Join Daring Girls in Kenya in July 2024!

This trip will be limited to 10 people. Registration will open on January 19, 2024. A nonrefundable trip deposit/donation of $500 per person is required to secure your spot. This donation is tax-deductible. Openings will be filled on a first-come, first served basis. We will keep a waitlist for interested parties. Final trip payment is due by June 1, 2024.

You are invited to join Daring Girls in Kenya from July 29 – August 2, 2024 for a visit with our newest partner, CWE-TECH (Centre for Women Empowerment in Technology)

The agenda below is our planned agenda. Please note that free time excursions offered may differ slightly depending on the final makeup and interests of the group.

Sun. July 28, Day 1: Arrival day in Nairobi
Welcome to Kenya! Check in to our group hotel today. We will plan an early afternoon excursion for early arrivals who want to experience a sampling of what Nairobi has to offer.

Mon., July 29: Depart for Murang’a
We will depart our hotel in the late morning to drive to Murang’a County, about 2 hours north of Nairobi. Our first stop will be at the government administration offices to pay a visit to locally elected officials, who will welcome you to the region.

From there, we will proceed to the CWE-TECH office to meet the Binti Shupavu mentors and for a presentation from Dr. Judy about CWE-TECH and their work, as well as a briefing on the two schools we will visit.

Afterward, we will check in to our hotel for the week, Nokras Riverine Hotel, and enjoy a group dinner together.

Tues., July 30: Visit to Mirichu Secondary School and Coffee/Tea Plantation
Today we will visit Mirichu Secondary School, where we will meet the principal and vice principal of the school, observe a Binti Shupavu class in session, learn about the school and about the Kenyan education system, and interact with students. They want to learn from you just as much as you’d like to learn from them! Afterward, we’ll tour a local tea and coffee plantation to see the fields, the production facility, and enjoy a tasting. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner outdoors with a beautiful river sunset before returning to our hotel.

Wed., July 31: Visit to Kaganda Secondary School; Optional Market Day Tour
Today we will visit Kaganda Secondary School, where we will meet the principal and vice principal, observe a Binti Shupavu class in session, learn about the school, and interact with students. Afterward, those who are interested in participating in Market Day at nearby Murang’a Town will continue to the market for a tour. This is the largest market in the county and is very crowded. Those who do not like crowds may choose to return to the hotel to relax and enjoy the hotel pool and other amenities before dinner.

Thurs, Aug. 1: The Murang’a Experience
This day is about fun! Take in the local landscapes, engage in river activities, a local hike, or make a guided visit to a local market for some shopping. This day will be finalized once trip participants have been confirmed, to ensure that we offer a local experience that aligns with the interests and hobbies of our group.

Fri., Aug. 2: Return to Nairobi or Continue to Other Experiences
Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel before our departure back to Nairobi. Those returning to Nairobi are invited to make a stop at Giraffe Center as a group. If you plan to continue your time in Kenya, you may choose to book your own transport instead from the hotel to your next destination.

Murang’a County is known for its undulating and hilly terrain. The landscape is marked by numerous hills and valleys, providing scenic views across the region. It is also home to picturesque waterfalls, often associated with the rivers and streams flowing through the hills. The county is predominantly agricultural, and much of the landscape is covered with lush green fields. Murang’a is a major contributor to Kenya’s agricultural sector, producing crops such as tea, coffee, maize, and horticultural products. One of the prominent features of Murang’a’s landscape is the extensive tea and coffee plantations. The region is crisscrossed by several rivers and their tributaries; river valleys cut through the landscape, creating fertile areas for agriculture and contributing to the overall beauty of the region. The overall Murang’a County landscape is a blend of agricultural productivity, natural beauty, and cultural richness, making it a significant and diverse region within Kenya.

This trip costs $2800 per person for an individual with their own room, or $5100 per duo, sharing a single room. $1000 per person is included in the trip cost as a tax-deductible donation to Daring Girls. The donation portion of your trip will be used to support CWE-TECH’s implementation of the Binti Shupavu mentoring program.

We look forward to showing you a wonderful time during your stay. To make the most of this experience, we also have expectations and requirements of our guests, including:

Orientations & Debrief: All trip attendees are required to attend two trip orientation briefings and one post-trip debriefing, held via Zoom.

Vaccinations & Travel Medicine: Proof of vaccination for Yellow Fever is required for entry into Kenya. Attendees are required to take anti-malarial medication while on this trip. Travelers should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and up to date with any additional doses they may be eligible for, to protect the health of those in the local communities you will meet on this trip. We recommend travelers consult the CDC Kenya page for their list of recommended vaccinations for visiting Kenya. Travelers are also required to secure travel health insurance for the duration of this trip.

Health and Safety Requirements: This region is hilly with sometimes rugged terrain. The altitude can vary greatly, from 3700 feet to 9,500 feet above sea level at the highest points. Travelers must be fit to walk long distances, up to 2 miles, on uneven terrain. The hotel where we will stay for most of the trip is built on a hill and there are paved but steep walkways that may require careful navigation.

Legal Waivers: We may require legal waivers for this trip or certain activities during the trip. We will provide all waivers with ample time for review and signature, more than one month before trip departure.

You absolutely should! Kenya is a beautiful country rich with cultural, culinary, educational, adventure experiences, and so much more. Daring Girls is happy to connect you with our preferred travel partner, Africa Adventure Consultants, to help design a custom itinerary that will make this trip the experience of a lifetime.

Africa Adventure Consultants (AAC) has partnered with Daring Girls for more than a decade, supporting our work through their donations and partnership. Every trip booked through AAC that mentions Daring Girls results in a donation of 10% of the cost of your travel booking – an excellent way to travel in style while supporting girls’ mentoring programming!

AAC has offered to work with travelers joining our Kenya trip to customize an add-on experience to truly make this the trip of a lifetime. They will work with you to develop an itinerary that matches your interests, but they have also provided two sample itineraries so you can get a sense of the kinds of activities they can coordinate for you, below.

Please note that Daring Girls is *always* happy to make a personal introduction if you would like to consider a trip with Africa Adventure Consultants – even if you are not planning to join our Kenya trip! Email Executive Director Jessica Love to request a personal intro, or reach out to us at hello [at] daringgirls.org and we’ll connect you.

Option 1: Fly to Masai Mara

Unquestionably the most famous reserve in Kenya, the Masai Mara is home to a wide range of resident wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, giraffes, black rhinos, elephants and many more. It is the location of the ’Great Migration’ – one of the natural wonders of the world where nearly 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra move throughout the reserve annually. It’s also a region where traditionally dressed Maasai still herd their cattle and goats in a lifestyle that in some respects hasn’t changed much since they first arrived in the area 350 years ago. Travelers will be picked up in Nairobi and fly to the Masai Mara. They will then spend two full days enjoying morning and afternoon safari activities before their flight back to Nairobi on the final day. View itinerary, along with a video preview, here: https://wetu.com/Itinerary/Landing/05167d11-ec4f-4934-9e73-7c2a53af6dfe.

Option 2: Drive to Laikipia

In the shadow of Mt. Kenya, Laikipia is just a few hours from Nairobi but feels a world away. The area has many private reserves and conservancies, each offering a slightly different experience. You can see the world’s last surviving northern white rhinos, observe nature at eye level on a game walk, ride horses among Africa’s wildlife, mountain bike among the area’s breathtaking scenery, as well as enjoy traditional game drives to view wildlife. Travelers will be picked up in Murang’a County and driven to their selected accommodation in the Laikipia region. Then spend two full days enjoying morning and afternoon safari activities. On the final day, fly back to Nairobi and transfer to the international airport. View itinerary, along with a video preview, here: https://wetu.com/Itinerary/Landing/2a460ef9-4c5a-4bba-bf33-d146872d5ee0.