2010 Kenya Service, Safari & Sun Adventure!

  Kenya

• Nairobi: 
Nairobi

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: July 30, 2010 to August 14, 2010(15 Day Option) OR Or July 30, 2010 August 19,2010 (20 Day Option)

Description: At Cultural Embrace we specialize in connecting individuals with international experiences. This summer, join us on a pre-planned Kenya Service, Safari & Sun Adventure. Cultural Embrace wants you to be more than a tourist; we want you to fully interact with the local culture and communities you are visiting!
Expand your mind, heart, and soul in Kenya!

Itinerary includes: service projects with local, at need orphanages with opportunities to tutor and mentor orphans, build and repair buildings and classrooms, assisting at an HIV/AIDS facility, and several sustainability projects benefiting the orphans. Trek across the African landscape with ample chances to see wildlife and national parks while camping underneath the stars!

Highlights:
What's Included:
* Accommodations & Meals, as per itinerary
* CE Staff Trip Leader
* Travel Insurance
* Pre-departure & Local Support
* 24-hour Emergency Contact Numbers
* Local English Speaking Guides
* Local Ground Transportation & Domestic Flight for 20 days trip
* All Excursions, Service & Cultural activities, as per itinerary

Itinerary

Days 1-2: Arrive! (D)
Meet and greet with your local guide and driver outside of Nairobi's International Airport customs. Transfer to a local hotel. Enjoy a hearty evening meal before resting up for your upcoming adventure.

Day 3-5: Orphanage Service (B, L, D)
Rise to greet the African sunrise and the first day of your hands-on adventure. Travel as a group to a nearby orphanage, and lend a hand at building and repairing buildings and classrooms, tutoring and games with the children, medical and health support and various eco/sustainability projects. Your three days will make a world of difference to all involved, including yourself.

Day 6: Wildlife Safari (B,L,D)
After breakfast, jump on the jeep for a 200km ride to Maasai Masa game reserve. On the way, you will see breathtaking views of the Great Rift
Valley Escarpment, as well as coffee and tea plantations. Arrive at the reserve just in time for lunch, and spend the afternoon spotting wildlife in their natural habitat.

Day 7:Maasai Masa Reserve (B, L, D)
Spend the day ranging across the vast Maasai Mara reserve in search of lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, warthogs, buffalos and more. The Maasai Mara eco system hosts the highest concentration of wildlife than any other park, so you're assured an unforgettable day with Africa's most impressive animals, as well as a night under her stars.

Day 8: Safari Ride to Lake Nakuru (B, L, D)
Say your goodbyes to the elephants and giraffes with a hearty breakfast, then spend the day traveling to Lake Nakuru. The 265km trip will take you through the Rift Valley with plenty of
stops to absorb the scenery. Dinner served upon arrival in the early evening at Lake Nakuru.

Day 9: Bird Watching at Lake Nakuru (B, L)
The early bird gets the worm! Awake to the excitement and adventure at Lake Nakuru National Park. Spend the day watching the varied species that call Lake Nakuru home: flamingos and pelicans gather on the canopy shores as giraffes, zebras, and rhinos come to drink. Eat a hearty lunch at the Waterbuck hotel, then proceed to Lake Baringo, with a stop to visit the hot springs and geysers along the way.

Day 10: Hot Springs and Geysers (B,L,D)
Morning at leisure, then we head to Lake Naivasha. Spend the afternoon at Hell's Gate State Park, with evening meals and stories around the campfire near a secluded crater lake.

Day 11: Sambura Nat'l Park (B,L,D)
Early breakfast and departure from Hell's Gate. Spend the day traveling through dramatic landscapes, villages and climate zones. Plenty of rest stops to stretch your legs and get a closer look at the wildlife and landscapes.

Days 12-13: Sambura/Mt. Kenya (B, L, D)
Spend the day getting to know this vast natural reserve along the Kenyan desert and all its inhabitants. Hikes, leisure activities and wildlife excursions are all part of the daily fare here. After another beautiful night under the stars, eat an early breakfast with the local wildlife and make treks for Mount Kenya. Afternoon adventures include hiking through the jungle to discover and explore the Maumau caves.

Day 14: Mt. Kenya/Amboseli (B,L)
After a good night's sleep, head to Nairobi for lunch at the famous Carnivore restaurant. With a full stomach, we will proceed to Amboseli, situated at the foot of Kilimanjaro for breathtaking photo ops.

Day 15: Goodbye at Amboseli(B)
Get the most out of your last day with a pre-breakfast sunrise and game drive in Amboseli. Say your goodbyes and travel back to Nairobi for departure.

Not Ready to Leave? No problem!
Enjoy 5 more days of Africa!

Day 15: Tsavo West (B,L,D)
Travel to Tsavo West for the unique ecosystem, with guest appearances from hippos, crocodiles and exotic bird species. After an afternoon visit to the rhino sanctuary, overnight at a tented safari camp.

Day 16: Tsavo West to Tsavo East (B,L,D)
En route from West to East, visit the Mzima Springs, a natural springs marvel. Keep an eye out for wildlife coming to drink! Arrive to Tsavo East in late afternoon and enjoy some leisure time at the campsite.

Day 17: Mombasa Beach (B,L,D)Spot wildlife on the volcanic soil savannah of Tsavo East. Enjoy a lunch at the campsite, then pack your bags for the beach! Arrive at Mombasa in time for a beach sunset and spend the night listening to the waves in a beach hotel.

Days 18-19: Mombasa Beach (B)
Leisure days on the beach! Spend the days basking in the sun and exploring adventure options on land and at sea. Review your pictures, send postcards, and pack for your return trip.

Day 20: Going Home (B)
Travel as a group to Mombasa airport for a domestic connection to Nairobi. Connect with your outbound flight back home. Say your goodbyes to the Savannah as you fly home

Qualifications:
* You must be at least 18 years of age. Or, if younger than 18, you must have parental or guardian consent   
* Enjoy providing a service and working with others in a challenging environment
* Open to foreign cultures and living abroad
* High level of responsibility
* Dedication to the full term of commitment
* Criminal background check may be required by some projects and positions

Cost in US$: Trip Fee: Only 2,075 (15 day) or 2,680 (20 day)

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Disciplinary Clearance Form
• Essay
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Cultural Embrace's Mission Statement: Our mission is to encourage people to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity. We believe that visiting a place firsthand allows one to truly experience the authenticity of a culture and develop his/her own impressions. Our goals are to provide quality service and opportunities for people to explore their world and enlighten their eyes, mind and heart. Traveling is a reciprocated flow of communication and interaction between people...the more you seek, the more you learn. "Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences"