Nature Travel Kenya: Masai Mara EcoQuest

To take part in this course you need to be at least 18 years old and have profound English skills, so you can communicate with your team. It is also important to be physically fit, as there will be game walks on a regular basis. Besides that you do not need any previous experience to participate; only your motivation, curiosity as well as an excitement for nature. Depending on the duration of your stay and your destination a tourist visa is not sufficient. You might check out the foreign department’s website for the visa standards or ask the Natucate team directly.

Before you head off to your outdoor adventure, we discuss your journey in detail and give you advice concerning the planning of your trip. Furthermore, we will secure a spot in the project for you, help you choose appropriate travel insurance and assist you with booking your flight – if requested. Your accommodation, food and drinking water will be provided. During the project you will take part in daily excursions to the bush and training sessions in different fields which all are included in the price. Flights, travel insurance and visa (if needed) are not included. The team in Kenya and Natucate in Germany will support you during the whole project.

In general, you do not need special vaccination if you depart from Germany but we would recommend tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella before every journey. Moreover, you should pack special medication you need as the health care may not be sufficient. You should also consider vaccination for hepatitis A and if you want to stay longer even hepatitis B, typhus and rabies. Note: In Kenya infectious diseases like malaria are common and you can consider taking medication as a prophylactic measure.
Before your departure you should consult your doctor about possible dangers, vaccinations and protection measures. Moreover, you should check out the website of the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) to get information about possible travel and safety advice. Travel insurance is compulsory when participating in any of our courses.

You should bring waterproof clothes, sturdy boots, long and light trousers as well as a hat and enough sunscreen for daily excursions. Moreover, you should take longer clothes with you as it can get cold at night and in the morning. In general, you should also mind the colours of your clothes. To blend in the landscape colours like beige, khaki and ochre are perfect. A refillable bottle, insect repellant and a head lamp are also advisable. You will receive a detailed packing list after booking.

We will support you during your organization and planning process, but you need to book your flight on your own. It is advisable to arrive in Nairobi the day before your project starts. That should help you to relax and to recover after your flight before starting your EcoQuest the next day. Your accommodation is going to be a guesthouse were you most likely meet the other participants. An employee of the project will pick you up in the morning and take you to the camp. On the way back after the course you will either be brought to the airport or to the guesthouse depending on your further plans. We help you organize your arrival at the airport; although you need to take care of the final booking.

After a small breakfast with the team you will head off early in the morning for a game drive or a bush walk, before you will return to the camp to avoid the midday heat and have a warm breakfast and fruits. During the early afternoon you will have time to relax, read a book or discover the beautiful nature in and around camp. In the late afternoon, when the midday heat is gone, the second activity takes place. Just after sundown you will retreat back to camp to have dinner. After dinner you can either gather around the campfire or go to bed early, to be ready for the next day.

The camp is capable of holding a maximum of 18 people, in two double bed rooms and three dormitories. The number of participants is limited to 15 persons.

Together with the other course participants you will stay in a Kenyan training camp close to the Mara River. It is surrounded by small villages of the Massai people and fascinating wildlife areas. The camp has three comfortable double bedrooms and three cozy dormitories with double bunk beds inside. In every room there is a bathroom to share. There is a community area in camp where the meals take place and you are able to get to know the other participants. Electricity will be provided by solar panels; plug sockets are in every room. There is phone signal in camp, but WiFi will not be provided.

In general, it is possible to share rooms with a travel partner, but it depends on the size and structure of the group. We ask you to let us know if you would like to get accommodated with a partner as soon as possible so that we and our partner have enough time to arrange everything accordingly. It cannot be guaranteed that you can share rooms with a partner, though.

During your time in camp you will be provided with four meals a day. A chef will cook them with typical local ingredients for your special African experience.

With a notice ahead it is possible to eat vegetarian during the time of your course.

You will always find someone on site who will help you with questions and problems. You can also contact the Natucate team whenever needed.

There is phone signal in camp, but no internet connection. For more information ask your Natucate team.

Generally, the climate of the Masai Mara is all year-round hot without reaching extreme heats. It could get a bit chilly during the nights though. The area where the project takes place is between 1500 to 1900 meters above sea level. African summer is between October and March, that’s when temperatures are on average a bit higher, compared to the time between June and August. In that time of the year the temperatures can drop even below 10 degrees at night time.