Travel Tips

• Clothing for the flight—“comfort” is the key word.  Ladies, you may wear pants or capris.  Men may wear walking shorts.  You can change clothing once we arrive in Kenya.
• Put your money on your body, preferably under your clothing.  It is best NOT to carry your wallet in your back pocket.  It is also unwise to carry a fanny pack around your waist.  This marks you as a tourist, and in Nairobi, thieves will have no problem ripping this off of you.  Most team members wear a pouch under the shirt that is attached to a neck cord.  Money, Passport, and immunization records can be kept there.  Pouches are available in the luggage section of Wal-Mart, Target, etc.
• Make photocopies of your passport, immunization record, and flight itinerary.  Your family will need to keep one copy of your passport, as well as your trip insurance paperwork.  Carry the other copy with you.  
• Bring only items that are old, or things you do not mind losing, leaving, or ruining.  Some team members leave clothing and shoes for their new African friends.
• Ladies, don’t carry a purse.  Necessary items can either be placed in your neck pouch.  Other items may be placed in your carry-on luggage.
• Each traveler is allowed to take one carry-on bag, a smaller tote bag, and one piece of checked luggage (this fluctuates with various airlines.  We may be allowed two checked bags, but don’t plan on that.)  Each checked bag must NOT exceed 50 pounds, or you will be charged a high price at the airport.
• Tag each piece of your luggage with your name, address and phone number. 
• Place a unique, bright-colored ribbon on each of your checked pieces before you leave.  This helps us retrieve the luggage at baggage pickups, and is a BIG deal.  Getting our baggage from the claims area can be a tedious process.
• You may take a neck pillow.  The airline will provide small pillows and lightweight blankets during the flight.
• In your carry-on luggage:
• Pack as many of your clothing items as possible, necessary meds, essential toiletries, camera, Bible, journal, pen.  In case your luggage is lost or delayed, you will be prepared.
• In your checked bag, carry your required camping supplies, boots, hat, etc.
• In the event that we are allowed an additional checked bag, this will be used for transporting give-away items.  Once empty, this bag will be great for carrying souvenirs back home.
• As soon as our flights are booked, I will alert you to the number of bags that you can take.