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Exploring the Mara with Kibaria Travels

Travelling is my thing, actually it makes me alive and always motivated. The idea of exploring new places, meeting new people and different cultures never ceases to amaze me. I have always planned my travel meticulously, that is; finding that perfect place to travel to, who to travel with, where to get accommodation, mode of transport and the best places to visit at destination. It is always a tedious process.
This time round I figured out it is the year of going beyond my comfort zone. I decided to find a group travelling and join, in the process I came across the Kibaria Travel tour to the Maasai Mara and I had a wonderful time.

Cost of Travel

The cost was 9800 Kenya shillings approximately 95 US dollars. The cost covered transport to and from the Mara from Nairobi, one day accommodation, full board meals; dinner, breakfast and lunch, free photography, and game drive in the Mara. The package also included a visit to the Maasai Villages.

Booking

I came across Kibaria Travel tour to Mara on Facebook, made a call which was promptly answered and questions answered to my satisfaction. I booked my tour with 3000 Kenya Shillings approximately 29 US dollars and the rest I paid 5 days to the material day. I would say the process was smooth and a call back to confirm my payment had been received was an exceptional service. In most cases am used to an e-mail or a message, I was up to a good start.

Pre- tour

Two days to the material day, I was added to a Whats App group meant for regular updates about our trips, what to carry and what to expect. Good thinking, not many groups do the same, in the past I have had to call to find out on the expected weather, what to wear, time for pick ups and the like. I would say the updates were good and it also gave me the opportunity to guess the number of my new tour mates.

Day one, the material day.

I arrived at Kencon a few minutes late to the departure time, as a matter of fact a call from the crew on my whereabouts as I was trying to locate our truck and I knew I was keeping everyone waiting, true to my fears 90% of my tour mates were already in. I would say, time keeping was good, I did not have to wait, make calls and wonder when the truck was going to show up  or when the departure would be. Time of departure was 7 am, thanks to me and a few like me, we departed a few minutes late as we picked two more tour mates along the way. Below  is the truck we used, an overland truck with open sliding windows for the best view. I would say, I was very lucky, with my lateness, I managed a window seat. I love window seats, you get to see a lot as you travel.

The Rift Valley View Point

A short stop at the Rift Valley view point and a few shots for keeps. I pass through this place many times but I have never stopped to take the view, the view is breathtaking. The view point is past Limuru and just before the descent to Mai Mahiu. You will not miss it, there are always tourist trucks at the place most of the time taking in the view. This is one place I would recommend you take time to see, and of course do not forget to take that awesome pic for keeps.

Lunch at Narok

After the View Point was a stop at Narok for a quick lunch, I needed this considering the time I woke up, I did not have time for a decent breakfast. Narok is a famous stop over for a quick meal or snack for local travelers and tourist alike. There are various eateries where you can get a decent meal and the famous Kenyan Nyama Choma, for those weary of your culinary, the Naivas Supermarket has hot meals ready for you. It is a perfect time to pick up a bottle of water and any snacks you may need on the way. Since I had a craving for some Githeri, I found my way to the supermarket and at the packing counter I thought I would get some eggs and sweet potatoes as well, as it turned out, the attender packed me two sets of Githeri which I discovered once I was inside  the truck! Lesson number one, confirm your package before you leave the shop!

The Drive to Mara.

I do not know about the others, it was a long drive for me with all the anticipation. My wondering eyes soon got tired and I was asleep for a while till I was woken up by bumpy drive, well it woke up everyone. You know the first time when you meet people and you do not have much to talk about, get tired of going through your phone and checking the terrain outside, the best next thing sleep. The road to Mara from Narok is smooth most of the journey but you will experience a few bumpy places, always brace yourself for those.

Arrival at the Mara

We arrived at the Mara Gate, the Sekenani Gate at around 3pm going to 4pm . The Mara has 4 Main Gates and voila here we were. Did I tell you one thing you never forget when touring the Mara is your ID or Passport?, Now you know, you will require one of this to register your entry. The good thing about travelling in a coordinated group, the registration is done by the group coordinator, saves you the hustle right? And of course it gives you that time to take that memorable pic, how else will you keep the memoirs?

The evening Game drive

Perfect timing, we were in time to take a  game drive before checking in for the night. After the registration, we were off for the game  drive, the big moment. The pictures below will speak for themselves.

Checking in for the night

To be honest, I was a bit worried about our accommodation with the package, I have always believed hotels in places like the Mara were very expensive. My fears were laid to rest when I came across to G & G hotel at Talek in the Mara, I will leave a link for  you to explore more. I had my own cottage, the room was spacious, the bedding up to standard and the washroom was the best of all, very spacious and clean. For those who know me, you know how much I love space, and you have your own balcony, as a matter of fact too big a balcony. You can entertain a group of ten in such a balcony. http://bit.ly/2MB7qd1. .... and a swimming pool for those of us who love water.

After one hour of freshening up, we had a buffet dinner with pumpkin soup as a starter. It was a two course meal. I love pumpkin soup, you should try this when you have an opportunity to.

The Bonfire

This was the climax of the tour, the bonfire. Have you ever had an engrossed discussion where you and  everyone else forgets about their phones and mute the music for a better participation? A situation where you do not want to miss a thing, where you do not notice the passage of time? Well, this is an understatement, I wish I would have better words to explain it but it will not bring the experience near to reality. We bonded, learnt ,argued till time would not accommodate us any more. Next time when you have a get together, try to put those phones aside, mute the noise of music and bring the discussion alive. This was an experience of a lifetime, I will forever hold it close to my heart.

Day- 2, the visit to the Maasai Village

Day 2 was more fun, than day one. The ice had been broken, we were  more free with each other and more group pics in the early morning as we got ready for breakfast. Breakfast was set outside near the pool a perfect setup to the music of the birds and the fresh air of the Mara. After breakfast, we checked out because we were not planing of coming back to the Hotel after the Maasai Vilage visit. I would say the food was great and more than enough. The staff were amazing and friendly.

 At the Maasai Village we got to experience the maasai culture, dance and access the Manyattas, I had only seen the Manyattas from a far and in pictures. It was a good experience to go inside and actually realize they are not as small as they look from outside. They serve their purpose perfectly well, you want to satisfy your curiosity? make a point of visiting one. It is one thing to learn on how to build a fire without a matchstick, gas or electric power, but is is another experience altogether to see a fire from rubbing two pieces of wood.  The Maasai village is a well neat community, depending on one another and the cows are kept within the homestead which is made up of houses build in a perfect circle.

The Mara Departure

There comes that time when the goodbyes are inevitable, leaving the Mara was one of the hardest thing to do but had to be done. We saw more wild animals on our way our of the Mara to our new destination where our lunch was waiting for us. It was a late lunch an I was happy to have a full meal again.At the stop over, a buffet delicious lunch was waiting and as usual more than enough. To crown the tour, a birthday cake for the July Babies was waiting for us courtesy of Kibaria Travels. How many people do remember your birthday? I do not know about the male gender, but for the girl child, you remember my birthday, you make my day and imprint unforgettable memories. The choice of the lunch venue was great, there are curio shops were you can get souvenirs in case you forgot to get one within the Mara with all the excitement. All in all I had a great time, made new friends and learnt that I did not have to travel with someone I know to have an amazing trip.

CREDITS
All photography courtesy of Kibaria Travel
https://www.facebook.com/KibariaTravel/

And of course not forgetting our amazing photographer Peter

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Can A Child Travel Alone by Air

If you are a busy parent like most of my friends who are all over the globe doing business or your core job is all about travel and moving countries, you will face the challenge of either moving your child from one school to another across the globe or making that decision to board them into one school and have them join you across the globe to where you are currently. The main concern for many parents when faced with the possibility of their children travelling alone by air is their safety and comfort. Here is the good news, you no longer have to worry about that. Most if not all airlines offer the escorted service for unaccompanied children at a fee and guarantee their comfort and safety. This includes assisting with check in, luggage check in and transfer, physical escort and handover to the guardian.

