Important Information

This trip is subject to special payment terms and cancellation penalties:

• a 25% deposit is required to secure your space, with final payment due 90 days prior to departure.
• up to 90 days before departure, we will hold 100% of your payment as a credit for future travel, less unrecoverable costs and a processing fee of $250 USD per person. If you have paid more than our minimum deposit and require a refund, we will retain the minimum deposit and refund the balance.
• Between 89 and 60 days before departure, we will retain 50% of your full payment as a cancellation fee, and we will offer a 50% credit for future travel.
• Between 59 and 30 days before departure, we will retain 75% of your full payment as a cancellation fee, and we will offer a 25% credit for future travel.
• under 30 days, we will retain the full amount of your booking as a cancellation fee.

If full payment is not received 90 days prior to departure, Out Adventures reserves the right to cancel your booking based on the above cancellation terms.

VISAS: You will most likely need an e-visa to enter Kenya. Click here for more info, and to apply online.  All visas are the responsibility of the traveller, and should be arranged in advance.

CULTURE SHOCK: Tourism in Kenya is developed, but know that service levels aren’t on par with Western nations. You’ll also see extreme poverty. Crime is common in the city so exercise caution, be discrete, and don’t wander alone.

LOCAL LGBTQ+ SCENE: Sodomy is illegal and punishable by imprisonment in Kenya, same-sex marriage is banned, and people routinely disowned by their family. Alas, complete discretion is advised, since even heterosexual PDAs are frowned upon in this conservative nation. However, rest assured your crew, staff, and accommodations welcome you.

WEATHER: August is the dry season, a perfect month to check out the wildebeest migration. The sunny weather on safari hovers around 25C/77F.

VACCINATIONS: Based on the entry requirements, there are no other immunizations needed for entry. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, consult with your doctor or a travel medical clinic. Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.

ELECTRICITY: You may need an international travel plug/adapter for type A/B sockets. Visit http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/kenya/for more information. There will be no access to in-tent power on nights 7, 8 and 9 when power is shut off at 10:30PM. It is important that you bring portable chargers, or devices that can hold a charge overnight, including CPAP machines. Please contact us if you have questions.

CONNECTIVITY: All hotels and camps will have Wi-Fi (though possibly spotty). Feel free to tweet, pin, post and share your experience friends and family at home!

We’re dedicated to ensuring our tours are safe for everyone, and it is our belief that each traveller has a responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow travellers from illness. Out Adventures no longer requires guests to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, nor to isolate in the event of respiratory illness. Our Hosts and/or Group Leaders may ask those with respiratory or cold symptoms to wear a mask in confined areas. Local laws may be more strict and will always supersede our policies.

This tour has some long drive days, and the estimated drive times are detailed in the itinerary. Note that these can be hard to predict due to poor road conditions, inclement weather and heavy traffic. Our lodges are all located very close to or inside the national parks, meaning that on days where we aren’t travelling from point A to B you will get to enjoy as much of the wildlife as possible. We recommend bringing some reading material or downloading some podcasts for the road, and if you suffer from motion sickness consult with your doctor about taking medication.

Out Adventures is all about good times with like-minded guys. Whatever’s on the itinerary – from fireside camping to five-star decadence – our goal is to make the experience magical. We’re also committed to supporting the communities we visit by hiring local guides, staying at locally-owned accommodations when possible, and celebrating local cuisine. It all adds up to a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.

For everybody’s peace of mind, medical travel insurance is required on all Out Adventures tours. At a minimum, your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, with a minimum medical coverage of US $200,000.

Click here for more details on our requirements and how to obtain coverage. We highly recommend that you insure your full purchase, including trip cancellation and medical.

All Out Adventures are led by a gay (or gay-welcoming) guide. Whenever possible, we hire destination locals. And we can also connect you with the right people if you’d like to delve deeper into the local culture.

Out Adventures are a great way to meet people from around the world and all walks of life. Bear in mind that everybody’s there for a good time, so mutual respect will go a long way. Please be on time for any meet ups, empathetic to the needs of others, and ready to roll with whatever the adventure brings.

Although we can’t tell you who your fellow travellers will be for privacy reasons, we can tell you many great friendships began with an Out Adventure. And just because we’re a gay tour operator doesn’t mean we’re exclusive: friends and family are always welcome to join the fun.

If you’ve never travelled on your own, it’s an amazing way to get to know yourself while making new friends along the way. We can arrange for you to share a room with people in your age range at no charge, or you can pay a supplement for your own room. If there’s an odd number of solos, we’ll rotate a single room on a random basis.

The itinerary is correct at time of publishing. If anything, it will only improve with feedback from prior travellers and our own research. It’s best to reference your final trip documents, rather than our website, in case there have been any changes that affect your departure.

Every Out Adventure offers optional excursions that are not included in price of this trip. Please see the daily itinerary in your final pre-trip packet to learn what’s available.

To keep things easy, all meals are included in the trip price. Breakfast and lunch will be served between certain hours at your leisure. Group dinners will be served at set times.

