FIND THE RIGHT ANSWERFrequently asked questions
Choosing a trip
Do Shanjoy Tours and Safaris have family trips?
Shanjoy offers a wide range of Family Adventures across East Africa. The minimum age (for Family trips) varies depending on destination, and Shanjoy has set minimum ages to ensure that the included activities suit each age range. Additionally, you’ll notice that some of the more adventurous destinations have a higher minimum age. Please look at our tour itineraries to see which trip best suits your family.
Who are Shanjoy adventurers?
Our target adventures are people with a yearning to explore the world through the magic of its nature. Whether you are travelling solo, with your family, or as a group of friends, Shanjoy has the adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each Shanjoy adventure seeks to immerse you in the physical, natural and cultural heritage of your destination to help you achieve your deepest safari desires. Except for mountain climbing, most of our adventures do not require any special skills. All you need is curiosity about the world and a strong sense of adventure. Even on our camping adventures, no previous experience is required; our tents are easy to set up, even for first-time campers.
How many people will be on my trip?
Good things come in small packages, which is why we keep our group sizes down. This means we’re small enough to remain flexible as we thread our way through communities without intimidating the locals. On most of our trips, you’ll be part of an intimate group of 5-15 people. Our overland trips are in 4×4 safari jeeps that can carry up to 8 travellers. Group sizes are displayed on each trip’s overview page on our website.
Are there age restrictions on your trips?
For the majority of our trips, there is no age limit. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 18. Younger children between the ages of 0 to 15 years can join us on our Family trips and Short Break Adventures, but check each trip for its minimum age, which is located on the trip’s overview page on the website. Most of our trips don’t have a maximum age limit, but a medical clearance is required for adventurous who are 70 years and above.
I’m travelling alone – is that OK?
This is the beauty of Shanjoy’s style of travel. Many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.
If I am travelling solo, will I be charged a single supplement?
As a solo traveller, you will be paired up with another traveller of the same gender. If you’re not comfortable sharing a room with someone else, you have the choice to pay for a single supplement (available on the majority of our trips).
If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking, and we’ll arrange your accommodation accordingly.
Can we book a triple room?
Depending on the trip you choose, accommodation will be organised to your technical specification and preferences. Based on your budget, we can organise for a twin, triple or multi-share basis.
Can I book a single room?
You can book pre and post-accommodation on a single basis. Some trips do have a single supplement available – check the tour itinerary to see whether a single supplement is offered. If so, please request this at the time of booking.
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places, it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information to our caterers.
What will the food be like on my trip?
Food is one of the most exciting parts of travel. We try to offer as many familiar dishes as possible. However, we will often include local culinary including ugali, nyama choma, Kienyeji and more to add an interesting twist to your travel experience. In addition to this, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat with the group or branch out on your own – this means you can eat to suit your desire.
Can I drink the water in the countries I visit?
For most destinations, we carry with us purified bottled drinking water. The hotel also offers bottled water during meals and in the room. So you will have plenty of safe drinking water during your trip.
Which style of trip is right for me?
Our safari packages have been styled to cover various travel experiences. To find out which tour has ‘You’ written all over it, visit our tour packages page.
Are trips physically demanding?
Every trip will demand a different kind of physical involvement. If you want to lie by the beach until cocktail hour, we’ve got a trip for that. Want to power up the side of the mountain at a high altitude? We’ve also got a trip for that. Want to let your soul loose in the wilderness during a game drive safari? We’ve also got a trip for that.
To determine what trip suits you best, each of our trips comes come with a complete itinerary to help you know how physically demanding it is. Find out more about our trips here.
Do Shanjoy Tours and Safaris have family trips?
Shanjoy offers a wide range of Family Adventures across East Africa. The minimum age (for Family trips) varies depending on destination, and Shanjoy has set minimum ages to ensure that the included activities suit each age range. Additionally, you’ll notice that some of the more adventurous destinations have a higher minimum age. Please look at our tour itineraries to see which trip best suits your family.
Who are Shanjoy adventurers?
Our target adventures are people with a yearning to explore the world through the magic of its nature. Whether you are travelling solo, with your family, or as a group of friends, Shanjoy has the adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each Shanjoy adventure seeks to immerse you in the physical, natural and cultural heritage of your destination to help you achieve your deepest safari desires. Except for mountain climbing, most of our adventures do not require any special skills. All you need is curiosity about the world and a strong sense of adventure. Even on our camping adventures, no previous experience is required; our tents are easy to set up, even for first-time campers.
How many people will be on my trip?
Good things come in small packages, which is why we keep our group sizes down. This means we’re small enough to remain flexible as we thread our way through communities without intimidating the locals. On most of our trips, you’ll be part of an intimate group of 5-15 people. Our overland trips are in 4×4 safari jeeps that can carry up to 8 travellers. Group sizes are displayed on each trip’s overview page on our website.
Are there age restrictions on your trips?
