Friday, January 20, 2012

For this trip I will be traveling to Kenya and Tanzania. I will be spending a month in each place but for this project I have only written the information for my one month stay in Kenya that will be in September. After this I will be continuing on to Tanzania to spend a month there during the month of October. The information for that is not included on this blog posting.
Airline Cost:
Departure City: Toronto
Arrival City: Nairobi
Cost of Flight: $ 1 993 (round trip)
Date of Departure: Thurs, Sept. 13th 2013
Time of Departure: 5:35pm
Airline Carrier: Royal Dutch Airlines
Flight Number: 9398
Plane Change: Yes, in Amsterdam (4h 25mins)
Website used: Travelocity.ca

Departure City: Nairobi
Arrival City: Toronto
Cost of Flight: $ 1 993 (round trip)
Date of Departure: Thurs, Oct. 25th 2013
Time of Departure: 10:30pm
Airline Carrier: Royal Dutch Airlines
Flight Number: 9496
Plane Change: Yes, in Amsterdam (3h 45mins)
Website used: Travelocity.ca

You will arrive in both places the day after you leave your previous destination.
Arrival Accommodations:
When I first get to Nairobi I will go to a pickup area where an airport shuttle bus will be waiting to take me to the hostel. The hostel that I will be staying at for the first night is called the Nairobi International Youth Hostel. I will be in an 18 bed female dorm room for $10.61 USD or 700 Kenyan Shillings per night. The hostel is a 20 minute walk from the city centre so I can get around easily.
Currency: The currency in Kenya is Kenyan shillings.

CANADIAN DOLLARS KENYAN SHILLINGS
$1 84.6887

$10 846.887


$50 4,234.44

$100 8,468.87


Travellers Checks are accepted if they are US dollars, British Pounds or Euros. Traveling
can be expensive or cheap if you forgo private baths, drinking alcohol and use
public transit your cost per day will drop.
Visa requirements: A tourist visa is required to travel in Kenya. The visa will be valid for 3 months which is enough for me. Visas can be bought before you leave or once you get to the Kenyan airport. The visa costs $50 USD and you can send your application to the High commission of Kenya that is in Ottawa.
Travel Warnings: The travel warning is to exercise a high degree of caution. There is an increase in terrorist attacks and crime. Places along the border to Somali and more dangerous than others because of reports of military and bandit attacks. Kenya as a whole is more dangerous to women then to men because women being sexually assaulted -whether foreigners or Kenyans- is a regularly report.

The Canadian embassy in Kenya is:
Address: Limuru Road, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya
Postal Address: P.O. Box 1013, Nairobi, 00621, Kenya,
Tel.: 254 (20) 366-3000
Fax: 254 (20) 366-3900
E-Mail:
nrobi@international.gc.ca
The Five ‘A’ approach to Travel and Tourism
Attractions:

Cultural:
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust:
This is a place that rescues wild orphaned elephants and some rhinos. You can visit during feeding time at 11am-12pm.

Kazuri Beads Factory: The beads are crafted by local women living in the slums. You will learn how the beads are made and how much the women love their work. After the tour you will have the chance to purchase gifts made by these women.

Bomas of Kenya: The natural homestead in this village was made by the myriad Kenyan tribes. This village is natural and cultural and you can see traditional crafts, music and dance that this village does.

Jamia Mosque: The largest mosque in Nairobi and it is pa architectural design that is classically Arabic Muslim. It is a twin towers with 3 silver domes. Non-Muslims may not be permitted to enter the inside of the building.

Biophysical:
Ngong Hills: A walking trail that is scenic and historic. It is a 2.5 hours hike that costs 400KES to be let into the park and 1500KES for a security guard to accompany you on the hike.

Masai Mara National Reserve: Kenyan best wildlife park that is used to protect wildlife from the hunters. The Masai Mara is on the south of Kenya toward the Tanzania boarder. The Masai Mara is famous for seeing the big 5 even though it is considered a small game park. Something’s you can do in the Masai Mara are game drives, Walking safaris, Cultural tours with the Maasai, and hot air ballooning.


Mount Kenya: Africa’s second highest mountain that is so beautiful. The mountain provides over 50% of the population of Kenya water. There is an option of trekking up the mountain for 4 days long. As you trek you have the option of staying in mountain huts or camps.

Activities: Some activities that I would like to do while in Kenya are as follows. First I would like to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve. There I would like to go on the cultural tours with the Maasai to learn more about them. Another thing I would like to do is climb Mount Kenya and stay in one of the mountain cabins. Lastly I would like to the Bomas in Kenya and learn a traditional myriad dance.

Accommodation: While in Kenya I will be staying in the Nairobi International Youth Hostel that I used for my first night in Kenya. At some points-like on the mountain trek- I will be using other accommodations.

Access: There are busses that travel around Kenya and they are relatively cheap at around 100KES per hour ride.

Amenities: My amenities would be things like clean water and being able to bring my camera with me. Another amenity is warm water for bathing.
Daily Budget:
Purpose Canadian Dollars Kenyan Shillings
Food per day $15 1,293.08KES

Hostel per night $ 10.16 700KES

Shopping per day $ 15 1,293.08KES

Getting around per day $ 3.48 300KES

Other attractions per day $30 2,600KES
Travel Motivators and Barriers:
There are many reasons that I would like to travel to Kenya. One of my top reasons is to see and experience Maasai life. The Maasai life interested me ever since I read a book about them and I would love to go visit them and experience life first hand. Another reason that I would like to go is because I like a warmer climate. The weather when I travel is warmer and I will enjoy this. The fact that the Maasai live and work in an outdoor environment is also a motivator. I enjoy spending time outside and would love to spend my day outside. A barrier for me is the safety. I feel that the terrorists and crime would scare me a little but I can overcome that fear with the amazing trip. Personally I think that some of the Maasai rituals might be a barrier for me. These rituals are personal to the Maasai and I would feel like an intruder if I participated or watched.

