African Safari Adventure

This trip requires a certain level of mobility, including longer walks to accommodations, stairs and some uphill terrain to reach rooms/platform tents and staging areas for vehicles and airplanes, walking on rocky, and sometimes uneven terrain, and the ability to get in and out of vehicles that require big steps. We regret that wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on this terrain. All guests must be ambulatory and able to walk up and down stairs, walk long distances from ¼ mile and up to 1 mile without assistance. If you do have limited mobility that requires assistance, you are required to travel with someone who can assist you. Please contact us with any questions.

Climate

The East African climate in November ranges from 55°F-75°F (13°C-24°C) in Nairobi (Kenya) and 63°F-86°F (17°C-30°C) in the Serengeti (Tanzania) and Maasai Mara (Kenya). The temperatures tend to drop in the evenings and can be about 10 degrees cooler on the Ngorongoro crater rim with an altitude of 7500 feet, so pack a fleece or sweatshirt. There may be light rain during the day, so be sure to pack a waterproof jacket and umbrella in case of wet weather. Check www.weather.com for the most current weather.

Currency

Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling, and Tanzania uses the Tanzanian 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 $50 per person to use for tipping room service or buying small items along the way. Ask for smaller $50/$100/$1000-shilling bills. There is no need to bring Tanzanian shillings, and most places accept U.S. currency. We do suggest bringing smaller bills. ($1, $5, and $10).

Languages

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

Celebrations — Birthdays, Anniversaries, Honeymoons, and more

If you will have a birthday or celebration during your vacation and have not already informed your Olivia Travel Consultant, please let us know as soon as possible, but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.

You can register at Olivia Honeymoon Wishes for your honeymoon, anniversary, or other special celebration; browse through the selections and let your friends know just how easy it is for them to purchase a gift for you.

Connect with Other Guests — Join the Facebook Group

If you'd like to chat with people who are going on the trip, join Olivia’s official 2025 African Safari Adventure group on Facebook.

Passport and Visa

A valid passport is required for citizens of all nations. Your passport must be valid for six 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 space for entry visas and stamps. If there is insufficient space in the passport, entry into the country will be denied.

Kenya: As of 1/25/24, Kenya no longer requires a visa. In lieu of a visa, citizens from all nations outside Kenya and the East African Community partner states must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to arrival in Kenya. This should be kept on your person or in the hotel safe deposit box.

Tanzania: A multiple-entry visa is required for Tanzania for US citizens.

For non-US citizens, please check with your consulate for specific requirements.

More specific information about how to obtain the eTA and Tanzania visa will be sent no later than 3 months prior to the trip. The visa and the eTA cannot be obtained any earlier than 90 days prior to the trip.

Specific Needs—Dietary, Medical, and Mobility

If you have any medical, mobility needs, or specific dietary requirements that you have not already advised your travel consultant, please advise us of this information as soon as possible but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.

Vaccinations 

No immunizations are required to enter Kenya if arriving from the United States, Canada or Europe. However, Tanzania does require proof of a yellow fever vaccination. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), as you’ll be asked to present it upon entering Tanzania as proof that you have received the vaccination. Any Yellow Fever vaccination you have had, even over 10 years ago, is good for your lifetime.

If for medical reasons you cannot receive a yellow fever vaccination, you must carry a valid waiver certificate along with a signed and dated exemption letter on a physician’s stationery. The letter must clearly state the contraindications to vaccination and bear the stamp used by the yellow fever vaccination centers to validate the International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever. Your entry and departure dates from each country on your itinerary should also be indicated in the letter. If you do not have this valid waiver certificate and signed and dated letter on a physician’s stationary, you will not be allowed into Tanzania.

Additionally, your routine immunizations should be up-to-date, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends a malaria prophylactic, such as anti-malaria pills. While the odds of contracting malaria are generally low, travelers should nonetheless take precautions: mosquito repellent with a high DEET content should be applied to exposed skin between dusk and dawn (when mosquitoes are typically active), and long sleeves, socks and long trousers should be considered for evenings.

Please contact your physician well in advance of your departure to discuss these suggestions. You may also wish to review the CDC guidelines at www.cdc.gov or by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).

Air Travel

Airports

You will need to fly into and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi, Kenya (NBO). We encourage all passengers to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays. An optional pre-trip one-, two– and three-night pre hotel package on November 7-10, 8-10, and 9-10, 2025 with VIP meet and greet transfer will be available to add-on approximately 11 months prior to trip.