Below are points to consider before you let your child travel alone.
1. Age
2. Airlines
3.Luggage
4.Transit Airports
6. Travel Time and Cost


Age

Airline always have an age limit for the children they allow to travel alone. This includes the lower limit and the upper limit as well. However, airlines will be more strict on the lower age limit mostly because of the needs the children may require during travel. Most Airlines would allow the age of 5 years to 14 years. However if you want your child above 14 years to be offered this service, some airlines allow it upon request.

Airline

Confirm which airlines your child is going to use and their conditions of carriage in regard to unaccompanied children (unaccompanied minors in the airline industry) If your child is going to use two or more airlines, find out the terms and conditions of transfer from one airline to the next. Do your research and find out if you need to do an advance request for the service and the timeline, this may differ from one airline to another.

Luggage

Find out how much luggage you child is allowed to carry unaccompanied and if this is acceptable to you as a parent. Does it accommodate the needs of your child? If you want their is a need to carry more, how much will it cost you and is it worth it? It is always advisable to check with more than one airline for costs that are friendlier than your pocket but also offer comfort and safety for your child.

Transit Airports

Airline have strict conditions for  unaccompanied children and this must be taken into consideration if your child has a transit connection, some of them include but not limited to:

• No overnight stopover/connection

• No connections on 'flights' operated by train/ bus.

• No change of airport allowed

• No overnight stopover/connection

• No connection longer than 5 hrs

Travel time and Cost

It is wise to consider the cost of your child travelling alone, it should be pocket friendly but also offer the desired quality of service. Consider also the time your child is going to spend travelling and if it will be comfortable you and to your child. Most parent would consider breaking the journey into phases if they have trusted guardians on transit points to offer their child a resting time.

Are you comfortable letting your child travel alone?

Can you trust an airline to take care of your child

Share your comments below and any experiences you have had if your child has ever traveled alone by air 

Delayed Luggage?

There is nothing so stressful as arriving at your destination and you wait for your bag at the arrival hall only to be told you luggage did not come with you on your flight. If you are a frequent traveler like me you know what I am talking about. It gets worse if you had packed all your clothes in your checked in luggage not to mention if you were going for a business presentation, and the materials you need are all in it. Delayed baggage is a frequent occurrence in the airline industry. We all wake up, pack our luggage and hope to arrive at our destination to enjoy our vacation or whatever we have gone to do, we want to do in a stress free environment and that means having our luggage with us. Why does luggage delay in spite the fact that the the airline has promised to ensure you travel with your luggage? As a matter of fact, it is considered a security risk if your bag does not accompany you- that is a story for another day. Let us see some of the reasons why you may arrive at your destination without your luggage.

 Tight connections
When you have a tight connection for your flight, there are chances you are not going to connect with your luggage. You may get it at the earliest later in the day or the following day depending on how big, busy your connection airport is and how smooth the process of the airline you are traveling with is. Some luggage get delayed for a week or more and sometimes you may never get your bag at all and in this case the airline may opt to pay.

Tagless Bag 
Ever had of a tag-less bag? Oh yes this can happen. The tag put on you luggage may come off due to various reason not your fault or the airline's but occasionally this does happen. Airports handle a lot of luggage to different destinations, tags are meant to guide the staff on which destination to load your bag. A tagless bag has no destination and can not be loaded, it will its way to an assorted area within the airport and the airline staff will try their best to locate the owner. The reason why it is important to always have a name tag on your bag with contacts and your permanent residence. With the passenger manifest, it will be easier to ferry your bag to your destination or to your permanent address if you have come back home from your destination.

Space and Weight Restrictions 
Sometimes the bulky of the luggages we carry as travellers or the number may be more than the aircraft we are travelling on. If this happens, the airline will of course leave your bag behind and promise to get it to you at the earliest time possible. sometimes the space may be available but the weight limit of loads the aircraft has to carry may be exceeded, in this case the airlines choose to carry the passengers without their bags and ferry them later.

Weather conditions
When it is cold, aircrafts carry more weight than when it is hot.In hotter conditions ,more luggage may be left behind due to weight limitations.

