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Kenyan Village Dental Project + Safari Adventure (Original Clinic)

In partnership with the Chogoria PCEA Hospital, Global Dental Relief’s Kenya project is located in a fully equipped dental clinic. Situated roughly four hours north of Nairobi at the base of Mount Kenya, Chogoria offers a breathtaking escape from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi and a unique picture into rural life in the Kenyan countryside.

$3295 – for the clinic + sightseeing itinerary

$1550 – for the clinic only itinerary

Call our office for single-occupancy and triple-occupancy rates. There is a separate $200 Kenya dental license fee that each dentist must pay.
On arrival, the team overnights in Nairobi and has a morning tour to visit a giraffe sanctuary and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant refuge before heading north to the clinic site. Once in Chogoria, volunteers stay on hospital grounds and base out of the hospital guesthouse. Enjoy morning walks to the clinic greeted by friendly villagers and smiling faces of eager patients. Following the clinic, volunteers embark on a three-day safari in the renowned Masai Mara National Park. The project duration is 14 days, which includes: travel time to Kenya, orientation, sightseeing in Nairobi, five days working in the dental clinic and a three-day safari in Masai Mara National Park. Volunteers may opt out of the sightseeing portion of the project and head home after the clinic.
 
Project Dates

  • Jan 20 – Feb 2, 2023

  • Jan 31 – Feb 13, 2023

  • Jan 19 – Feb 1, 2024

  • Jan 30 – Feb 12, 2024

What’s Included?
  • Three-star hotel accommodation in Nairobi; guesthouse accommodation during the clinic; semipermanent luxury tented camp during safari
  • Three meals a day while working in the clinic and all meals during the safari; other days, breakfast only
  • Round trip flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara
  • All overland transportation while in Kenya
  • Airport transfers
  • Sightseeing in Nairobi
  • A complete three-day safari in Masai Mara with drivers and guides
  • Celebratory farewell dinner
  • Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle

Plus, you will get all this too:

  • A small group of 12 to 15 volunteers
  • The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world
  • GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
  • Two GDR designated trip leaders
  • A volunteer coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip
  • All tips for guides and drivers (except for arrival and departure airport transfers)
Sightseeing Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S.

Day 2: Arrive Nairobi. On arrival, you will be met by a guide and transferred to a nearby hotel. Overnight in Nairobi. (-/-/-)

Day 3: Nairobi — Chogoria. Enjoy morning sightseeing in the Karen Hills giraffe refuge and the famous Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant refuge. After lunch, embark on the four-hour drive to Chogoria. Overnight in Chogoria at the local guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Chogoria. Go to the clinic this morning, where you will have a thorough project briefing. Begin working by midmorning. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 5: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 6: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 7: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 8: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 9: Chogoria — Nairobi. Pack up this morning and continue on the drive back to Nairobi (four hours). Stop en route for a basic lunch. Overnight in Nairobi. (B/-/-)

Day 10: Nairobi — Masai Mara. Depart this morning for your flight to Masai Mara Game Park. On arrival, you will be transferred to your tented camp. Enjoy lunch on arrival and a late afternoon game drive. Overnight in the park in a semi-permanent tented camp. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Masai Mara. Enjoy a full day of activities in the park, including sunrise and sunset safaris. The Masai Mara is famous for its diverse wildlife, including zebra, giraffe, big cats, etc. Overnight in the park in a semi-permanent tented camp. (B/L/D)

Day 12: Masai Mara. Enjoy another full day of activities in the park — including sunrise and sunset safaris. Overnight in the park in a semi-permanent tented camp. (B/L/D)

Day 13: Masai Mara — Nairobi. Depart for Nairobi. Arrive Nairobi in the early afternoon where volunteers will have a day room at a hotel. Evening transfer to airport for departing flight.

Day 14: Arrive home.

Clinic-Only Itinerary

Day 1: Depart

Day 2: Arrive Nairobi. On arrival you will be met by a guide and transferred to a nearby hotel. Overnight in Nairobi. (-/-/-)

Day 3: Nairobi — Chogoria. Enjoy morning sightseeing in the Karen Hills giraffe refuge and the famous Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant refuge. After lunch, embark on the four-hour drive to Chogoria. Overnight in Chogoria at the local guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Chogoria. Go to the clinic this morning, where you will have a thorough project briefing. Begin working by midmorning. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 5: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 6: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 7: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 8: Chogoria. Working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Day 9: Chogoria — Nairobi. Pack up this morning and continue on the drive back to Nairobi (four hours). Stop en route for a basic lunch. Late night transfer for departing flight home. (B/-/-)

Physical Demands

Clinics are fast paced and include a moderate amount of physical activity each day. On our Kenya dental project and safari, you will need to:

  1. Walk approximately 30 minutes daily (15 minutes each way) to and from the clinic site.
  2. Be able to stand and/or walk (including climbing stairs) for approximately two hours at a time during sightseeing tours.
  3. Sleep with street noise (dogs, car horns, chickens, etc.) and have weak or no hot water at times.
  4. Share a bathroom while staying in the hospital guesthouse.
  5. After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location.
  6. Be okay having limited and at times no access to Wi-Fi/internet.
  7. Eat primarily local Kenyan food during the clinic.
Wolfgang Pfannenstiel

What Partners Say

After my first GDR project I was sure to do this continuously no matter what! This is helping kids in need effectively. This is having enjoyable conversations with new friends. This is creating unforgettable memories. So in my specific case the letters GDR stand for the German Dentist Returns :)”

- Wolfgang Pfannenstiel, Dentist, Germany

Darshani Khosla

What Partners Say

Global Dental Relief makes sure children are receiving continuous care and that clinics are run efficiently and with the highest ethical standards. They take care of every detail on your trip — I plan to volunteer with them for years to come!

- Darshani Khosla, Dentist, Texas

Carol Lim

What Partners Say

Thank you Global Dental Relief! Nothing compares to the efforts and perseverance of your volunteer teams, working hard to bring healthy smiles to children.

- Carol Lim, Vice President of Business Development, Cranberry U.S.A

TJ Gabriels

What Partners Say

I plan my whole year around these trips. I love travel with a purpose, being more than a tourist and making a small, positive mark in the world. This organization has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has really helped broaden my world view.

- TJ Gabriels, Lawyer and General Volunteer, New York

Michael Pasoff

What Partners Say

As a dentist, I have treated and cared for many patients, however, nothing can compare to the sense of fulfilment when volunteering your time and skill to ease the pain and suffering of others. It never ceases to amaze me what can be accomplished when surrounded by dedicated, caring and talented volunteers, such as those I met in past GDR clinics.

- Michael Pasoff, Dentist, Montreal, Canada

Nour Shehadeh

What Partners Say

I am honored and grateful to help these amazing children, meet incredible people, explore their culture and change children’s lives for the better. I look forward to many trips with GDR in the future.

- Nour Shehadeh, Dental Hygienist, Illinois

Peggy Lamm

What Partners Say

If you want to literally change lives, this is a great way to do that. Our work with Global Dental Relief produced more real good than all the other cumulative good works I’ve helped with through the rest of my life.

- Peggy Lamm, CEO Colorado Mesa University Foundation and General Volunteer, Colorado