Elevate Destinations

Experts in socially responsible luxury travel. We design travel experiences that support conservation and local communities without skimping on comfort.

Thistle Farms & the Isabel Allende Foundation

Kenya: July 23 – 31, 2023

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:

International arrival and departure flights are booked by travelers independently. Here are our recommended arrival/departure times:

  • July 23, 2023: Arrive any time to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO). If you would like to arrive a day early, we can assist with transfer and hotel arrangements.
  • July 31, 2023: Depart any time after 4:00 PM from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO)

If you would like assistance booking your flights, please contact Emily (emily@elevatedestinations.com) to introduce you with a flight booking specialist. Please be prepared to supply the following information:

  • Airline Preference
  • Class (economy, business, etc)
  • Home Airport
  • Arrival Date & Timeframe
  • Departure Date & Timeframe
  • Airport of destination (arrival & departure)

Once your flights are booked, please forward your international flight information to Emily.

While your Kenya Program begins on July 23rd and  ends on July 31st, we would be happy to help you extend your travels in the region. Please see the Extend Your Travel tab for more information.

LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS:

There are two domestic charter flights in Kenya during your trip. When you pack, please keep in mind that there are strict luggage restrictions on your domestic flights – each traveler is limited to 15 kgs / 33 lbs. inclusive of hand baggage and in soft sided duffel-style bags.

TRAVEL & MEDICAL INSURANCE:

Insurance Requirements

Elevate Destinations & the Isabel Allende Foundation require that all travelers have medical insurance that will cover them for any medical expenses while in Kenya, including Covid related expenses and medical evacuation.

Thistle Farms will be purchasing travel insurance on behalf of their participants.

PASSPORT:

Please make sure your passport is current and valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip departure date. Your passport should have at least 3 blank pages for the entry and exit stamps, or more if you are visiting several countries on this trip. Please note that the last two amendment pages are not acceptable for visas and immigration stamps.

VISA:

US citizen travelers to Kenya will need a tourist visa to enter the country. Please note that this visa is only valid for 3 months after it is issued. We recommend applying for your visa 30-45 days before July 23rd (Day 1) to allow ample time for processing. It can take 3 business days or more to process an e-visa.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR YOUR E-VISA:

Check online for a list of documents required for your eVisa application and have them ready before you begin your application.
All documents must be JPEG and a file size of 293KB or smaller to upload. To reduce the file size of a document, you can use https://compressjpeg.com or https://smallpdf.com.

  • Travel Itinerary (Elevate Destinations will provide this)
  • Passport-sized photo on white background (2×2 inches)
  • Scanned image of the first page of your passport
  • Scanned image of the photo page of your passport
  • Round-trip flight itinerary –carry a printed copy and take a screenshot of your flight itinerary on your phone as you may be asked to present this to an Immigration Officer upon your arrival

Contact details for first destination – include the contact listed below:

Norfolk Hotel
Harry Thuku Rd
Nairobi, Kenya

Telephone: +254 733 605 446
Email: Catherine@purewilderness.com

How to Apply:

  • Click register on evisa.go.ke/
  • Select Create an account
  • Once logged in, select Department of Immigration Services
  • Select submit application
  • Select Kenya Visa
  • Select the type of visa and read the instructions carefully – Single Entry Tourist Visa or East African Tourist Visa
  • Fill in the application form
  • Pay using Visa, Mastercard or debit card
  • Print out proof of payment in case of any issues upon your arrival
  • Await approval via email, then download and print the eVisa from your eCitizen account
  • Present your printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry

Please note that if you plan to visit Uganda and/or Rwanda as an extension to your travels, you can apply for an East Africa Visa, which allows you to move between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

If you’d like assistance applying for your visa, we recommend A1 Passport and Visa for their excellent customer service.