Louisa & Dimitris

The heart of it all

What is a Ruracio?

Before the safari and the ocean comes the Ruracio — the Kikuyu ceremony at the heart of our marriage. Two families come together, ancestors are honoured, and both sides pledge to support one another for life.

From the groom's party singing (or at least dancing!) at the gate to the spirited, theatrical dowry negotiations, the day is led by our elders and blessed by Cũcũ — Louisa's grandmother, pronounced sho-sho. Expect games of disguise, plenty of laughter, and a proper feast among the cornfields.

This is the part of the week that matters most to us. If you can only make one leg of the trip, make it this one.

Below is the whole week, broken down part by part and day by day. For attire, head to What to Wear; for timings — including which mornings need an early alarm and which days are just for chilling — see Travel & Stay.

How we got here

We will probably always debate where we first met online, but in real life it was more than eight years ago, at The Hoxton in Shoreditch. We hit it off so quickly that Louisa's mum christened us the Mapachas — twins — after we worked out that in our first 1,000 days together, we had spent only three of them apart.

So it felt only right to gather our favourite people in Kenya, starting at Cũcũ's house in Bahati, surrounded by family.

Eight days · three chapters

The Week at a Glance

Fri 23 Oct	Nairobi	Arrivals · rooftop welcome dinner
Sat 24 Oct	Bahati, Nakuru	The Ruracio (midday–sunset) · after-party at Villa Empiris
Sun 25 Oct	Maasai Mara	Drive to the Mara · game drive · golden-hour picnic
Mon 26 Oct	Maasai Mara	Sunrise balloon · game drive
Tue 27 Oct	Mara → Diani	Fly, drive or take the train to the coast
Wed 28 Oct	Diani	Slow morning · beach time · dinner at Ali Barbour's Cave
Thu 29 Oct	Diani	Dhow sailing · beach time · bonfire dinner on a private beach, cooked by our chef
Fri 30 Oct	Diani → Nairobi	Organic coffee farm · fly back

Chapter One

City & Ceremony

23 – 24 October · Nairobi & Bahati, Nakuru

Friday 23 — Nairobi. Settle into your hotel, then join us at dusk for a private rooftop welcome dinner above the city skyline.

One heads-up for the night owls: this is an early night. We're up before dawn to reach Bahati in time for the ceremony, so if you fancy a proper night out, come to Nairobi a day or two early — Dimitris will be waiting for you.

Saturday 24 — The Ruracio, Bahati. An early shuttle carries us north through the Rift Valley to Cũcũ's family compound, gloriously far from anywhere. The groom's party walks the flower- and lantern-lined path to the gate, singing (or at least dancing!) to be let in past the gate. Then: tea in the pillow lounge, Kikuyu song and dance — the MC will make sure you join in — the dowry negotiation, and a long lunch at tables set right inside the cornfields. The ceremony runs from midday to around 6pm; as the sun lowers we move to Villa Empiris, a private villa near Lake Elementaita, where DJ Melody Kane (@djmelodykane) brings her London sound to the savannah. Welcome to the afters.

Dress: Traditional attire warmly encouraged; earth tones, blush and olive suit the day. Bring a warm layer - Bahati gets chilly once the sun goes down (see What to Wear).

Good to know: We leave Nairobi early (shuttle departs 07:00) and go straight to the ceremony — you'll only check into your hotel afterwards, before the after-party, so arrive dressed and ready.

Hosted by us: welcome dinner, shuttle transfer to Bahati, ceremony, lunch and after-party.

Chapter Two

The Mara

25 – 27 October · Maasai Mara

Sunday 25 — Into the Mara. From Nakuru we drive into the Maasai Mara — six to seven hours (Yes, again. Kenya is a large country 😂). Some guests are chartering a small plane straight to the Mara instead - ask Victor at Elohim Tours if you'd like to join them. We arrive, head straight out on a game drive, then gather for a golden-hour picnic beneath an acacia tree.

