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Service Vacations |
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| Service Vacations provide something profound to
participants as well as to those in need. See the lasting results of your charitable efforts. Transform lives,
including your own.
You don't need any special skills, training, or language abilities to participate in one of our Service Vacations,
which are suitable for individuals and groups-- including families, corporate teams, school clubs, and more.
Our Service Vacations typically last for two weeks, structured as follows:
- 2 days travel time. Our USA point of departure is Chicago O'Hare International Airport. From there, we fly to
London Heathrow, experience a 12-16 hour layover, then fly into Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
- 4 days in the Machakos District, where we work on the current service project and spend time in the Kiima Kimwe
villages.
- 1 day travel time. Our driver will take us overland to our safari destination.
- 4 days on safari in one or more Kenyan National Parks, where we will enjoy first-class accommodations, morning
and late afternoon game drives, gourmet meals, swimming, special activities, and the fantastic sights and sounds of
the most beautiful, wildest places on Earth.
- 1 day return trip to Nairobi, where we will spend the night in a luxury hotel with early morning transport back
to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
- 2 days return travel, retracing our inbound flights, with an overnight stay in London.
Our next Service Vacation scheduled for Spring 2010 is in its initial planning phase. If you'd like to receive updates or learn more about our upcoming trip, please contact us.
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Service Vacation Costs |
| Service Vacations to the Machakos District of Kenya cost $3,600 per person. The following conditions apply:
- A non-refundable $700 deposit is due at the time of registration.
- Registration for a given Service Vacation session closes 60 days prior to our scheduled departure date.
- The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to our scheduled departure date.
Service vacation fees cover the cost of individual airfare, accommodations, some meals (detailed in your Service Vacation packet), all on-site travel, donations to the given community project, orientation sessions & materials, safari activities, logistical support, and acquisition of an entry Visa from the Kenyan government.
All fees listed on this site are in United States Dollars (USD). Payment can be made via foreign check with prior authorization from Other Paths, however you will need to pay the full price to convert to the USD equivalent in addition to any fees your bank may charge to convert currency. There are no conversion fees for using PayPal. All foreign credit card charges will only need to be converted to USD equivalent based on the current exchange rate.
Yes, the $3,500 Service Vacation cost is tax-deductible. Other Paths is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. |
Travel Requirements |
All participants need a valid U.S. passport. Service Vacation fees do not cover the cost of obtaining a passport. Please ensure that you have your passport in-hand at least 60 days prior to our departure date.
As a general precaution, all travelers are advised to carry a photocopy of the photo/bio information page of their passport and keep it in a location separate from the passport. Copies are also kept by Other Paths.
Yellow Fever Cards showing up-to-date vaccination must be available for inspection at the Kenyan port of entry when passports are presented.
Supplemental International Health Insurance is highly recommended and is not covered by our Service Vacation fees. Some companies that offer this type of insurance are:
Please refer to our international travel safety guide for detailed information on health requirements, immunization requirements, and common-sense tips for staying safe while traveling to Kenya.
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Other Paths, Inc. has extensive connections in the Machakos District. We have friends in the District government agencies, the police department, the local Rotary Club, and the Kiima Kimwe tribal authority.
Our growing list of international Service Vacation partners includes:
- Star Travel & Tours, which provides us with consistently outstanding services and special rates on accommodations and safari tours as well as top-notch English-speaking local drivers who are courteous, reliable, and professional in every way. They have offices in the US as well as in the historic Stanley Hotel in downtown Nairobi.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Company, which provides us with low-cost airfare and valuable benefits for repeat travelers.
- Population Services International, which provides us with PuR Purifier of Water products plus retail sales and marketing support for our network of local vendors.
- Water Purification USA, which created the solar-powered ozone water purifier we piloted in March 2009.
International Travel Safety (PDF) |
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