Dean’s List Destination to Kenya 2026 🇰🇪🦒

🌐 Dean's List Destinations are all about bringing together authentic community to have life-changing moments abroad, try new things/food, create friendships based on similar values, and memories/experiences that inspire you to take your life to the next level.

Karibu 5/22-6/1✨

✨Pack your bags - we’re going to KENYA in 2026 in collaboration Habitat Aid Initiative! 🇰🇪🦒

🇰🇪WHAT: 5+ safaris & game drives, 10+ humanitarian service projects, African food, Maasai Village tour & shopping, giraffe park, hippo 🦛 breakfast, and optional activities like travel photography workshops and guided meditations! 🦁

🗓️WHEN: 5/22- 6/1, 2026

📍WHERE: Nairobi, Kisumu & Maasai Mara, Kenya in luxury accommodations 

✈️HOW: I am your host in partnership with @habitataid where we will also have local Kenyan guides & my Kenyan family with us!

👥 WHO: you, your friends, your family… anyone who is an open-minded, culturally-conscious traveler is welcomed!

✨WHY: Half-humanitarian, half-safari/wildlife conservation trip. My job is to make you feel welcomed, comfortable, and appreciated - no matter where you come from or if this is your first international trip. Karibu Kenya!

🙌🏼EVERYTHING is included except your flight, tips, and alcohol!

💸PRICE: $4,000 for the first 8 travelers ($4,500 after) and you can pay in installments 

(first nonrefundable deposit due on/before 12/31 and last deposit due 4/15)

🌍Day 1 May 22: Arrive in Nairobi

✈️ Watch "Out of Africa" & "The Constant Gardener" on the flight to get hyped!

📅 Multiple vans will meet you at the Jomo Kenyatta - Nairobi international airport upon arrival.

**Optional impromptu evening happy hour at Nairobi Serena Hotel  

🇰🇪Day 2 May 23: Nairobi Cultural Day

🍹 Welcome meeting & cocktail hour to meet Sammy Ndukwe (Habitat Aid/Kenya country director)

🤳 Optional Dean’s List Content Creation workshop for you to learn how to take better photos and videos

🏛️ Visit Nairobi Museum & Venomous Snake Park  

🏊‍♂️ Relax & swim at the hotel  

🍽️ Lord Delamere / Norfolk Hotel welcome dinner  

🦓Day 3 May 24: Nairobi Adventures

🍳 Breakfast at Serena

🦁 Safari at Nairobi National Park  

🦒 Visit Giraffe Park  

🥗 Lunch at Karen Blixen Café  

🍖 Carnivore restaurant dinner  

🌅Day 4 May 25: Travel to Kisumu

🛫 Fly from Nairobi to Kisumu  

☕ Brunch & project briefing meeting at Acacia Hotel Patio on Lake Victoria with Habitat Aid Kenyan regional director, Jackton Namale

🛒 Visit local Grocery Store (get snacks for project sites)

💊 Pharmacy visit for volunteer opportunity  

🏨 Check in at Ciala Hotel  

🍹 Happy hour / swim / 🧘‍♀️ yoga  

🍽️ Dinner at Siala

🏫Day 5 May 26: Habitat Aid Humanitarian Projects  

🥐 Breakfast  

🌍 Visit the Equator  

🏠 Ekambuli Secondary 

🏫 Mshiangubu Primary School  

💧 Visit rural water point

🧑‍🧒‍🧒Meet kids at the orphanage 

🥘 Dinner at Siala Hotel

🌾Day 6 May 27: Habitat Aid Humanitarian Projects: More of Kisumu  

🚐 Visit Munyanza Primary School  

🎶 Choir welcome at the clinic  

🏥 Clinic tour  

👧 Visit Khwisero Girls School

🍛 Dinner at Siala

🌄Day 7 May 28: Journey to Maasai Mara

🛫 Fly to Maasai Mara  

🍹 Check in & welcome drink  

🦓 Welcome game drive Safari  

🌅 Enjoy the Savannah views, hotel, spa and pool

🍽️ Dinner at Maasai Mara Serena

🇹🇿Day 8 May 29: Kenya to Tanzania Adventures

🎈 Optional sunrise hot air balloon ride ($500 additional) 

🇹🇿 Early morning Game drive to Tanzania  

💆Pool & relax (option for massages at spa)

🌅 Sunset game drive  

🎭 Maasai performance & dinner

🦒Day 9 May 30: Relax in the Mara  

🦁 Optional Morning Game Drive

🛖 Visit Maasai village & shopping with female artisans

🌅 Sunset game drive  

🎭 Maasai performance & dinner

🦒Day 10 May 31: Return to Nairobi 

🦛 Hippo breakfast on the Mara River  

🛫 Fly back to Nairobi  

🇰🇪 Final lunch at Serena  

🍽️ Final dinner  

🇺🇸Day 11 June 1: Head Back to USA 

Option to check out Nairobi city market depending on flight times 

Rides will be coordinated to take you to the airport

Payment Info

Check as donation to Habitat Aid Initiative of $2000 deposit (refundable until 12/31). Limited spots remain.

5665 Atlanta Hwy

Suite 102B-252

Alpharetta, GA 30004

You will be receiving a receipt for tax purposes from Habitat Aid after full payment ($4,500 after first 8 travelers book) is received by April 15. 

Read more about our projects and learn more about Habitat Aid here.

Attire/More Info

• Only 15 spots available!

• Trip Leaders:

  • Meredith Dean - Founder, The Dean’s List Destinations

  • Walter Dean - Founder, Habitat Aid Initiative

• Local Guides:

  • Sammy Nduke - Country Director

  • Jackton Namale - Regional Director

• Medications 

  • Vaccinations - yellow fever, hepatitis ABC, typhoid, don’t need cholera/meningitis, tetanus, polio, malarone pills 

• Visa: $50 e-visa from Kenyan government

• Exchange: about 125 Kenyan shillings to 1 dollar 

• Attire:

  • Bathing Suit: Bring for spas/pools!

  • Boots / good shoes for project sites

  • Comfy travel clothes

  • Nicer outfits for dinners out

  • Sunglasses

  • Binoculars

Asante sana!

Join The Dean's List community and come on a future trip! Feel free to reach out to @Merenator with any questions or at info@thedeanslist.me

A video I made from my trip 11 years ago (been going since I was 10):