Kenya Brochure 1

Computer Associates proudly presents Compass Club 2002

July 28 – August 3, 2002

Safari ETHIOPIA

LA

KE

TURK ANA

SUDAN

Kenya

SOMALIA

UGANDA

LAKE VICTORIA E Q U A T O R

Maasai Mara

Nairobi Serengeti Plain

Malindi Mt. Kilimanjaro

TANZANIA

INDIAN OCEAN

Compass Club 2

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The Great Adventure....

An African safari is the greatest adventure vacation in the world.

And in all of Africa, only Kenya offers its visitors such high quality hotels and game lodges, such magnificent scenery, such an abundant and varied collection of animals, and such a comfortable and safe environment. What’s more, the Kenyans themselves are most gracious hosts who enthusiastically welcome international visitors to their great country. First-time visitors come to Kenya to see the miracle of the African wildlife.

However, they leave this remarkable country with a deep appreciation and affection for a people who, despite hardships and living conditions unknown to most of us, manage to live their lives with pride in their country, dignity in themselves, and a genuine respect for their foreign visitors.

Kenya imagine...

We have produced this brochure to provide you with important information about our CA Safari, and to give you an idea of what you can expect during Compass Club. But believe us when we tell you that no brochure, or television documentary, or book, or movie can prepare you for the spectacle you will see in Kenya. Imagine the game parks. Yes, most countries in the world have national parks, but your understanding of a national park is probably very different from those you will visit in Kenya. Imagine a park the size of Belgium, or the state of New Jersey, with a human population of only 5 thousand and an animal population of 3 million. Imagine there are no fences, no paved roads, no telephone poles or electrical wires, no industry of any kind. Nothing except a handful of people, a couple of lodges, thousands of kilometers of rolling savannahs, and the greatest collection of mammals on earth. Then, imagine that there is not one park like this, but 48 of them. Imagine that the land and the animals you will see look very much as they have for the past 2 million years. Next, imagine you will be in Kenya during the annual migration of millions of wildebeests and zebras which travel north each year from the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Now, imagine that you are there in the middle of it all. What do you need to do to enjoy the experience? Simply open your mind, view the adventure with childlike wonder, and the world will be new to you again.

Please take a few moments...

We ask that you take some time to read this brochure. It will provide you with valuable information regarding what to expect at Compass Club and how to prepare for your vacation.

The choice is yours...

For the past few Compass Clubs we have offered you a choice of itineraries. Traditionally one itinerary has been packed with adventure, while the other has been more relaxed. This approach has been so popular with Compass Club qualifiers that we are, once again, offering you a choice.

The main program is, of course, the Kenya Safari which is described throughout much of this brochure. Those of you choosing the Kenya Safari also have another decision to make: You will spend four nights of your Kenya trip in the wildlife parks. Two of these nights will be spent in a game lodge. You then have your choice of spending the other two nights in another game lodge or in a tented camp. That’s right, a tented camp, which is similar to a lodge except for the fact that the sleeping rooms are individual tents. (Please refer to page 12, “The Details” section of this brochure for a complete description.)

The alternative to the safari is a relaxing four night stay on a beautiful expanse of beach on the Indian Ocean in the Kenya coastal resort of Malindi. After reading the brochure, we ask that you take the time to complete the enclosed Compass Club survey. Your response will help us ensure that each of you has your first choice of itinerary. After completing the form, please fax it to the Compass Club Travel Staff in Islandia at (631) 342-6945. We ask that you return the form no later than the close of business (Islandia time) on Friday, February 15. You may also access the form online at http://intranet.ca.com/sales/sales.htm. If you respond to our survey and subsequently qualify for Club, we will reserve a place for you and your guest on the itinerary you selected.

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Kenya is...

...a country situated on the equator at the eastern edge of Africa. With an area of approximately 225,000 square miles (583,000 sq. km.), Kenya is about the same size as the state of Texas, or Spain and Portugal combined. The country is surrounded by Ethiopia and Sudan to the north, Somalia and the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the south, and Uganda and Lake Victoria to the west. The population of Kenya is approximately 30 million. By comparison, the population of Texas is about 20 million and that of Spain and Portugal combined totals 40 million.