Some travel motivators for other might be animals. I feel that others would like to go on safaris and see the ‘big 5’. Another reason that people might go to Kenya is to help others. The volunteer aspect is a big reason that people go to places like Kenya. Some travel barriers for others might be living in the houses of the Maasai. I think that people might not enjoy staying in a house made of mud and dung. Similar to me a travel barrier might be the safety. As I mentioned above the terrorist and crime might scare people. Animals while in the motivator section can also be in the barriers because people may find animals dangerous or scary. One last reason that people may choose to avoid Kenya is because of sanitary problems. Kenya is not the cleanliest place to live because it is still developing and the unhygienic situations might be a barrier for others.
Health and Safety:
Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis):
This disease is spread by worms that are spread in
freshwater or slow running rivers. Swimming or paddling in these places should be avoided. This is needed in Africa because you can’t check the water.

Cholera: Mainly a concern when a natural disaster has struck. This virus is caused by bacteria in the drinking water. It is important for me to only drink clean water while I am in Africa.

Diphtheria: Caused by close respiratory contact. This disease is found in all of Africa. This vaccine is recommended for me because I will be staying with locals in close contact and they have the possibility of being infected. This vaccine can be taken with tetras.

Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a swelling of the liver. You can get this virus if you each or drink something that has the virus in it. Also occurs if you come in contact with the blood of the person who already has hepatitis A. This is recommended for all travelers because the virus is everywhere. I already have one because you have to get it in grade 8.

Hepatitis B: Similar to hepatitis A, hepatitis B is the swelling of the liver. You can get it through blood transfusions. As well you can get it through shared needles and personal items such as toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers. This vaccine is recommended for all travelers.

HIV: This is spread through blood to blood contact. There is no cure but I can be cautious by not using needles that others have used and not have sexual intercourse while in Africa.

Malaria: This is spread by a parasite which travels with female mosquito. There is no cure but you can get medicine to prevent it. This is more common in Kenya in the rainy season which I will be in part of the trip meaning that I have to be more careful about getting mosquito bites.

Meningococcal Meningitis: Contacted through close respiratory contact most likely in crowded
areas. The vaccine is recommended for long stays and I should get this because there are a lot of people in Kenya.

Poliomyelitis: This is spread by contaminated food and water products. I already have this because you get it when you are young. I might have to get it updated though.

Rabies: This disease is spread by the saliva of infected animals. This is mainly found in wild animals because house pets have their vaccines. If you are a traveller that will be spending a
lot of time outside then it is recommended that you take the vaccine before you go. Also it is recommended for travelling to Kenya because there are no house pets only wild animals.

Traveler’s Diarrhea: This is a health issue found when you travel anywhere not just Kenya. This can be triggered by diet changes. Make sure that the food that you eat is cooked right through and that the utensils and dishes that you eat off of/with are not dirty.

Tuberculosis(TB): Again this is spread through respiratory contact. I should get this vaccine because I will be travelling in close contact to the local people. The vaccine should be given to people traveling to developing countries.

Typhoid: Typhoid fever is an infection that causes diarrhea and rashes. This disease is spread through contaminated food and drink and is a form of bacteria.It is especially important for me to get this vaccination because typhoid is more common in developing countries.

Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. This vaccine is recommended for all travellers over nine months of age. I should take this vaccine because I have a higher risk of being bitten by a mosquito in Africa.

Insect’s bites and stings: I will bring insect repellent along with me to prevent bugs wanting to be near me.

Water: Make sure that all the water that I drink is clean and boiled. I won’t drink tap water and I will make sure that bottled water is resalable.
Culture Shock: The stages of culture shock that I am going to experience are:
Honeymoon phase: This is when everything looks nice and pretty. You are in awe of everything see and everything is new and exciting. I think I will enjoy the colour and culture in Kenya. The colours of the Maasai people are bright and welcoming and different then the colours that you see in Canada.

Negotiation Phase: A few weeks into your trip you will start to feel like you are missing your own lifestyle and food. I believe that I will miss foods like maple syrup and my milk. I know that I will miss my family and friends and being able to spend time with them. Things in Kenya that will seem different to me are collecting water and the houses. The Maasai women collect water each day and then carry it back to their houses. I think that I will find this task to be hard and frustrating and it might make me mad and feel like wanting to go home. I feel that the houses will become small and cramped and that there are too many people in one space when before I found that neat and something new.

Adjustment phase: In this phase things that used to seem weird and different from back home will become normal. This will happen to me on my trip because I will be in Kenya for so long. Things that I found different like collecting water are normal, fun and part of my everyday life. The house has become interesting and so much easier to clean then my house at home. I
now love to live here and experience all the things that they call normal.

Reverse Culture Shock: This occurs when you return home. You go through the steps above only in a place you have grown up with your whole life. The internet and seeing my friends will be fun but I will miss the Maasai family that I stayed with. I will also find it different that I can just turn on the tap and get drinkable water. When I come home my house will seem big and unnecessary after living in smaller courters for so long.
Climate during Visit:
The climate when I visit will be just after the coldest season that ends in August. September is the end of the dry season. Then in October it will be the start of the short rains. The time that I visit will be an average temperature with a little rain.