For the majority of our trips, there is no age limit. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 18. Younger children between the ages of 0 to 15 years can join us on our Family trips and Short Break Adventures, but check each trip for its minimum age, which is located on the trip’s overview page on the website. Most of our trips don’t have a maximum age limit, but a medical clearance is required for adventurous who are 70 years and above.
I’m travelling alone – is that OK?
This is the beauty of Shanjoy’s style of travel. Many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.
If I am travelling solo, will I be charged a single supplement?
As a solo traveller, you will be paired up with another traveller of the same gender. If you’re not comfortable sharing a room with someone else, you have the choice to pay for a single supplement (available on the majority of our trips).
If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking, and we’ll arrange your accommodation accordingly.
Can we book a triple room?
Depending on the trip you choose, accommodation will be organised to your technical specification and preferences. Based on your budget, we can organise for a twin, triple or multi-share basis.
Can I book a single room?
You can book pre and post-accommodation on a single basis. Some trips do have a single supplement available – check the tour itinerary to see whether a single supplement is offered. If so, please request this at the time of booking.
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places, it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information to our caterers.
What will the food be like on my trip?
Food is one of the most exciting parts of travel. We try to offer as many familiar dishes as possible. However, we will often include local culinary including ugali, Nyama Choma, Kienyeji and more to add an interesting twist to your travel experience. In addition to this, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat with the group or branch out on your own – this means you can eat to suit your desire.
Can I drink the water in the countries I visit?
For most destinations, we carry with us purified bottled drinking water. The hotel also offers bottled water during meals and in the room. So you will have plenty of safe drinking water during your trip.
Before you depart
What is the currency in my destination? How much should I take in credit cards/cash? Can I use my credit card during my trip?
In most cases, the trip including accommodation and meals will have been paid for fully before you get to your destination. However, it is always advisable to have cash or access to your bank. This is in case you need extra items or services not included in the trip itinerary. You can travel with a credit card, which is Visa or MasterCard enabled to ease money access. Note that Visa cards are more widely accepted than Mastercard.
How do I obtain Trip Notes/itinerary for full details of my trip?
Every trip has a set of trip notes, accessible on our website, that gives you in-depth information about all aspects of your trip. To access your Trip Notes, please visit your trip’s specific tour itinerary on our website.
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance is compulsory for all Shanjoy travellers, and should be taken out before travelling to your destination. You must provide proof of your travel insurance on the first day of your trip. You will not be able to join the trip without it.
What does my policy need to cover?
At a minimum, your travel insurance should be ‘comprehensive’, providing cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Please note that we do not organise travel insurance for our travellers. You will have to work with a company you trust and pay this separate from your trip.
How do I find out about the visa requirements for the trip I am interested in?
We always recommend that passengers check with their local embassy as visa rules can change without warning. Embassy websites in your home country will always have information about requirements, visa costs, and required forms. If you are uncomfortable with the visa process, you can visit a travel agent who can arrange these for you at a cost.
How do I organise my Visa?
Please contact the relevant local embassy, or visit a travel agent, to organise your visa/s.
Do you help with Visas?
Shanjoy cannot assist in the actual application of visas, but you can do this through the embassy or with the support of a travel agent.
My application says I need a letter of invitation or other supporting documentation, do you provide these?
There are certain destinations, such as Kenya, where you will need support documentation from Shanjoy Tours and Safaris in order to apply for your visa. We will inform you of the documents we need to prepare the invitation letter (scanned passports, employment letters etc.).
I am concerned about the political stability of the country through which my trip will travel.
The safety of our passengers, leaders and operators is a major priority for Shanjoy Tours and Safaris. With this in mind, we monitor world events very closely and Shanjoy makes operational decisions based on informed advice from a number of sources and travel advisories. If this advisory is at Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ then Shanjoy will either cancel the trip or reroute the itinerary to avoid the areas concerned.
How safe are my belongings whilst on the trip?
While we take all the precautions we can to make sure your belongings are safe, we are travelling to some exciting destinations that are sometimes home to some pretty skilled thieves. Travel insurance is a must and a lockable bag or money belt will always help too.
What is the best way to carry money?
We recommend having access to money from a variety of sources – cash, cards and travel money cards are all commonly used.
What type of luggage do you recommend I take?
On most Intrepid trips you will be required to carry your own luggage, sometimes upstairs and on and off transport. We, therefore, recommend you travel with a backpack.
Can I store excess luggage at the starting point hotel?
Most starting point hotels can store your excess luggage for you; however, this is at your own risk. Often a nominal fee is charged for this service. Of course, this is only an advantage if your trip is circular (i.e. returning to the same starting point).
Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
We only have a handful of itineraries where sleeping bags are required and these are generally trips that involve camping. When we use hotels and tented camps, comfortable beds and blankets are provided.
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Business Hours
Our support Hotline is available all day long : (+254) 723 086 862
- Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pm
- Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Office Location
Mugumo Park, Kikuyu Rd,
Kikuyu, Kiambu County, Kenya
