For every week that our passengers spend in Africa, we plant a tree in Kenya through the Woodlands 2000 Trust, a local NGO. The Woodlands 2000 Trust is a wonderful project that provides seeds and seedlings with planting materials as well as land-planning, tree survival and woodlot management services. It aims to increase reforestation and bio-diversify in semi-arid regions, and also to create sustainable and profitable tree products micro-industries that contribute to alleviating poverty.
We believe strongly in low impact tourism and so during this trip we use existing locally owned facilities and camp ground such as the one used in Nakuru. By using locally owned and run facilities we are helping the local communities that we visit.
There is a local guide based permanently in the Loita which is his home base. He knows the area, its culture and way of life, the flora and fauna exceptionally well and you will have a great opportunity to interact with him and the local Masai. You will have an opportunity purchase their artefacts, bead necklaces, belts, shukas and even see how they are made. The time we spend here will again benefit the local community.
This company started in 1989 with a passion to get travelers off the beaten track. It was started by best friends who wanted to develop a style of travel that was all together different; wanting travelers to become a part of a country - and not just tourists looking in. Wanting them to have fun, meet people, learn things, explore, and do stuff they could never do at home, to travel by anything and everything, and stay anywhere and everywhere! Fast forward two decades and they now travel to more than 110 countries and offers over 800 itineraries however their philosophy on travel is unchanged. Their core purpose is to enrich people's lives by creating unique, interactive travel experiences. Providing fun, affordable and sustainable travel adventures that are beneficial to local communities.
Our guide told us to be a family and it’s a great way to view the group. Sharing duties like washing up and sharing food really helps the group dynamics. Bring a wildlife guide book and have a look through before you arrive so you know what to look for (there is more to see than giraffes and big cats!). Bring a Swahili dictionary or phrase book. Just knowing a few words really helps relations with local people. Bring a hat that covers your ears and neck, the sun is strong and having sun burnt ears isn’t much fun! If you buy bottled water get the 5litre bottles or use water purification tablets, The chlorine ones are cheap and the water doesn’t taste bad either. In September, mosquitoes aren’t a problem – we didn’t need our mosquito nets and DEET, perhaps sun cream with insect repellent might be a better option. Bring a good camera, my 10x zoom was dwarfed by some of the kit of the others on the trip. A zoom is essential to catch some great animal photos. 
We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!