Monday 26 — Balloons and game drives. Early risers float over the plains at dawn in a hot-air balloon, with a champagne bush breakfast on landing (booked individually — see Travel & Stay). The rest of the day is for game drives and lodge downtime.

Dress: Safari neutrals by day; a fleece or jacket for early mornings and evenings.

Good to know: a smaller, more intimate leg — lodges, game drives and the balloon are booked per guest (see Travel & Stay).

Hosted by us: the golden-hour picnic.

Chapter Three

The Coast

Dhow on turquoise water on the Kenyan coast

27 – 30 October · Diani

Tuesday 27 — To the coast. Enough long drives — most of us fly straight from the Mara to Diani (flights booked per guest). Some of you will fly into Mombasa, or take the train from Nairobi, and drive down to Diani. Nothing on the schedule that evening: settle in and catch your breath.

Wednesday 28 – Thursday 29 — Diani. Two beach days with nothing planned on purpose: the ocean, a sunset dhow sail and a wander through Diani. On Wednesday 28 we have a dinner reservation at Ali Barbour's Cave, a restaurant set inside a coral cave. On Thursday 29 a chef cooks for us at a bonfire dinner on a private beach.

Friday 30 — Back to Nairobi. A slow wake-up, then we'll try to fit in a visit to an organic coffee farm (take some Arabica home with you) before heading back to Nairobi, where everyone starts the journey home.

Dress: Breezy and light; garden-and-beach formal for dinners.

Hosted by us: transport shuttles.

Shuttles, flights and beds

Travel & Stay

Getting around

22nd Oct → Free day in Nairobi. Arriving early? Let Dimitris know via the RSVP form if you're joining the Giraffe Centre, Talisman restaurant or night shenanigans.
Airport → Hotel. Take an Uber from the airport, and don't get into cars with strangers who approach you. Or message Victor at Elohim Tours to book a transfer.
24th Oct · Nairobi → The Ruracio. Early wake-up. Group shuttle departs 07:00 (seat details to follow).
24th Oct · Ruracio → after-party. Shuttles wait from 6pm, drop everyone at their hotel to freshen up, then on to the after-party.
25th Oct · Ruracio → Safari. Early wake-up, 07:00. Safari jeeps will be waiting for us to leave promptly and ensure we catch a game drive by lunchtime. Chartering a plane to the Mara instead? Sort it with Victor.
26th Oct · Safari day 2. Early wake-up, 07:00, for breakfast and your second game drive. Interested in the hot-air balloon? Let us know via the RSVP form and prepare to wake up even earlier, at 05:00!
27th Oct · Maasai Mara → Diani. Early wake-up, 07:00, for breakfast before heading to the coast. Most of us fly straight to Diani; others fly into Mombasa or take the train, then drive down. Let us know your plans via the RSVP form.
28th – 29th Oct · Diani. No alarms. Dinner at Ali Barbour's Cave on the 28th; bonfire beach dinner with our chef on the 29th.
30th Oct · Diani → Nairobi. Coffee farm in the morning if we can fit it in, then back to Nairobi and home.

Where to stay

Nairobi: JW Marriott, Villa Rosa Kempinski, Kwetu by Hilton (Upepo), Gem Forest, MGallery, Emilia apartments (let Louisa and Dimi know via the RSVP form if you want to book a stay there)
Nakuru: Lake Elementaita Mountain Lodge — more options to follow
The Mara: safari lodge list to follow
Diani: beach hotels to follow — we're also exploring a big group villa for everyone, details to follow

Group rates and booking links coming soon — we'll share them in the WhatsApp group.

A little prep goes a long way

Know Before You Go

Visas & Entry

Apply for your Kenya eTA only at etakenya.go.ke - lookalike sites charge more for the same thing.
It can take up to 3 working days, so don't leave it late.
Your passport must be valid for 6+ months after arrival.
Keep the eTA on your phone and printed - airlines check it at check-in.

Health

Malaria: the Mara and Diani are malaria areas. See a travel clinic before you fly - some tablets start before you travel. Bring DEET repellent.
Yellow fever: a certificate may be required depending on where you travel from; clinics often recommend the jab for the Mara. Ask when you go.
Get travel insurance that covers safari and medical evacuation.

