Smile Train Journey of Smiles to Kenya
November 18 – 23, 2021
This will be an amazing journey, but as with all travel, a spirit of adventure and a degree of flexibility will enhance your enjoyment of this program. This will be a relatively active program, with considerable walking and a number of travel days with early departures and activities scheduled throughout the day.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
All travelers must fill have a Physicians Approval Form filled out in order to be allowed on the trip. Kindly review the below with your physician and have the form signed before making payment to Elevate Destinations.
We recommend a medium level of physical fitness, as some of the drives may be long, with sections of the road unpaved. For the most satisfying experience, and in fairness to your fellow travelers, please note that this tour requires the following:
- Ability to ride in vehicles on bumpy roads for an extended period of time
- Ability to walk at least one mile without difficulty
- Ability to spend extended periods of time on your feet
- Ability to climb sets of stairs without assistance
- Ability to keep pace with an active group of travelers and to be on time for all scheduled activities
- Ability to withstand hot weather and sun exposure
If you’re uncertain about whether this trip is a good fit, please contact us and we’d be happy to discuss with you further.
HEALTH INFORMATION & IMMUNIZATIONS
Prior to travel, Elevate Destinations strongly recommends that you look into recommended immunizations for your time in Kenya. Given that we are not a licensed Health Care provider, we cannot advise travelers on which immunizations they may need. We recommend that all travelers do the following:
- Check if your health insurance covers you in Kenya.
- Consult with a travel clinic or your primary care physician regarding immunizations or other precautions you may need to take in order to participate in this journey. You will need to do this well in advance of your trip as some vaccinations require time to take effect, and you may need to allow time between a series of shots.
- Visit the CDC Website for the Kenya to view recommended vaccines and medicines, travel health notices for the region, and other tips for staying healthy and safe.
Note: Please be certain to research Yellow Fever vaccination requirements if you have been to or are planning on going to a country with risk of yellow fever before or after the program in Kenya.
SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Your guide will give you current briefings on safety while in-country, but here are some basic ground rules for safety while traveling:
- Keep all valuables in the hotel safe.
- Avoid flashing money. Be mindful of your belongings at all time. Keep bags in front of you in crowds, and on your lap when at restaurants.
- Pay attention: avoid walking around with your smartphone in hand.
- Be vigilant when crossing roads.
- Stick with the group.
- Always make sure that others know of your whereabouts and movements.
- Avoid street protests or large gatherings.
- Do not wear expensive or sentimentally valuable jewelry while traveling.
- Let a staff person or your guide know if you have any safety concerns.
SAFE TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP)
We recommend that all travelers from the USA sign-up for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program! This is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist you in case of an emergency. Enrolling in this program has enormous benefits
in case of an emergency while abroad:
- You will receive information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination
- Enrolling lets the U.S. Embassy in that country know that you are there and helps them contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family-related.