HOW MUCH WILL MY TRIP TO MITS COST?

TRIP FEE

1. Cost: $65/night USD per person. Students receive a $100 discount. This covers the following:
   1. Nairobi Airport pick up upon arrival
   2. Housing in Kamulu (with bedding, pillows and towels)
   3. Meals at our facility
   4. Chai (tea) time at 4pm every day (Kenyan custom) 
   5. Transportation to and from Eastleigh, or on MITS-specific business (not recreational trips, such as shopping)
   6. Airport drop off at end of trip
   7. Trip Insurance
2. Please submit payment here at least two months before arriving to Nairobi.

PREPARATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES

1. Passport
   1. Approximate cost: $150 USD
   2. Approximate processing time: 4-6 weeks
   3. If you already have a passport
      1. Verify that the passport will not expire within six months of your departure
      2. Make sure you have one full blank page for your visa
      3. Make a copy of the passport to carry with you as you travel
2. East African Visa (Single Entry)
   1. Cost: $51 USD
   2. This must be purchased online before your trip for those 17 years and older.
3. Background Check
   1. Cost: $20 USD
   2. We require all visitors to complete a background check. A background check with us is good for 5 years.
4. Immunizations and Malaria Medication
   1. Suggested: Approximate total cost: $250 - $500
      1. Check Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov) for most up to date suggested vaccinations.
      2. COVID-19
      3. Yellow Fever
         1. If you are traveling directly between the US and Kenya (airport layovers are okay), you will NOT need to provide proof of a yellow fever vaccination.
         2. If you plan to exit Kenya and enter Uganda or any other yellow fever risk country, and then re-enter Kenya, you WILL need to provide proof of a yellow fever vaccination upon re-entry to Kenya. This is strictly enforced.
      4. There are 3 common malaria medications, all of which require a prescription.
         1. Doxycycline (cheapest)
         2. Malarone
         3. Mephloquine
      5. For the sake of example, a typical visitor to MITS gets vaccinated for COVID-19, typhoid, yellow fever, Hepatitis A and B, polio, tetanus and meningitis. He or she will also take malaria meds during their stay. Typhoid medication is also available in a pill form.
5. Roundtrip Airfare
   1. Approximate cost: $800 to $2,400 USD, depending on the time of year and the airline
   2. Once you have booked your flights, send itinerary to Christian: christian@madeinthestreets.org 
6. Luggage
   1. International travelers are usually allowed to check up to 2 bags for free.
   2. Check your airline website for maximum number of bags AND max weight of each bag. Some airlines use kgs, some use lbs. Overweight bags will incur an extra fee.
   3. Think twice before paying extra to bring an overweight or additional bag. Many things can be purchased nowadays in Nairobi, sometimes cheaper than in the states.
   4. Carry-on luggage is defined as one carry-on and one personal item. The carry-on must fit in the overhead bins and comply with the carry-on dimension standards of your airline.
7. Travel Money (optional)
   1. For purchasing meals in transit beyond what is provided in flight

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SAFARI (OPTIONAL)

1. Total cost: $500-$1500 per person for a 3 day, 2 night trip
2. What you pay for safari usually covers your transportation, room and a lot of delicious food (think of it as a cruise ship on the Masai Mara). Drinks (sodas, bottled water) are NOT included in the cost of your safari. Bring about 200 KSH per drink.
3. Bring additional money with you for gratuities.
4. MITS would love to help you in scheduling and booking your safari. Contact Christian for more information. 

FUEL

1. Transport to and from the airport and into Eastleigh on MITS business is included in your mission trip fee, but recreational visits to Nairobi are not.
2. Fuel costs are paid out of pocket every time a trip into town is necessary and vary, depending on which vehicle is driven and how far.