Airfare Discounts

We are proud to partner with United Airlines. The United Airlines discount code: Z Code: ZPTZ and Agreement code: 877055 are good for up to 10% off and applies to flights in and of Nairobi (NBO). Dates of travel are November 4 to November 25, 2024. Airfare can be booked no earlier than 11 months before the trip. This reservation can be completed by visiting united.com/meetings(enter the Meeting Code ZPTZ877055 in the Promotions and Certificates box). Or by calling the United Reservations Meetings Desk at (800) 426-1122 and providing the Z code and agreement code (a service fee will apply). You can also choose to book through your preferred travel agency and provide the discount program information. Discount level applicable based on 1st letter of published tariff fare purchased.

Flight arrival and departure times

Please plan to arrive anytime on November 10. 2025. Your departing flight on November 19, 2025 must be after 10 pm.

In order to take advantage of the Olivia transfer from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the Fairmont Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, your flight should be scheduled to arrive in Nairobi on November 10, 2025. Most flights arrive in the evening, and some after midnight. Your departure flight should be scheduled out of Nairobi after 10 pm on November 19, 2025. Transfers are not included from the domestic Wilson airport or for any flights arriving or departing on non-program dates unless a pre-trip hotel package is purchased through Olivia. 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 and Tanzania, 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 flight to Kenya, please contact your air carrier for the latest baggage requirements and allowance.

Transfer and Meeting Up with Olivia

Your Micato staff will provide you a VIP meet and greet service. She will meet you at customs and assist you through customs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and you will be transferred to the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel. A dedicated Airport Team will coordinate and handle your arrival and your Micato porters will expedite your luggage at the airport. You will be transferred from the airport to the hotel, where you are pre-registered for check-in. Should you have any queries, your Micato Safaris Concierge staff will be at their desk in the lounge to answer all your questions.

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 batteries, cell phones and computer chargers have the 110/220-V converters built in, but double check this. With the proper adapters, you can easily re-charge your batteries at 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

All Safari vehicle excursions are included in the cost of your trip. Normally there is a morning and an afternoon safari available. There will also be an optional Hot Air Balloon excursion that you may book at an additional cost. Please visit our Vacation Stretchers page for more information.

Gratuities

Gratuities, including your hotel staff (except for room service and laundry delivery), porter, driver/guide, hostesses, 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 balloon excursion, in is appropriate to tip your balloon guide.

Internet and Email

Complimentary wifi is available at the hotel in Nairobi and the safari lodges/camp in Tanzania and Maasai Mara. The wifi works best in the public areas but is not always dependable.

Laundry Services

Laundry, pressing and dry-cleaning service is available at Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel. Other camps and lodges provide Laundry and folding for nominal fees. Under-garments are not accepted at these lodges due to their culture, however they are accepted for laundry at the Four Seasons. The Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti provides each room with a $50 laundry credit. No self-serve laundry is available.

Medical and Recreational Marijuana

Though Marijuana has become a legal substance in many states, it is not legal in Kenya or Tanzania, even if it is medicinal. Please do NOT bring any form of marijuana or edibles with you to Kenya or Tanzania.

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.

Plastic Bags are Illegal

Both Kenya and Tanzania have made plastic bags illegal. Any type of plastic bags. It is their attempt to rid of so much waste that was polluting their streams and rivers, and it really is making a big difference! Heavy fines will be imposed if authorities decide to search your luggage and find them. There’s no specific list of what is allowed, and what is not. It is usually up to the individual authorities that do a search. To be safe, we highly encourage you to use reusable bags for storing items, holding your medications, or in placing things in you don’t want to leak into your luggage. Several options can be found on Amazon.

Phone

Most lodges do not have readily available phones; in an emergency, you may be contacted through Micato Safaris offices in Nairobi. We suggest you check with your carrier about cell phone service in Kenya and Tanzania. Many do offer international coverage for $10 US/day. Complete information about emergency contact information will be available in your final documents, which will be emailed to you 3-4 weeks in advance of the trip.

Smoking Policy

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

Transfers to the Airport

After the trip, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport in time for your evening flight home on November 19, 2025. Most flights depart between 10 pm and 12 am. Everyone will be given a private day room at the hotel to use from our arrival until 6 pm to shower and re-pack before their evening flights home. If your flight departs in the early morning after 3:30 am or later November 20, and you would like to extend your dayroom into an overnight room on November 19, we will offer a stretcher package that will extend your dayroom into an overnight room.