Julie Milkie

Founder and Executive Director of The Sprout Experience

julie@thesproutexperience.org

440.320.5792

To apply, please visit https://www.thesproutexperience.org/apply

Participants must apply by February 1, 2026.

After February 1, 2026, please contact Julie Milkie (Julie@thesproutexperience.org) to see if space is still available.

Enrollment for KENYA is a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 16.

Sprout’s cancellation and refund policies can be found under FAQ - TUITION at www.thesproutexperience.org.

For this program, we request that participants are 19+ years of age and 

For travelers who are 18 years of age, we ask that you are accompanied by a parent/guardian or a person 19+ years of age.

For entry into Kenya you need a valid passport and VISA.

Please adhere to the “6-month passport rule” which requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your intended stay.

PASSPORT:  It can take 4-8 weeks to obtain a passport.  For $60+, you can expedite the process for a 2-3 week turnaround time

There are no vaccinations required for this program, but some suggested. Participants should consult their doctor. However, we do request that all travelers be up to date on their tetanus vaccinations.

We understand that some participants have special needs related to health and diet and at The Sprout Experience we are committed to doing all we can to accommodate those needs.

Full disclosure on your part is key to your physical and emotional well-being on the program, so please be sure to list all medical or dietary needs on required forms.

Remember, we will be in remote locations, so our cooks will need to plan menus prior to our arrival and those will be based on the information you share in the application process.

Absolutely yes! Just make sure you bring them in original pharmacy prescription bottles. It is also recommended you bring them in your carry-on in the rare case of lost or delayed luggage

Participants in this program must be able to walk independently without assistance. By enrolling, participants acknowledge that they meet this requirement and understand that the program activities may involve walking over various terrains.

Participants should NOT purchase airline tickets until the Sprout experience has confirmed with them that the program is full and will run. The deadline for that would be February 1, 2026.

Yes, you can arrive earlier or extend your time in Kenya at your own expense.

You will need to arrive at our arrival destination at the specified time and date.

You will also need to remain with Sprout for the duration of the program.  Sprout will not be able to make arrangements for you to leave the group for other travel arrangements or destinations.

If you want to extend your time in Kenya, our recommendation would be to extend it at the conclusion of your time with Sprout.

All participants must have a VISA to enter Kenya. Getting a VISA is a quick and easy process and can be done online with a valid passport. Sprout will share information about the VISA process at one of the pre-travel meetings.

Sprout does not require any participant to be enrolled in TSA Pre✔® or Global Entry.  This is a personal decision and expense. 

Rest assured that a Sprout leader will be able to contact a family in the event of an emergency. If a family member needs to contact Sprout, they will use the cell number provided to them. Families will also be provided with an emergency contact number for a Sprout leader that is in the CLE area.

All participants are required to purchase international travel/medical insurance, and it is important that the whole group has a policy with the same company and representative. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you have protection in the event of lost baggage, trip cancellation, trip interruption, or a medical emergency.  At The Sprout Experience, we work with our partner and representative from Arch Roam Right.  This means help is a quick phone call away at any time, day or night.  When every participant has the same policy managed by the same representative who is familiar with Sprout, you can be sure that any situation will be handled quickly, so you can relax and enjoy the best experience while you are in Kenya.

The most honest way to answer this question is no, with a little yes!

The opportunity for this adult program is a direct result of our youth participants sharing their Sprout Kenya experience with the adults in their lives, and the adults saying to us, “We want to do that too!”

With that in mind, the majority of your experience will be the same, but with a couple of adult twists built in.

What will stay the same:

Real Connections + Cultural Exchanges

You will visit Maasai schools and bomas, have a very special day with the Reto Women’s Group featuring deep conversation, traditional beadwork, singing and dancing around a roaring campfire under the stars.

Wildlife Adventures

Experience life-changing game drives in the Maasai Mara and Shompole Wilderness. Get closer than you can imagine to elephants, lions, giraffes and more with our small groups, private vehicles with open tops and sides and special access with our Sprout partnerships.

Grass Roots Science and Conservation

Stay at Lale’enok with researchers and conservation leaders, sharing meals and conversation, and joining them as they track lions, walk among baboons, and patrol on foot with Maasai game scouts

What will differ:

While at Lale’enok we will have cocktail hour with an opportunity for a refreshing swim!

Various accommodations will be upgraded for your comfort needs.

All accommodations are designed for the comfort of all participants.

Accommodations will vary from large comfortable tents while staying at Lale’enok, to platform tents with full beds and bathrooms ensuite.

You will have a minimum of 2 experienced Sprout leaders accompanying you in Kenya.

A program specific packing list will be posted on the website and emailed prior to travel.

Sprout will host 2 virtual pre-travel meetings prior to departure. 

The 1st meeting will be held once the program participants are solidified. This will give the group an opportunity to meet one another, and for Sprout to discuss specific travel information.

The 2nd meeting will be held approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure to discuss last meeting questions, arrival instructions, etc.

At any time, you can also contact Julie Milkie by email, text, or a call.

Before a Sprout program departure, we will schedule pre-travel meetings.  These are important to prepare for a successful program.  Participants get to know each other and have an opportunity to express concerns and ask questions.  Pre-travel meetings are also important for completing paperwork and ensuring that each participant is ready to travel.  

At any point in the program, in case of an emergency, we have access to communicate back home. However, it will not always be possible or practical for each participant to contact home at any time due to program schedule, service, and power access. Therefore, we ask for 2 things:

1. Sprout asks that participants and their and families use WhatsApp, which is a free app that you download to your phone. This allows Sprout to create a FAMILY CONTACT LIST which allows us to send messages to every family at one time.

2. We also ask that families do not schedule specific check in times during the program. This can lead to unnecessary worry. Cell batteries may die, service may not be possible at that moment because we are hiking, tracking lions, or on game drives.

In Kenya, the most widely spoken languages are Swahili and British English.  Your leaders, tour operators, cooks, and guides will all be fluent in English.

Participants will want to have spending money for souvenirs or personal items during the program.

The local currency in Kenya is the Shilling (KSh).  You can complete a currency exchange at many US banks, or upon arrival at the Kenyan airport.  Airports typically have a higher exchange rate and may include additional hidden fees.

In Kenya, power plugs and sockets are of Type G, which is characterized by three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern, and the standard voltage is 240 V at 50 Hz.

Yes, while we are staying Lale’enok you will have one opportunity to have clothing laundered.

No. The program is not dangerous. Our guides are trained naturalists and biologists that have been living and working in Africa for over forty years, and there has never been an serious incident. We stay and interact with long-time parters and friends

The savanna can have mosquitos, but it is manageable. During winter in Kenya (June-August) there are very few mosquitos. We always have a plentiful supply of insect repellent!

It does not rain often during our programs, but when it does it is a beautiful spectacle! Our tents are waterproof, and there is always shelter. While on game drives, we can close the roof and windows, but sometimes we just decide to enyoy the refreshing warm african rain!

SO. MANY. ANIMALS!! See the list on this page for some of the creatues we have seen on our past programs.