Money

The currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES).
Cards work in hotels and restaurants; cash, M-Pesa or Revolut for the small stuff.
Bring some clean, newer US dollar notes for tips and park fees.
Mara park fees are $200 per person per day, on top of your lodge - settle them with Victor.

Phone & Getting Around

Get an eSIM before you fly, or a Safaricom SIM at Nairobi airport (bring your passport).
Use Uber in Nairobi, and don't get into cars with strangers who approach you.
Transfers, safari and flights: Victor at Elohim Tours.

Packing

Layers - city evenings, Bahati after dark and Mara mornings get properly chilly; the coast is hot.
Small planes (charters, Safarilink, Mombasa Air): 15kg max, soft bags only - no hard suitcases.
No plastic carrier bags - they're banned in Kenya.
UK-style plugs, SPF 50+, a hat and a small fan.

Who to Ask

Join the Mapacha Ruracio 2026 — Guests WhatsApp group - all updates go there.
Transport, safari & flights: Victor at Elohim Tours.
Everything else: Dimitris or Louisa.

Boho chic · Earth tones · Candlelight

What to Wear

A relaxed, earthy palette runs through the whole week — ivory, sand, taupe, terracotta, olive, sage, chocolate and blush. Here's a day-by-day steer so you can pack once and be set.

Pack layers. Days are warm, but Nairobi evenings, Bahati after dark and early Mara mornings get properly chilly - think a pashmina, light knit, blazer or packable jacket. We may also ask a few of you to wear something traditional — watch this space.

Welcome DinnerFri 23 · Rooftop

Elevated smart-casual. Flowing midi dresses or jumpsuits; linen trousers or chinos with an open-collar shirt. Loafers, block heels or smart sandals. It's breezy on the roof after sunset, so bring a shawl or light jacket.

The RuracioSat 24 · Bahati, all day on grass

Summer-formal wear would be ideal, complementary to traditional Kikuyu attire (earth tones). Kikuyu attire for those wanting to partake consists of — earth tones, beaded accessories, a leso or shawl for the ladies; a kanzu, riengu or embroidered top with dark trousers for the gentlemen.

It's outdoors on grass all day: flats, wedges or block heels (stilettos sink), sunglasses and a hat for the midday sun. Bahati sits in the highlands and cools quickly once the sun drops, so bring a warm layer that works with your outfit - a pashmina, blazer or knit. Dress ready for the whole day.

The After-PartySat 24 · Villa Empiris

Turn it up a notch — a little glamour and shoes you can dance in. Evenings by Lake Elementaita are cool, so keep that jacket handy.

SafariSun 25 · Mon 26 · The Mara

Neutral safari colours — khaki, olive, sand, stone. Avoid bright white (dust shows everything) and very dark colours by day. Early drives in open jeeps are cold, so bring a fleece or puffer and a scarf; by midday it's T-shirt weather. Closed trainers or walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses and a buff or scarf for the dust. Long sleeves at dusk help with mosquitoes. Balloon flyers: dress warm for the dawn take-off.

The CoastTue 27 – Thu 29 · Diani

Linen, kaftans, swimwear, sandals, plus a cover-up for off the beach. Water shoes are handy for the dhow and rocky stretches. Ali Barbour's Cave: smart-casual. Bonfire beach dinner: barefoot chic — light fabrics and a layer for the sea breeze.

Travel DayFri 30 · Coffee farm & home

Comfortable clothes and closed shoes for the farm walk, plus a layer for the flight.

Accessorise with culture

Beaded jewellery & Maasai accents
Lesos, shawls & wraps
Traditional headpieces
Leather sandals & earthy tones

Please confirm interest in Maasai jewellery and we will coordinate a selection for you on arrival.

Please avoid

Neon & very bright colours
T-shirts, hoodies & jeans
Very short or very tight outfits
Sportswear & trainers (at the ceremony)

Beyond that — wear what you want, just don't be a chav.