Kenya is located in East Africa, it has a population of over 50 million people and is, roughly, the same size as Texas. Nairobi is Kenya’s capital, and the coastal city of Mombasa is the second largest. The official languages in the country are English and Swahili, although many people speak other local languages. Kenya was a British colony until it became an independent country in 1963. Kenya has a rich history that pre-dates the colonial era by many centuries.

We will depart Houston (IAH) on Saturday, December 28th via Frankfurt (Germany), and come back from Nairobi (via Frankfurt again) on Monday, January 13th. Flight tickets have been pre-booked, so you do not need to worry about making any travel arrangements on your own, other than being at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. The cost of the plane tickets is already included in the price of the program. In fact, the price you pay for the program includes all local transportation as well (except any travel you might do on your own).

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends receiving a yellow fever vaccine if going on a safari to Kenya. Since we will be doing that, and might travel outside the “safe areas”, you will be required to show proof of your yellow fever certificate by November 1 (or a doctor’s notice indicating that, for medical reasons, you are exempted from receiving the vaccine). You won’t be able to join the program unless you have a yellow fever certificate.

Overall, Kenya is a safe travel destination as long as you stay away from areas that might be more prone to violence and conflict. The program will only visit areas that are considered safe for travel, where tourism infrastructure is very well developed. Petty crime does occur in big cities, and you need to keep that in mind at all times. You must exercise extra caution when walking around the CBD, you should avoid walking alone and, under no circumstances, walk on the streets after dark.

While the primary purpose of this program is to shoot a documentary film, there will be plenty of time to visit some of the most famous sights in Nairobi and Mombasa, which are Kenya’s two largest cities, and the places where we will be spending most of our time. Also, the program includes a two-day safari to one of Africa’s most well-known National Parks, the Amboseli National Park at the border between Kenya and Tanzania, and a short stay at an eco-lodge in Diani, by the Indic Ocean.