Emara Hotel Ole Sereni
Nairobi, Kenya

Standard check-in time is between 2PM and 3PM. We are unable to arrange early check ins, however you are able to store your luggage and explore the central area near the hotel while you wait. If you would like a guaranteed early check-in, you will need to reserve a pre-tour night of accommodation.

Mara Crossings Camp
Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya

A group transfer will be provided to Nairobi Airport, or to the Out Adventures finishing point hotel near the airport on the last day of the tour. With that in mind, we ask that you schedule your departing flight to leave no earlier than 8 PM.

The local currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). We recommend carrying a few small bills for small purchases and souvenirs. Credit cards are accepted by the hotels and safari camps, but there may be surcharges. We also recommend carrying about $400 USD in case of an emergency, or if your credit/ATM cards are placed on hold.

If you’re pleased with the service throughout your trip, a tip is recommended. Details will be provided in your final trip documentation, but we recommend budgeting about $140-$200 USD.

Most Out Adventures entail carrying your own luggage on occasion. And while you’ll never schlep far, things can quickly get heavier than a celebrity breakup if you don’t keep your baggage under 20kg/44lb thanks to costly surcharges on domestic flights. You should also bring something smaller for day trips to carry water, your camera, and any souvenirs you find along the way.

Please note: There is limited vehicle luggage space on safari so we ask that you bring a soft sided duffel bag with no more than 60 litres capacity. DO NOT bring a large hard-shell suitcase – oversized luggage will be left in the starting point hotel.

The following packing list is a guideline, not gospel. Our Out Adventure Specialists are happy to answer any specific questions about how much or little to bring.

Travel Documents:

• Passport/Visas/Flight Itineraries/Travel Insurance
• Pre-trip packet
• Credit/ATM card

General Personal Items:

• Eye mask/ear plugs
• Smartphone/camera/tablet/charging cords/International travel plug.
• Daypack
• Luggage lock
• Personal Wipes
• Guidebook/Phrase book/Reading material
• Protection for your devices from water/dust
• Glasses can get very dusty during safari. If you have a prescription, bring a few pairs of contacts.
• Travel-size towel

Shoes:

• Socks
• Walking shoes
• Sandals

Bottoms:

• Underwear
• Pants/Jeans
• Shorts
• Swimwear

Tops:

• Short-sleeved shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Sweaters

Jackets:

• Light jacket for cool evenings
• Waterproof jacket/poncho

Other:

• Warm hat and gloves (For morning game drives)
• Sunglasses/Hat
• Small Umbrella
• Refillable water bottle(s)

Health-related Items:

• Small First aid kit including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, zinc oxide tape and small scissors, blister pads, diarrhea tablets, dioralyte rehydration packs
• Personal Medication
• High protection sunscreen/lip balm
• Insect repellent/bite cream/antihistamine
• Antibacterial gel/wipes
• Toiletries including toothbrush, toothpaste & deodorant

We love when groups of friends join us on an OUT Adventure, whether you’re celebrating a major milestone, or you just love to travel together. However, since we have travellers that will be flying solo, or as a couple, we would love your help ensuring everybody feels welcome and has an epic time. Here are some ways you can give us a hand, while also getting to know and befriending your fellow travellers:

• Sit with (and get to know) different people at different meals
• Mix up walking partners on excursions
• Invite solo travellers to join you for an optional excursion or meal
• Enjoy inside jokes in privacy, or let the group in on the secret 😉

If you’d rather relish an exclusive escape with just your own party, we also offer private departures. This is a great way to create and manage your own holiday guest list, while possibly saving money as well. Please contact one of our Adventure Specialists if you’re interested in a customized quote.

All Out Adventures guests must have a good level of health. All tours, regardless of activity level, involve uneven steps, stairs, walking tours, and you will be required to carry your own luggage from time to time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate individuals with limited mobility unless they are willing to absorb the cost of a private guide/assistant which varies by country and is only possible on a case by case basis. It is also your responsibility to advise Out Adventures of any pre-existing medical conditions that may increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that may affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of the tour by other participants.

Below is a breakdown of our Physical Rating guide.

1 – Relaxing

• Very little or no hiking
• Light activities such as walking, bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
• Low altitude
• Suitable for all fitness levels

2 – Light

• Light walking and hiking (2 hours or less per day and at low altitude)
• Light activities such as bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
• Suitable for most fitness levels

3 – Average

• Light walking and hiking (3 hours or less per day, rarely at high altitude)
• Some activities such as biking, paddling or swimming. Active days are mixed with relaxed days
• Suitable for an average fitness level

4 – Demanding

• Walking, hiking is a component of the tour (can range from 2 hours to 6 hours per day, at various altitudes)
• Activities such as biking, paddling or swimming may be mixed in
• Suitable for a good fitness level

5 – Challenging

• Walking, hiking, biking, paddling or kayaking are the vast majority of the trip (can range from 2 hours to 8 hours per day, generally at high altitude)
• Activities will likely happen day after day with limited rest days
• Suitable for above average fitness level