Kenya's capital and largest city is Nairobi (5 million). Politically, Kenya has been an independent republic since 1963 with a onehouse National Assembly and an elected president, Daniel arap Moi. The country has been a bastion of stability, peace and democracy in a part of the world which, quite obviously, could use some guidance in these areas. English and Swahili are the official and national languages of the country. The unit of currency is the Kenya Shilling. Current exchange rate is about 75 shillings to the U.S. dollar. Per capita income is about $350 U.S per year. Major religions are: Protestant (38%), Catholic (28%), traditional tribal religions (26%) and Islamic (8%).

...divided into four main geographic areas. The fertile Rift Valley and central highlands stretch the length of the country from north to south and into Tanzania, forming a kind of geographic backbone. Nairobi is situated on the southern end of the central highlands. The coastal belt runs approximately 300 miles (500 km.) along the Indian Ocean and features magnificent beaches, coral reefs and several world-class resorts. Mombasa is the largest coastal city.

Northern and eastern Kenya are mostly desolate unpopulated areas of mountainous bushland and desert. The Western Kenyan Plateau, like the Rift Valley, covers an area from near Sudan in the north to Tanzania in the south.

“...by far the greatest collection of plains-dwelling animals left in the world today. It is a microcosm of what most of east and central Africa was like little more than half a century ago, a surviving pocket, a remembrance of one of the greatest sights the world has ever known. This is all we have left.� — Elspeth Huxley, Forks and Hope, 1964

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Kenya isn’t... ...hot.

...a zoo.

Well, not real hot anyway. How, you ask, could a country on the equator not be hot? The reason is the altitude. Nairobi sits at about 5,500 feet (1800 m.) above sea level and the area of the game reserves in the southwest runs from approximately 4,800 ft. to 5,300 ft.

(1600 to 1750 m.). July and August are winter months for most of Kenya and relatively cool and very dry months.

You can expect the temperatures in Nairobi to range from 55 to 76˚ F (13 - 25˚ C). When traveling in the mountains or during the early morning game drives the temperature can be even 10˚ F (5˚ C) cooler than that. By late morning in the savannah, the temperature will reach a high of about 82˚ F (28˚ C). Humidity should not exceed a comfortable 50%. While the Kenya sun feels great, you must keep in mind that we will be traveling near the equator, so the rays of the sun will be as direct as they can be anywhere in the world. You will need to bring sunscreen and use it frequently.

In any of the books or films about Kenya you will read and hear the virtually interchangeable terms “Game Parks” and “Wildlife Parks.” It is important to understand that these are not at all like most of the parks that exist in other parts of the world – no fences, no boundaries, no gift shops. The parks in Kenya just happen to be the places where the animals live. The Kenyan government wants to protect the animals, so they designated these areas National Parks. One of the most remarkable aspects of a safari is the realization that nothing is fenced in here except on occasion (and for good reason) the tourists.

While the zoological parks of this world certainly have their places...

“Observing the animals in their natural state has about as much to do with viewing animals in a zoo as lightning has to do with a lightning bug,” (Mark Twain). Here in Kenya the zoo looks at you.

... a jungle.

“very” pregnant women or anyone with a serious back problem.

Transportation through the game parks and reserves will be in 6-8 passenger “safari cruisers” (specially outfitted Toyota or Nissan vans). As the roads and trails in the wildlife parks are mostly dirt, riding around can sometimes be bumpy business. Therefore, pregnant women and anyone with chronic back pain or recovering from surgery should see their doctor before going on safari.

We expect that this restriction will apply to some of you and we have reserved a number of rooms in Hemingway’s, a deluxe beach resort on the Indian Ocean. So, those who are not able, or choose not to take part in the safari, can still participate in Club. More on this option to follow.

...for

Kenya does not have the climatological factors necessary to produce a jungle. While you will find heavily wooded forests to the north and rolling savannahs to the south, you will not find jungle. All those Tarzan movies were filmed somewhere else.

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The departure dates and itinerary described are intended to give you an idea of how the program will operate.

Depending upon your home city and the flight schedules available at the time of booking, your actual departure date from home and arrival date into Kenya may be different from the dates listed below.

July 26 or 27 NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICANS DEPART HOME North American and South American Compass Club members and guests will fly from their home cities to Europe before connecting to the flight for Nairobi. The flights from North American gateway cities typically leave in the evening arriving in Europe early the next morning.

July 27 or 28 ASIANS AND EUROPEANS DEPART HOME NORTH & SOUTH AMERICANS, EUROPEANS AND ASIANS ARRIVE IN NAIROBI North Americans and Asians connect to flights departing Europe in the late morning and arrive in Nairobi in the evening. Europeans depart home and arrive in Nairobi on the same day. We have rooms reserved in Nairobi’s best hotels, including: Hilton, Stanley, Serena, Norfolk, and Grand Regency. After check in, enjoy a welcome drink and some snacks, then some sleep.

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A R R I V E

Sample Kenya Itinerary

S A F A R I

July 29-August 2 SAFARI The following is a sample of one of our safari itineraries:

July 29 After breakfast our Kenya staff will give us a final briefing and we’re off for a four night adventure. Morning flight north across the equator to the Samburu National Reserve. Check into the Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River. Time to explore. Lunch. Afternoon safari. (Groups of 6-8 people board a safari cruiser with expert driver/guide.) Return to the lodge for a welcome cocktail party, then dinner and entertainment. Overnight in the tented camp.

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Early morning game drive. Back to the camp for breakfast. Morning game drive. Lunch at the camp.

Time for relaxing by the pool. (The pool? That's right, luxury even on safari.) Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

July 31 Morning flight to the Maasai Mara. Game drive.

Check into the Mara Serena Lodge. Lunch and time to relax. (Yes, they have a pool too.) Afternoon game drive followed by one of the most memorable cocktail parties of your life. After the drive, we'll get together in a spot high in the hills to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset over the expanse of the incomparable Maasai Mara.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

August 1 A second day at the Serena Lodge. Early morning game drive followed by breakfast on a river bank overlooking a “hippo pool” (a place in the river where hippopotamus congregate). Return to the hotel for lunch and time to rest or go for a swim. Afternoon game drive. Enjoy a “Farewell to the Mara” dinner followed by local entertainment. Overnight at

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S A F A R I

July 30

AWA R D S

August 2 RETURN TO NAIROBI FOR OUR AWARDS BANQUET There will be an optional early morning game drive, then check out of the lodge for the return flight to Nairobi. Back in the city, you'll check into the same Nairobi hotel you checked out of before you became a seasoned safari explorer. Time for shopping and visiting Nairobi before departing for our 2002 Compass Club Awards Dinner. The evening, like the rest of our Kenya program, promises to be unique. We don't want to spoil all the surprises, but the location of our dinner is Nairobi’s famous “Carnivore Restaurant” (really), where we can dine on all of the animals we took pictures of over the last few days, including: zebra, wildebeest, ostrich, gazelle and crocodile, plus an array of more familiar selections, such as: chicken, beef, pork and lamb. “Vegivores” (that's what they call vegetarians here), don't despair. There’s a special menu for you here too. Later the “Carnivore” becomes our own private Compass Club nightclub complete with dance band, disco and some very special local entertainment.

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August 3 Note: Most international flights do not leave Nairobi until late evening on August 3 and arrive Europe the morning of August 4. North Americans and Asians then board connecting flights for the return home. As a result, we will be spending most of the day and early evening in Nairobi. You may keep your hotel room until you are ready to leave for the airport later tonight.

This morning you are free to visit Nairobi on your own or take a CA sponsored city tour. Our final Compass Club event will be an afternoon “Out of Africa” Party. (Bring your cameras.) Late this afternoon, we'll return to the hotel. Time for some last minute souvenir shopping and packing before leaving for the airport and your trip home.

August 4 ARRIVE HOME Early morning arrival in most European cities.

Everyone will then board late morning or early afternoon flights for their trip home.

By the end of our time in Kenya, you will have visited the best hotels and lodges, explored the greatest wildlife reserves in the world, come to know the warm and friendly Kenyans, and lived an adventure that very few people will ever know. The memories will last a lifetime.

Kwaheri!

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D E PA R T

DAY IN NAIROBI “OUT OF AFRICA” PARTY DEPART FOR HOME

The Details We realize that a Kenya safari will be a unique experience for most of you, so for those of you who want more information, we have included some of the specifics...

Accommodations As you have read, we will be using several hotels in Nairobi and lodges and tented camps in the wildlife reserves. To the best of our ability, you will be assigned to hotels, lodges, and tented camps with others from your country or region.

NAIROBI Accommodations in Nairobi are 4 and 5 star European style hotels. You will be staying in Nairobi on the night you arrive in Kenya and then again on the night of August 2. You will have the use of your room on August 3 until you are ready to leave for the airport. Like most hotels outside of North America, the majority of the rooms have two twin beds which can be pushed together. All rooms have direct dial phones, televisions, air-conditioning, private bath (not all have hair dryers, so you should probably bring yours), and most have mini-bars.

WILDLIFE PARKS Here you will have a choice of accommodations. We have made reservations at both the best lodges and tented camps.

First a description of the lodges: Hotels located in the heart of the wildlife reserves are mostly one or two story lodges with simple, but clean guest rooms. All lodges

have a lobby and bar area, good dining rooms, a swimming pool, and most have some type of entertainment in the evening.

You will, however, want to bring a couple of good books, because the lodges do not have televisions. For that matter lodges do not have in-room telephones, room service, or air-conditioning (which you do not need at night). Please keep in mind that these lodges are accustomed to catering to international safari travelers. So while the lodges are simple, the service is of a

water. Won’t it get hot inside the tents? While it can be warm in both the tents and the lodges during the day, at night you will need blankets. But, do I have to worry about the animals breaking into the tent and eating me? No, you don’t have to worry about that. Occasionally a giraffe will stroll onto the camp grounds, however, they are too tall to fit inside a tent. Furthermore, all the tent camps (and lodges) have a 24 hour security staff who ensure your safety. One more point: except for the fact that the sleeping rooms are tents, the facilities and amenities of the tented camps are the same as the lodges.

And, like the lodges, the public areas are contained within wooden buildings and include: dining room, bar, lobby, gift shop, and entertainment.

Luggage Allowance

high standard.

NOW TO THE TENTED CAMPS...

You may bring to Kenya the standard airline allowance of 44 lb. (20 kg.) per After you qualify for Club, you will receive person. However, because of weight restrictions on the flights within Kenya a registration form. One of the questions and space constraints within the safari on the form will ask if you want to spend a night or two of your four nights on safari in cruisers, everyone will be limited to 22 lb. a tented camp. Why would I want (10 kg.) of luggage. In addition, all luggage must be soft-sided duffel-type bags. To to do that? For the adventure. make this easy, we will be sending all We know some people will like the idea and some will not. That qualifiers and guests a CA Safari duffel bag which measures approximately 12 x 12 is why you have the choice. Alx 22 inches (25 x 25 x 48 cm.). though we wouldn’t call the tents You will be able to fit everything you need “luxurious,” they are as good as for safari into this bag. Any remaining tents can be. The tents are best luggage may be stored at your hotel in described as hotel rooms with Nairobi where you can pick it up when canvas walls. The top of the tent you return to the hotel on August 2. is approximately (Note: The storage of luggage at Nairobi 7 feet (2.5 m.), all have two hotels is something which is done all the twin beds (real beds, not cots), time.

Hotels have ample secured space electricity, and private bathroom in which to keep your luggage until you reand shower with hot and cold

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On Safari In the modern sense of the word, a “safari”, Swahili for “journey”, consists of six to eight people in a safari cruiser (typically a modified Toyota or Nissan van) which is driven over, around and through the African plain by a local driver/guide. Note: For our purposes the terms “safari” and “game drive” mean the same thing. While the cruisers actually accommodate as many as eleven people, we have found that six to eight people fit very comfortably and the visibility is excellent for all.

Safari cruisers have tops which open to enhance viewing and provide a superb vantage point for taking photos and videos during the game drives. Upon arrival at each of the wildlife reserves, you will divide yourselves into groups of six to eight. You then become the responsibility of the local guide. Much of the fun of going on safari comes from your interaction with the guides. These people are truly one of Kenya’s natural treasures. You will find them courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable. You will be amazed at their uncanny ability to find wildlife. Your guide will soon become your best friend and he (they are all male) will stay with you throughout your visit to a particular game park. In addition, the guide will make suggestions regarding the best time to view the animals. We know that some of you will want to spend all of your time riding around the countryside, while others may want to take a morning or af-

ternoon off. On our CA Safari the choice is yours – take a game drive, or relax around the pool. Once on the drive, your group can decide how long they want to stay on safari. In this way, you can create your own adventure.

As we mentioned, there are no fences in the game reserves, except those that surround the lodges and tented camps.

The animals go anywhere they want, just as they have done for the past 2 million years or so. Therefore, we can’t tell for sure which animals you will see. But chances are that you will view hundreds of different types of birds (Kenya is home to about 1,500 species), such as: ostrich, eagles, hawks, guineafowl, parrots, and dozens of different varieties of stork, goose, duck, plover, dove, trogon and barbet. As we mentioned, the months of July and August are the time of the annual migration of animals from the Serengeti, so you will be in Kenya for the best viewing of herds of antelope, including: impala, wildebeest, gazelle, hartebeest, topi, waterbuck, bushbuck, bongo and eland. And there are the good guys: giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, warthog, and rhinoceros.

But, of course, the real action is provided by the bad guys: lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, jackal, serval cat, vulture and crocodile. And finally, comic relief is provided by several species of baboon and monkey.

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While you will often find yourself within 5-15 meters of the animals, you should bring along a pair of binoculars for close-up viewing. Photographers and videographers take note: You will be receiving more information as the months go by on photographing the wildlife, but in the

meantime, keep in mind that the best photos are taken with a 35 mm camera using a 200-300 mm lens. We have found it most convenient to use a 70-200 mm, or 70-300 zoom lens which allows you the versatility to take both close-up and distance photos without the hassle of constantly having to change the lens.

Videographers, you will need about a 8x zoom lens on your video camera to get the really good shots.

The Food Kenya was a British Protectorate and Colony from 1895 until 1963 which, culinarily speaking, is both good and bad.

You will find the menus at the lodges much the same as the accommodations – simple, yet clean, ample and safe. Europeans, South Americans, and Asians will find the food a bit bland, while the British, North Americans and Australians will be happy to recognize it.

Keep in mind that in Kenya their business is to take care of foreign tourists and they do it very well.

Actually, they produce one brand of beer which they put into three different types of bottles. “Tusker” is its name and it is very good. Or, at least you get used to it quickly. Most establishments keep both a room temperature and cold supply of “Tusker” on hand. So, be sure to specify your preference when ordering.

Inoculations First of all, most people return home from Kenya healthier than when they arrived. The combination of fresh clean air, warm sun and a relaxing way of life tends

does exist in Nairobi and in the wildlife parks, as well as in certain poorer areas along the coast. The fact is that there are two types of visitors to Kenya – those who come for vacation and those who come to work. Those visitors who come to work in Kenya are involved in industrial or humanitarian efforts. These folks may be exposed to a variety of diseases. Those of us who come to Kenya for vacation are at very little risk. But, it is better to be on the safe side. Our best advice is to check with your own doctor or health clinic before getting any inoculations. You don't need to rush out and get the shots today, but don't wait until the last minute either. Health authorities advise receiving the inoculations 4 to 6 weeks prior to your trip.

Passports and Visas All visitors to Kenya are required to carry a valid passport and visa. If you do not have a valid passport, you will need to get one before you can apply for the visa which is issued by the Kenyan government. Applying for and receiving your passport can take a couple of months in some countries, so we suggest you apply no later that May 1.

Once you have the passport, you will need to obtain a visa by sending your passport to the Kenyan Embassy or Consulate in your country.

By February, you will be receiving information from your CA country office regarding passport and visa applications.

The Drink We suggest you do not drink the tap water in the hotels or lodges. We will provide you with bottled water to use in your rooms and to take on safari. The intensity of the sun combined with the low humidity and relatively high altitude mean that you will lose moisture quickly, so remember to drink plenty of water.

