Kenya Cultural Safari -
Cultural Safaris in Kenya
Kenya has a very rich history and interacting with the locals gives the visitor a chance for a one on one interaction and a first hand experience of the way of life of the local people.
10 Days Kenya Cultural Safari
Tour
DAY 1 NAIROBI
Transfer from Nairobi airport to the Nairobi Serena
hotel for overnight BB
DAY 2 THE HIGHLANDS B,L,D
Depart on safari after breakfast. Leave Nairobi,
heading north through a patchwork of coffee
plantations and small farms towards Mount Kenya and
the highlands. Gaining altitude, the scenery becomes
more lush, the air cooler and the roadside becomes a
fascinating ribbon of small shops and stallholders.
Stop en route at the colourful Karatina market where
fruit, vegetables, clothing and household goods are
sold or bartered. Continue deep into the forests of
Mount Kenya for overnight at Mountain Lodge. Safe in
the comfort of the lodge, guests can observe the
animals gathering to drink at the floodlit waterhole
until well into the night. With luck, it may be
possible to see elephant and rhino vying for the
same salt deposit, while buffalo, water buck,
warthog, bush buck, dik-dik and perhaps the rare
kudu wait their turn. Dinner and overnight at Serena
Mountain Lodge
DAY 3 LAKE BARINGO B,L,D
As the road leads away from Mount Kenya, cross the
Equator line where a demonstration will be given to
show how water drains from a bath in clockwise or
anti-clockwise direction North or South of the
Equator. Descend from the lush highlands into the
Rift Valley with its stunning volcanic landscapes
before continuing to lake Baringo. Lunch at the
lodge. Afternoon visit to a local school (no fees
are charged, just donate a few pens, pencils, books
etc). Dinner and overnight at Lake Baringo Club.
DAY 4 LAKE BARINGO B,L,D
A morning excursion by boat to Ol Kokwe island in
the centre of Lake Baringo. This is home to the
small Njemps tribe who still live by fishing from
their primitive reed boats, just as they have done
for many hundreds of years. Despite their
life-style, the Njemps have a very good school on
the island and speak good English. It is be possible
to meet and talk to them about their way of life.
Lunch at the lodge and afternoon at leisure to relax
by the pool or enjoy a guided bird walk in the
beautiful gardens beside the lake. Dinner and
overnight at Lake Baringo Club.
DAY 5 KERICHO B,L,D
From Baringo, a morning drive via Kabarnet and
Eldama Ravine to Kericho, passing through unspoilt
villages and stunningly beautiful scenery. The
highlight is a stop at the aptly named "World's
End", one of the most dramatic escarpments in the
world where the land rolls away thousands of metres
into the Rift Valley and the views stretch back to
Lake Bogoria and beyond. Kericho is tea growing
country, very fertile and at high altitude. Lunch at
the Tea Hotel followed by a visit to one of the tea
plantations where a guided tour of the tea
processing factory will be given. It may also be
possible to join a local family for "Chai" (tea).
Dinner and overnight at the Tea Hotel.
DAY 6 KISII and MASAI MARA B,L,D
A short drive through the rich and fertile
countryside to Kisii, home of the equally fertile
Abagusii people (they have one of the highest birth
rates in the world). Perhaps this explains why they
are great athletes who have won honours in the World
and Olympic games! The Abagusii are also an artistic
and enterprising tribe whose famous Kisii soapstone
carvings are renowned throughout the world. A visit
to the soapstone quarries will provide plenty of
opportunity to browse and negotiate with the carvers
for one of these finely decorated souvenirs. After
lunch, leave the banana plantations behind and head
for the rolling hills of Masai Mara, Kenya's finest
game reserve. Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena
lodge, situated in the heart of the park.
DAY 7 MASAI MARA B,L,D
A full day game viewing in the Mara, Kenya’s finest
wildlife reserve. Elephant and buffalo abound in the
riverine forests, while out on the grasslands Impala
and Thompson's gazelle can be seen together with
their attendant predators including lion, cheetah,
hyena and jackal. The Mara is the northern extension
of the Serengeti ecosystem and plays host to the
vast herds of wildebeest and zebra during the months
of July to October. In addition, lesser known
species such as topi, hartebeest, waterbuck eland
and many small mammals create a kaleidoscopic
picture. Between game drives, it is possible to
visit a Masai "manyatta" (village). The Masai are a
fiercely proud tribe who maintain their nomadic way
of life. Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena lodge
DAY 8 LAKE NAIVASHA B,L,D
A morning drive back into the Rift Valley, passing
the dormant volcano of Longonot and on to Lake
Naivasha. Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon visit to a
flower farm or a vineyard with wine tasting.
Naivasha has a thriving agro-industry and during the
European winter more than a million stems a night
are sent by air to Europe. The wine is palatable but
not of the same quality as South African, but they
are working on it! Dinner and overnight at Lake
Naivasha Country Club.
DAY 9 NAIROBI B,L,D
An early breakfast and boat trip to Crescent Island
bird sanctuary. Afterwards, ascend the spectacular
Rift Valley escarpment to the Nairobi suburb of
Limuru. Lunch at the old colonial style Kentmere
Club. Afternoon visit to a Kiambu coffee plantation
and a short talk about the coffee making process.
The Kenyan Arabica coffee is considered the best in
the world due to the perfect combination of sun and
rain in this part of the country. Continue to
Nairobi for a farewell dinner at Rangers Restaurant.
Overnight at the Nairobi Serena Hotel.
DAY 10 DEPART B
A morning visit to the city fruit, vegetable and
curio market, the Nairobi museum and the snake park.
Lunch at clients own expense. The afternoon is left
free for shopping or clients individual projects
(such as visiting a sponsored child etc). Evening
transfer to the airport for departure.