Someone picked your luggage
This happened to a friend of mine, someone picked up her luggage thinking it was theirs. The bags were similar, she got her luggage two days later when we were on our way home from our vacation. She was not amused, neither would I if the something similar were to happen to me.

How to ensure chances of getting your luggage are high 
First, be a pro at packing lightly, this way you will not have to check in your bag as you will have only cabin luggage. You will not have to worry about not getting your luggage unless you leave it in the cabin when disembarking.

Label your bag
Have a name tag with your full names, e-mail address, telephone number and your permanent physical address attached to your bag. Have another one inside your bag where it is easily accessible. I prefer to have the kind of name tag which I can reuse, all I have to do is slide in a piece of paper with my address and can change them as often as possible, that way I can include my destination on the date of travel. You can choose to have this on a different name tag which you can change conveniently. It is advisable to have your permanent residential address in case your bag delays for longer than expected. You do not what to be given a call that your bag has been delivered to the hotel where you were staying for the vacation when you have already come back home and your vacation is long over.

 Attach something unique to your bag
I like tying a scarf tightly around the handle. It is always easy for me to spot my luggage a mile away and no one is going to mistake my luggage for theirs.A strap around your bag can also do, just ensure that it is not of the same colour as your bag for convenience. You can always but it inside your bag once collected if you do not want walk with it around your bag.

 Which ways do you employ to ensure you get your checked in bag at your destination? If you loved this article please share with your friends and travel buddies.

Hotels in Nairobi

What you need to Carry for a Day Hike.

Last week I went for a day hike after being out of the field for almost two years. I did remember to carry most of the essentials except for something for the rain which I did not need at the end of the day thanks to the weather. If it had rained, it sure would have ruined the fun. I realized that some of the hikers were quite new and had all the wrong gear or did not carry some essentials. I would like to take you through a few must haves when you are setting out for a hike/ a day hike for that matter.

Navigation.
In our case we had two tour guides for the hike and so the maps were not necessary, however that does not mean you should not have any. Invest in a compass and a map if not at least be aware of the terrain and how to get about. In case you do not have such, stay close to someone who has or to the tour guide. The golden rule is, always be in a group of at least three. This will reduce your chances of getting lost, you will also have a helping hand in case of any emergencies.

Water
Water is a must have for a day hike. You will realize that you drink more often during the hike, this is a natural body craving to protect you against hydration. You will need more water if you are hiking in dry and sunny weather as compared to cold and humid weather conditions.

Clothing
It is always good to wear light clothing during the hike for ease of movement, however I highly recommend that you take your terrain and environment into consideration when choosing your clothing. If the terrain has thorny trees and shrubs, consider wearing protective clothing to safeguard your skin from injuries. Include a vest, jacket, pants, long underwear and gloves in your packing list. Consider warm but light clothing incase it gets cold, wear layered clothing in case it gets hot too.

First Aid Kit.
First aid supplies are essential for any hike. Emergencies may arise, one can get bruises and a cut during the hike. Having a first aid kit comes in handy. Your Kit should have among others disinfectants, pain killers, assorted bandages, eye wash and eye bath, sterile gloves, sterile water,  safety pins and a first aid manual.

Sun screen protection
Ensure to pack some sunscreen ointment to protect your exposed skin from sun burns. Sunglasses will come in handy to protect your eyes from the long exposure to strong sunlight. Do not for get to carry some lip palm to keep your lips moisturised, lips ted to get dry with the dehydration. On top of the water to keep your body hydrated, lip palm helps to keeps your lips well moisturised.

Shoes
Choose the right shoes for hiking, different terrains will require you to have different kind of shoe. Your shoe will be determined by where, how and the conditions under which you are hiking. Hiking shoes during cold and wet weather conditions will be different from those in dry weather conditions. You should also ensure that they are the right size, not too big or too fitting otherwise you will be prone to blisters during the hike. Further more heavy shoes will make you weary long before you are half way your journey.

Source of light
It is always prudent to carry a source of light like a headlamp or a flash light and extra batteries to go with it. Your hike may take longer than expected till dusk and your flashlight may come in handy. Besides you may have to navigate and explore dark caves during the hike that may require a source of lighting.

Food
Ensure to carry enough and nutritive snacks for the hike.

Eva Kem Green Travel Tips: Hotels in Nairobi

Eva Kem Green Travel Tips: Hotels in Nairobi

Find Cheap Hotels in Nairobi

Ticket Cost Subject To Seat Availability

"Ticket cost subject to seat availability' If you are a frequent traveller you are familiar with these words, not the best to your ears but true and very useful. When an airline  or a travel agent tells you that the fare is subject to seat availability, it means the next time you inquire the same fare may not be available and yet  the flight is not full.

Airlines have segmented their fares into groups to ensure they offer good fares to their customers and at the same time make profits, as a result there are different levels of classes with different fares both in economy and business class. If your flight is  full when you are travveling your neighbour may have paid more or less than you depending on when they bought their ticket. Lower fares are normally sold first and the most expensive last. If an airline does not fill up their flight, their profit margin goes down. The fuller the flights, the more the profits for the airline. So, where does this leave you as a passenger? Why should you pay more or less than your counterpart and yet the service you receive on board are the same.

There is always a catch in any good deals they say, same applies to air tickets. The cheaper your ticket is, the more restrictive it is as well. You may not be able to make changes in your ticket or if you do, the change fee are going to be high. A refund may not be possible on such a ticket or the amount refunded is very low. When buying your ticket, always inquire to find out the fare rules that gorven your ticket. This will allow you to make un informed decision.

54 Countries, One Passport- The African Union Passport

Africa is known to be among one of the most beautiful tourim destinations in the world preferred by many. Many investor also have an eye on this continent as it is viewed to have a lot of pontential now and in the future. Trade in and out of the continent is growing steadly with a few challenges here and there one of them being the visa requirements within african states that vary from one state to another. The decision of the African union to have an African Union E-passport is a great welcome to many more especially the African traders. The Lauch of the passport is expect in July during the next AU summit in Rwanda Kigali. What benefits are you likely to see from this launch?

Photo source. Freeimages.com/Yoshi Aka

Traders
The launch of the Afica Union Passport will facilitate free movement of goods, services and persons within the continent. This is expected to boost trade, interaction as well as social economical growth. If you are a trader you will have opportunities to venture into new markets either for raw materials or for your goods and services. The opportunities to grow your business within Africa will be boardeless and limited only to your aggressiveness and passion. Besides you will have saved more cash which you can inject to your business.

Tourists
 If this dream is realized, we are looking towards a borderless Africa and a great welcome not only to traders but tourists as well. The idea that you are goin to save a few dollars that could have been spent for a visa makes your trip cheaper, besides you will have some extra cash to explore more. You may have been deterred to visit a county due to the inaccessibility of a visa to that country, now you will not have to worry about that so long as you have the African union passport. If you had a dream of exploring your continent, you will have cheaper unlimited boardes before you.

The student
We would expect more student exchange programs as the cost is expected to go down. Hopefuly if you are a student and want to study away from home within the continet, you will have more options on the table to choose from and you will not have to worry about the cost of a visa or how to get one as it is currently.

The Locals and social Economic Development
We expect that the local will benefit more from the open boardes as they will have an opportunity to showcase their products to a larger audience. Further more the rate of money circulation will be expectd to rise, and so will be the need for infructructure, goods and services. We do expect  a lot of positives from the Lauch of this passport.

There are a lot of expection from the Launch of the AU Passport, I am one of the many who cannot wait to have this travel document. The quest for for exploration of my lovely continent will be made easier and cheaper. The lauch of free movemeny within the East African community was good news to many, this one is going to be great.

What To Consider When buying That Air Ticket

The first thing that comes to mind when you plan to pack your bags and travel the world is a plane ticket. Whether you are fying within Kenya, out of or into Kenya, air travelling is the most convenient mode of transport as it is quick and saves you a lot of time and the fatigue that comes with land or water travel. I guess you would love to go for the best deals in the market, I always do. So, what do you take into consideration when buying your ait ticket? I would love to take you through some steps that I find useful when I set out to buy my ticket to ensure i get the best deals out there.

Fare
This is the first thing to condider before you buy your air ticket. You have to ensure that the fare is affordable to enable you save enough to enjoy the rest of your trip. Research online and from various carries plying the route for the best offers in the market. Your travel agent can also advise you on the offers available in the market. Chances are you are likely to find affordadble offers to save that 50 dollar or more for an extra luxary or entertainment at your destination.

Routing
Depending on the nature of your travel, you will have to take into consideration your routing before you buy that air ticket. If you are going for a business trip, you will find direct flights more convenient though they are expensive as compared to connecting flights. You would want to be on time and refreshed before you meet your business assosciates, besides direct flights have less disruption risks as compared to connecting flights. On the other hand if you are on a tour spree you will not mind a connecting flight, it is not only cheaper but it will allow you to expolre more airports and countries if you have enough transit time and your travel documents allow it. Unless you are in a hurry to get to your destination more especially where you have to meet up with a group for your tour, I would recomend connecting flights. They are always the best for the adventurous traveller. Besides, if your flight gets disrupted for long hours during transit, you get to be put up in a good hotel at the airline's cost and you may get a chance to explore more of that country.

Luxary Verses Convenience
Some of us love travelling in luxary others for convenience, get there, do you business and get back home. Whichiever is your style, this will determine your class of travel as well as the carrier you choose. A low cost airline will not offer you the luxary of comfort and meals, but it will get you to your destination at a cheaper fare. However, you will need to consider your luggage expenses as luggage is paid separately from your ticket as well as meals and other extra services. For a more luxarious travel, you may have to part more cash for your comfort. The good thing is that your luggage allowance will be more, meals included and you have a chance to choose your special meals as well as prebook for your seat well in advance. More previleges will of course be added if you are a frequent traveller registred with the carrirer's loyalty program.

The Carrier
More and more Airlines have entered the Air Transport industry nowaday as compare to the past, and more airlines are venturing into deastinations which were never served before or had an airline monopoly. Good news for us travellers, we have many options to choose from unless our destination has only one airline in operatin in which case we have no alternative. Before buying your airticket, do your research on the services offered by each airline, their schedule intergrity and airsatey records in relation to the their airfare before getting hold of that ticket. You want to get the best deal for your money and have a memorable and delightdul experience during your trip as well.

Conditions of carriage
Most of us have this weakness when we buy good and services, we only remember the fine prints when something goes wrong. It is  higly recomendable to read that fine print about the conditios of carriage. It will guide you in regard to how much liability the airline will take in case of delays, cancellations and baggage irregurarities.Most airlines, if not all have this online for ease access, take your time and go through it. Having a clear picture of the conditions of carrige of a carrier will enable you to make an informed choice, besides  you will know your rights in case of any disruptions or irregurarities during your  trip.

Cheap is not always cheap
Cheap air tickets are only cheap if your trip goes as planned, however they attract the most expensive penalities if you have to change your date of travel. Always make a point of checking with the airline or your travel agent how flexible your ticket will be in case you decide to make some changes. The terms and conditions are also available in soft copy in case you are booking online, check on it before you click that "I agree to the terms and condition" button. This will safegurd you from a lot of inconveniences if you decide to make some changes to your travel plans later besides,you may incur extra money was not bugdeted for. On the extream side you may end up losing all your money as some tickets can not be changed nor refunded, if they are refundable you end up losing the larger percentage of your cash.

Travel documents verces Transit points
Some countries may not allow you to transit their territory depending on local gorvenment regulations, other may require you to have a transit visa for the same. These regulations may apply even when you are not entereing the country so long as you are within an airport of that country. It will be painful to buy a ticket, only to find out at the airport that you can not go via that route or  you have inadequate travel documents for your transit destination. Most of us have the habit of asking the carrier or our travel agent if we require such documentation. You will get your answers yes, however, I highly recomend that you get in touch with the relevnat immigartion authorities to ensure you have the most current information.

It is my hope that you are now more informed about your travel the next time you choose to buy that air ticket for your trip. As always, do not hesitate to get in touch in case you have a question or a contribution to make. Lets have fun and have a pleasant flight for your next adventure.