. Habitats, predator behaviour and the different roles of reserves, conservancies and surrounding communities.
A simple wildlife field notebook and a guide-led discussion of tourism income, employment and conservation, finishing with a creative reflection linking the wildlife experience to the community exchange.
Planning details
No migration crossing or specific sighting is guaranteed. Ballooning is an optional extra only for eligible participants, with separate operator, insurance, age and price confirmation.
Day 18Mara to Mombasa
Fly to the coast
Overnight Voyager Beach Resort or equivalent
Experience and learning
Transfer to the airstrip and fly to Mombasa on the confirmed itinerary; a connection through Nairobi may be needed. Transfer to the coast hotel and time to rest.
An introduction to the Indian Ocean coast: a short Swahili language session, supervised beach time and a briefing on tides, sun protection and local etiquette. The day stays flexible around the actual flight.
Planning details
A direct Mara to Mombasa flight is not assumed. Airstrip transfers, domestic baggage limits and connection times are checked before payment is collected. The hotel and meal plan remain provisional.
Day 19Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town
Swahili history and coastal exchange
Overnight Mombasa coast
Experience and learning
Fort Jesus Museum with a guide, then a walk through Mombasa Old Town: Indian Ocean trade, built heritage and the meeting of Swahili, African, Arab, Asian and European histories.
After lunch, a Swahili cooking, craft or language session with a local host. Back at the hotel, supervised leisure and a discussion of how coastal identity differs from the highland communities visited.
Planning details
Modest clothing and permission for photography. Religious buildings are entered only where visitors are welcomed. Cooking is a proposed workshop; the host is identified and allergies managed before booking.
Day 20Haller Park to Nairobi
Coastal restoration and return to Nairobi
Overnight Nairobi hotel
Experience and learning
If the flight leaves enough time, Haller Park for a guided introduction to ecological restoration. Otherwise a short hotel-based coastal reflection and a direct transfer to the airport.
Fly to Nairobi and settle into the hotel. Teams prepare a small group portfolio with reflections on language, livelihoods, citizenship and conservation, and the questions they want to keep exploring.
Planning details
The flight allows time for the transfer and check-in. The extra night in Nairobi protects the international departure. Any marine excursion replaces another coastal activity rather than being added to this travel day.
Day 21Nairobi and international departure
Share learning and depart Kenya
Overnight Overnight flight
Experience and learning
A closing session with invited Kenyan peers or partner representatives, where practical, to share portfolios, exchange feedback and agree a realistic follow-up activity. A short city visit only if the flight schedule allows.
A farewell meal and the transfer to the airport for the flight home. Earlier school partners may join online if bringing them to Nairobi would create cost or supervision difficulties.
Planning details
Baggage storage, rooms or day rooms and departure transfers are confirmed. U.S. arrival may fall on Day 22. Airport to school transport and guardian pickup are arranged separately.
Accommodation
Properties are chosen to support the cohort size, dietary needs, supervised rooming and access requirements. No property has been reserved and no current rates are implied.
- Nairobi
- Two separate stays, on arrival and before departure, in a hotel with secure access, space for briefings and realistic airport transfer times.
- Naivasha
- Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort is the named proposal. A comparable Naivasha lodge may be substituted after checking group rooms, meals and transport.
- Nakuru
- A city hotel or suitable lodge. An in-park property may add gate timing, transport and fee implications for the market and civic visits.
- Bogoria
- A nearby overnight keeps lunch and lake touring manageable. Lake Bogoria Spa Resort is a proposed lunch and accommodation option, subject to availability.
- Iten and Kericho
- Group accommodation close to the learning hosts. Eldoret may be used as the Iten-area base if practical.
- Kisii and the Mara
- A Kisii hotel for the village days, and a Mara lodge or camp chosen to suit the cultural host, reserve entry and onward airstrip.
- Mombasa
- Voyager Beach Resort is the proposal, subject to its group meal plan and supervised leisure arrangements; an equivalent coastal hotel may be quoted.
Participation and practical arrangements
- Host agreements
- Written permission for university, school, factory, training camp, village and civic visits, with dates, content, fees, accessibility and photography agreed with each host. No institutional endorsement is implied.
- Community service
- The community defines a useful and achievable activity. Materials and local supervision are budgeted separately, and completion and handover are documented without promising impact that cannot be measured.
- Youth safeguarding
- A named programme lead and safeguarding contact. Supervision, headcounts, buddy groups, rooming, curfews, transport rosters, emergency contacts and response procedures are agreed. Host school activities follow the school's safeguarding policy.
- Activities and choice
- An observer or lower-exertion alternative for running, cycling, boating, spa use and craft work. Operators, equipment and emergency arrangements are identified before each activity is included.
- Consent and respect
- Host fees and image consent are agreed in advance, with guardian permission for minors. No staged hardship photographs, unsolicited home entry or required participation in cultural practices.
- Local coordination
- The Nyanchonori and Nyankoba hosts and locations are verified directly with local coordinators before the programme is finalised.
- Communications
- A managed WhatsApp group with guardian and participant consent, an emergency contact sheet and a clear family communication schedule. Personal information stays out of public posts.
Travel preparation and packing
- Entry documents
- Most non-exempt visitors need an approved eTA, including children; nationality and status determine exemptions. Use only the official etakenya.go.ke portal and recheck before travel. Kenyan passport holders and other exempt categories verify their own documentation.
- Passports and minors
- The official eTA guidance currently specifies at least six months' passport validity and at least one blank page. Confirm airline requirements, transit rules and guardian consent or supporting documents for minors.
- Health preparation
- A travel health consultation well before departure to review the itinerary, routine immunisations, malaria prevention and individual medical needs. Official entry health requirements are rechecked near departure.
- Insurance
- Travel cover suitable for the full itinerary: medical treatment, emergency evacuation, cancellation, baggage and planned activities. Check exclusions and assistance arrangements before purchase.
- Money and tipping
- A written final quote with inclusions, exclusions and payment terms. Carry modest spending funds and ask about card acceptance and charges. Tipping guidance is confirmed clearly as per person or per vehicle.
- Packing essentials
- Passport and document copies, prescribed medication in original packaging, phone, charger, plug adapters, reusable water bottle and bags, sun protection, insect repellent, toiletries, journal and a small day pack. Essentials for the first 48 hours go in carry-on luggage.
- Clothing and baggage
- Layers for cool highland mornings, a light rain jacket, walking shoes, modest everyday clothes and swimwear for approved pools and coastal activities. Check each international and domestic baggage allowance; small safari aircraft may have different limits.
- Plastics and luggage
- Use reusable bags and follow Kenyan carrier bag rules and single-use plastic restrictions in parks. Any extra project luggage needs agreed contents, customs checks and airline acceptance.
Planning edition. Planning edition dated 4 November 2026, prepared by Roundtrip Safaris. Travel dates, cohort ages, group size, prices and institutional participation are to be confirmed. This document is not a booking confirmation.
Itinerary prepared by
Lawrence Njenga
Chief Operating Officer, Roundtrip Safaris
Drafted these learning circuits with community hosts; runs Kenya operations with Roundtrip Safaris.