Explore Mombasa, a major trading center in the Arab world for centuries, with strong Muslim roots still evident in modern Swahili culture. In 1498, Vasco da Gama was the first European explorer to discover Mombasa – now a popular travel destination in eastern Africa. Participants can visit Biashara Street to purchase vibrant kangas, as well as Akamba Carvers to find exquisite gifts of handcrafted wood. 

Group transportation will be provided in the morning to the developing region outside of Mombasa (4-hour travel). Participants will arrive to a gracious rural village in the afternoon and be greeted with a warm welcome from local villagers. Time available to unpack, rest, and interact with local residents. Overnight accommodations provided in Safari-style canvas tents. 

Development projects will be scheduled throughout the week (construction of various village-identified initiatives). 

Village activities and interactions will be provided to promote powerful intercultural exchanges between participants and local villagers.

Ceremonious village farewell will be scheduled in the morning (or evening prior). Group bus transportation will be provided back to Mombasa. Arrive to Mombasa in the late afternoon and check-in to hotel for overnight accommodations. Group dinner will be scheduled in the evening to conclude the expedition and discuss experiences. 

Those flying home will depart from Moi International Airport (MBA). 

Safari Tour Add-On

Your guide will brief you shortly about the itinerary for the safari. After your briefing you will start your safari along the Mombasa – Nairobi highway towards Tsavo East, which is also known as “the theater of the wild''. The landscape in the park is mostly grass savannah, which makes it a bit easier to spot the wildlife. With a little luck you will be able to spot the complete "Big Five" in this park. 

The animals you can spot in this park are herds of “red” elephants, buffalos, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, gerenuks and a large variety of birds. Once you have entered the park you will start with your enroute game drive towards your lodge, where you will check in and sit down for a lovely lunch. After lunch there is time to relax a bit till the evening game drive that will start in the afternoon. The game drive will last for about 2 hours, after which you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. 

After an early breakfast you will head out into the park for a morning game drive. Afterwards you will start your journey to Tsavo West National Park. You will first visit the west part of the park, which is known as “the home of the leopards”. The landscape is dense and hilly, making it a little more difficult to spot the animals. 

However, nature is breathtakingly beautiful here. After experiencing Tsavo West, you will head back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation time. Later in the afternoon you will head back into the park for your evening game drive, which will last for about 2 hours. Try your luck this afternoon and spot as many animals as you can. When the sun starts to set it is time to head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. 

In the morning you will have an enroute game drive towards Mzima Springs. At Mzima Springs you’ll experience a half-mile walk accompanied by a ranger/guide, who will brief you about the attraction. Millions of gallons of water sprout out of rock forming springs and big pools of water, where hippos and crocodiles call this place home. 

Once you have left the park you will start making your way to the majestic Amboseli National Park (about 4 hour drive). Amboseli National Park, formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, is located in Kajiado County. The park has little vegetation due to long dry months; it also houses swamps and a dried-up Pleistocene lake. The park is famous for viewing free-ranging elephants up close and of course for the spectacular view of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Amboseli is home to many animals, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, impalas, hyenas, zebras, wildebeests and giraffes. 

At around lunchtime you will arrive at the lodge, where you will check in and sit down for a lovely lunch. After lunch you can relax and then you will head out into the park for your evening game drive. When the sun starts to set it is time to head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. 

After breakfast you will head into the park for your morning game drive that will last for about 2 hours. After the game drive you will leave the park and start making your way to Nairobi, where you will be dropped at the airport in the late afternoon. Lunch will be provided along the way. Flights home depart in the afternoon/evening.