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Kenya Wildlife Safari News
Issue #1 –March, 2006
The Plains of Africa – April 9-23, 2007 -
With Joe Laufer & Collette Vacations
A Message from Joe:
This will serve as the first issue of a series of Newsletters on our forthcoming trip to Africa. Even though the trip is over a year away, it is the kind of trip that requires long-range planning and preparation. Please create a special folder for all the communications you’ll be receiving from me over the next several months. And, yes, try to read everything, because you will have a much more positive travel experience if you make an effort to follow our directives and suggestions. There are 20 of us signed on at this time. Originally I was assigned 10 spaces on this tour. However, the response far exceeded my expectations. I didn’t realize that there were so many of you out there with the same travel fantasy that I had. My four major travel fantasies have been China, Russia, Africa and Peru. Well, after Kenya, all I have to do before my legs give out will be Machu Pichu! Thanks for putting your trust in me and Collette Vacations. I think you will find that this trip will exceed your expectations. My daughter, Kerry, and her husband, David, took the same tour last summer and are still raving about it.
I have several announcements and am enclosing a number of items for your new “African Safari” Travel Folder. Here’s the overview and explanation:
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS – One of the reasons we asked for passport information on your application was to make sure your travel documents were current. Rule #1 on this trip: all passports must be valid for six months beyond our return date. That means that if your passport expires before October 31, 2007, you must renew it now! I say “now”, because you are going to need an up-to-date passport to send along with your VISA application. More about that later. So to avoid any last minute rush to get valid travel documents, we encourage you to get the ball rolling now. You can download your renewal form on the internet and mail it, with your current passport, to Pittsburgh: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms. Based on the initial completed applications, the following people definitely have to renew their passports now: Dixie Lee Anderson, Beverly Marinelli, Penny Laufer (already ordered!), Gail Sweet and Terry Sweet
- VISA FOR KENYA – Even though it is too early to apply, I have enclosed the application packet for your Visa for Kenya. You cannot send the application before January 9, 2007. The rule is that applications should not be sent before 90 days prior to departure. I will remind everyone to send them between January 10 – 31, 2007. The absolute final date for applying for the visa is March 1 – but I don’t encourage anyone to wait that long. I recommend that you complete the application as soon as you have your current passport information – then lay it aside till January 9! The directions for filling out the form are fairly clear in the packet – but if anyone needs help, I’ll be happy to send you a copy of my completed application to serve as an example. I’ve had to complete visa applications for Australia, China and Russia, so I claim some experience in this area. The kit contains two application forms, which can be sent in together if you are a couple. Again, I repeat, DO NOT SEND THE VISA APPLICATION BEFORE JANUARY 9, 2007.
- RELEASE FORM - Please don’t be alarmed by this. All major travel companies are conducting tours to Kenya. Collette can hardly keep up with the demand for its tours. It is extremely safe – but, in its infinite wisdom, the U.S. Dept. of State has issued a travel warning for all U.S. citizens traveling to Kenya. Read the message from Collette Vacations and then sign the Release form and mail it in the enclosed envelope to me. I will forward all completed release forms for our group to Collette Vacations.
- IMMUNIZATIONS – I have spent a lot of time surfing the internet for information on the recommended immunizations for our tour. Collette Vacations suggests that you simply tell your family physician where you are going ( Eastern Africa) and have him/her advise you. I went to the Kenya tour web sites of all major travel organizations, and the information is generally the same: you should basically be up-to-date on the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule (the Center for Disease Control Guidelines your doctor routinely follows for you). The one specific recommendation on all sites is regarding Malaria. See your doctor about a prescription for the antimalarial drug – pills you take before you leave and continue upon your return. Because of the controlled circumstances of our tour (bottled water, tourist hotels, etc.), Typhoid should not be a worry, so the Typhoid vaccine is generally not recommended – except for those who do individual, private adventure travel (not us!). I have enclosed the first two pages of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) website dealing with East Africa. On the same site, you can download the 4-page Quick Guide on the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule your doctor follows for all patients. Just check to see if you are up-to-date with all your shots.
- WHO’S WHO ON OUR TOUR – I thought you might be interested in knowing who the 20 people are on our tour and how they gravitated to this particular group. Collette contracts for 14 rooms per hotel per group. If you are calculating, that means we can handle 28 people if all were traveling as couples. However, because some travel as singles, the tour is limited to 25 people. I was originally assigned 10 slots – then got them to raise it to 20. No guarantees, but if you know of anyone else who might be interested, I may be able to squeeze them on – but no more than 5 total – and a.s.a.p.!
- TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE PLAINS OF AFRICA – This is a document (goldenrod paper) provided by Collette Vacations. Read it over – but you’ll be getting much more information along these lines from me over the next few months.
- TWO HOTEL BROCHURES (copied) - I have the full color originals of the brochures for The Norfolk and The Ark, two of our hotels while on tour. I copied them for you. We stay at The Norfolk upon our arrival in Africa on days 2 and 3. On day 6, we stay at The Ark Lodge – a truly unique experience where the wild life comes to us! More on all our venues later!
- DAY ROOM IN LONDON – Some of you have asked about the “Day Room” in London during layover (mentioned on the back page of the tour flyer). While I don’t have the exact information on our flight schedule, most of us will fly out of Philadelphia and land in London before boarding our plane for Nairobi. There will be an approximate 10 or 11 hour layover in Heathrow Airport. Collette can work with you in booking a “day room” in the Heathrow Holiday Inn. This is for those who prefer to get a few hours of solid rest before the flight to Africa. The additional cost for a day room at the Holiday Inn, Heathrow is $140 per room. Let me know if you want this “add on” and I will adjust your billing and advise Collette of your request.
- YOUR INVOICE – Just to keep you aware of the status of your account, I have prepared an invoice for you. Once you’ve paid your deposit and insurance fee, you have no payments until the final payment, which is due 60 days before departure. That date is February 8, 2007. However, since I process all payments for Collette, I’ll need them prior to that date. I have set Friday, February 2, 2007 as the date when I should have your payment in hand. Nevertheless, there is nothing to prevent you from making interim payments. You are welcome to make regular payments between now and February 2, if you wish. For your information – the Air tax and fuel surcharges (the $380 listed under “Air Tax”) are subject to change UNTIL THE FULL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED. So if you want to avoid the possibility of minor increases between now and next February, you can pay in full now.
- TRANSPORT TO AND FROM PHILLY INTERNATIONAL - Because we have more than ten people going in my group, Collette Vacations will provide group transportation from a single location to and from the Philadelphia International Airport for us free of charge. In order to save you airport parking fees, I arrange for you to park on my property in Vincentown and have the coach pick us up and drop us off at the Vincentown Fire Company on Race Street. More on that later.
- KEEPING YOU POSTED – I will periodically send you newsletters concerning the trip. Also, I will regularly update the information on the trip on my travel website, www.LauferTravel.com. You can e-mail me at info@LauferTravel.com anytime. As we get closer to departure, I will conduct at least one group meeting for those who live locally. I usually have these meetings at the Flying W Airport in Medford.
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