Custom Kenya Trips: Your Own Private Adventure with Zawadisha
Most people's picture of Kenya is a safari van parked next to a sleeping lion, with a dozen other vans parked right beside it. That Kenya exists. But there's another one most visitors never see, and our founder Jen Gurecki has spent more than 20 years finding it.
You don't have to join a group trip to experience it. We'll build one just for you.
The short version: Zawadisha plans private, custom trips to Kenya for families, couples and groups of any size. Trips can include wildlife safaris, cycling, the coast, Lamu Island and time with the women in our microlending program near Tsavo. Every trip supports Zawadisha's work in Kenya.
Who are custom trips for?
Anyone who wants Kenya on their own terms: a family adventure, a romantic getaway, a milestone birthday or a wild expedition with your friends. Big group? Fantastic. Just the two of you? Wonderful. Luxury lodges, homestays or a bit of both, we'll match the trip to you.
What can a custom Kenya trip include?
- Wildlife safaris in places like the Maasai Mara and Tsavo, including by bike with local guides.
- Jen's secret gems: farm-to-table dining and the best shopping in Nairobi, and the train from Nairobi toward the coast, stopping in small towns tourists rarely see.
- Time with the women of Zawadisha near Tsavo, visiting homes, learning about rural life and seeing the impact of our loans firsthand.
- Meeting the makers of our handwoven sisal baskets.
- The coast: white sand beaches in Diani and hidden spots beyond them.
- Lamu Island: three to five days on a car-free Swahili island and UNESCO World Heritage site. It can be set up as a yoga and wellness retreat.
- Adventure add-ons: mountain, climbing and rafting trips.
Why plan with Zawadisha?
- We know Kenya. Jen has lived and worked here for more than two decades, and our relationships open doors that standard tours can't.
- We take the stress away. Visas, vaccinations, packing lists: we'll walk you through all of it. No question is too silly and no worry too small.
- Your trip gives back. Traveling with us supports local communities and Zawadisha's work with women in Kenya.
Fair warning: these aren't ordinary vacations. The Kenya you'll see with us is messy, complicated, joyful and transformative. You'll come home with your assumptions challenged and your heart a little bigger.
Would you rather join a group?
We also run small-group Cycling Safari and Artisan Safari trips. Read more in Biking Safaris in Africa.
How do I start planning?
Tell us who's coming, roughly when, and what you dream of seeing. Contact us or email jen@zawadisha.org, and we'll set up a call to see if a custom trip is the right fit.