Soft drinks are available everywhere.

Kenya produces three brands of beer.

to be very good for the body and soul. As of this writing, the Kenyan government does not require any inoculations unless you are coming from an area that currently has an epidemic of Yellow Fever, Typhoid or Cholera. However, the health authorities of most European and North American countries suggest that visitors are inoculated against Cholera, Yellow Fever, and Hepatitis. Furthermore, many health authorities suggest taking Malaria pills. Malaria

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The Malindi Option

Hemingway’s Resort

F (8˚ C) cooler in the evening. Hemingway’s Resort is a small deluxe resort in a secluded setting with its own beautiful white sand beach, great restaurants, lounges and air-conditioned rooms. Although this program is not “The Safari”, you can be assured that it will be up to Compass Club standards – private receptions and meals, CA sponsored activities including sightseeing, snorkeling, golf and fishing, and, of course, our Compass Club Travel Staff will be there to make sure you enjoy yourself to the fullest. The Malindi option will look like this:

In a previous section of this brochure, “Kenya isn't...”, we mentioned that riding around the plains of Africa is bumpy business. Pregnant women, those with back problems, or anyone recovering from surgery are best advised to speak with their physician before going on safari. If you find that you are unable to participate in the safari portion of the trip to Kenya, or for some other reason choose not to, we are pleased to offer an excellent alternative. We have reserved a number of rooms on the Malindi coast at the deluxe Hemingway’s Resort which is located directly on the Indian Ocean about 30 minutes north of the village of Watamu. We understand that most North Americans are not familiar with the area, but the coastal region of Malindi is very popular with European vacationers. The Malindi coast is a region similar in many respects to the Caribbean – the activities are mostly beach and water sports. The area boasts some good restaurants and night life. By the way, not far from the hotel is the Malindi-Watamu Indian Ocean Reserve. This underwater “wildlife reserve” is a protected area of Kenya’s Indian Ocean reef and provides some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving on the planet. In addition, those interested will have the option to fly to Amboseli National Park to participate in a one day safari. This excursion provides an excellent opportunity to view many different species of wildlife including elephant, giraffe, ostrich, antelope, wildebeest, monkeys and, yes, lion.

July 28

Arrive Nairobi; overnight in one of our Compass Club hotels.

Fly on chartered aircraft from Nairobi to Watamu and transfer to Hemingway’s Resort July 29

July 29-Aug 1

Four nights at Hemingway’s Resort.

Activities include a snorkel trip to the Malindi-Watamu Reserve, and a one day safari in Amboseli National Park.

August 2

Return flight to Nairobi for our Awards Banquet. Overnight Nairobi.

August 3

Day in Nairobi - “Out of Africa” Party Depart for Home

If the Malindi trip sounds like your kind of Compass Club, please choose this option on the Compass Club Survey.

The temperature on the Malindi coast in July and August will be in the 80-85˚ F range (26-30˚ C) during the day and as much as 15˚

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Suggested Reading Those of you who take your safaris seriously may want to get started on some reading.

Below we have listed a selection of our favorites...

Born Free by Joy Adamson (Pantheon, 1960) — a book about lions raised by the author and returned to the wild.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway (Scribner) — great stories by one of the great story tellers of all time.

Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen, a.k.a. Karen Blixen (Random Books) — the life and times of a female in Kenya during the early 1900's. Made into a film and a great video to rent in preparation for your trip.

Something of Value by Robert Ruark (Doubleday, 1955) — historical novel about the lives of two boys, one black and the other white, set at the beginning of the Mau Mau uprising.

Elephants Have the Right of Way and There's a Rhino in the Rose Bed, Mother both by Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville (Doubleday) — two “easy reads” by a couple who organize their own safaris.

Tourist in Africa by Evelyn Waugh (Greenwood) — a well written diary of a two month trip to East Africa in 1960.

Insight Guide Kenya by Deborah Appleton et al (APA Publications) — perhaps the best one volume guide book. Great photos and background stories. (Health information in the 1993 edition is not current.)

East Africa by Geoff Crowther and Hugh Finlay (Lonely Planet Publications) — in-depth guide to East Africa. Detailed information on all of East Africa.