Kenya has been the leading safari destination in Africa, not only for having the best tourist’s attraction; but rather as a country that has maintained culture of her people. Made up of more than 42 tribes with different cultures, make Kenya cultural tours and safaris a must.
Even though most tribes had their cultures “swallowed” by westernization” and copying their way of life, some still have their tradition intact. This is evident in most communities even those who had abandoned their tradition coming up with ways to teach new generation. hence passing their traditions from one generation to another.
Among the prominent tribes that have maintained their cultures are the Masai and Samburu communities. Hence, dwelling on then the two and the reason spending whole day with them during ones visit to Kenya is not only memorable but educative. The entire cultural tours is tailored in that in mind without compromising the taste of great African safari.
The Maasai and Samburu tribes in Kenya
The Maasai and Samburu are the dominating tribe in Kenya that has maintained their traditions, lifestyle and which is used as “brand Kenya”; showcasing and representing different tribes in Kenya. They are semi-nomadic and pastoralists living by herding cattle, goats and sheep. Their culture is so distinct that each age group has its own responsibilities.
Women role is building, maintaining the houses/compound, cooking and all house chores including taking care of children.
Unlike in other family set-up, men have the list activities. There are more “bosses” with only responsibilities being protecting and acting as judges deciding on the community interests. For the young boys their responsibility is herding sheep, goats and young calves while teenage boys look after cows migrating from one area to the other in search of pastures.
After circumcision, boys are initiated into adulthood and regarded as Morans. They serve as police in the communities in protecting the community from external aggression from other communities. Morans are “more of police” feared not only in their village but also by other communities due to their ruthlessness.
The best cultural tour and safari itinerary in Kenya
Are you looking at interacting and learning cultures and traditions of different communities during your safari in Kenya? Then this is a must for you. During this tour and safari, one will have 2 full days spending time learning and taking part in their daily activities and having a communal lunch with the entire community.
First day with Samburu community and second day, you will spend time with Masai community. Women will actively participate in daily women activities such as cooking, cleaning, building or renovating houses, fetching firewood. Men will spend time with men in the village where they will be taught men jobs.
These include slaughtering and roasting goat meat, attending public baraza (meeting) if any for the day as well as teaching their traditions as passed from generation to generation. Teenagers will join local agemates on their daily chores while children will join local children herding goats and sheep.
7 days Itinerary:
Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu
Met early in the morning on arrival at the airport or at city hotel with our driver guide. After safari briefing, depart for the drive to Samburu via Equator passing through Kikuyu escarpments. Among the things to see on the way is the scenic landscape, coffee and tea plantations, great view of Mt. Kenya among others.
Arrive for lunch at Samburu sopa lodge or lodge and tented camp of your choice. Afternoon game drive in search of game returning back to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Full day Kenya cultural tours and safaris
Early morning breakfast; depart with short game drives enroute to the Samburu village to start your cultural tour. After welcome note and dance, join respective groups depending with age and sex. Women will join fellow village women where they will start with milking of goats and cows and later prepare breakfast.
Other activities for the women are fetching water, firewood, building or renovating houses, making beads. After lunch, join (walking) the group going to the nearby market for shopping Children below 12 years join village children in taking sheep, goats and calves to the field and herding them whole day. Teenagers join their age mates in herding cows and any other activities for the day.
For men, join fellow village men in baraza, slaughtering goat and roasting meat among other men activities for the day. Important to note is when slaughtering, they will be educated in different parts and traditions.
Maasai dance
After sundowner at around 630pm, depart the village back to the lodge for dinner and overnight (I doubt you will even have dinner after full day activities and heavy communal lunch at the village).
Day 3: Samburu – Lake Nakuru National Park
Early morning game drives in search of wildlife returning back to the lodge in time for breakfast. Depart for the drive to Lake Nakuru national park with picnic lunch or have lunch in a lodge along the way.
Arrive at the park late in the afternoon in time for game drives around the Lake where you will see flamingos, rhinos, reticulated giraffes among others. Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Day 4: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara
Early morning game drives at Lake Nakuru national park returning back in time for breakfast. Check-out at 10am and depart for the drive to Masai Mara with picnic lunch arriving late in the afternoon. Game drive en route to the lodge arriving before 630pm for check-in, dinner and overnight at Mara sopa lodge or tented camp or lodge of your choice.
Day 5: Full day on game drives
Spend a full day on game drives in the vast Masai Mara national reserve (best day to do hot air balloon safari). In discussion with your driver guide who will advise you on the best ways to spend the day. Like you can decide to depart early in the morning with picnic breakfast and return back in time for lunch or have an early morning breakfast departing with picnic lunch.
Either way, it’s meant to give you more time for game drives without having to come back to the lodge for both meals. Dinner and overnight at your lodge or tented camp
Day 6: Full day Kenya cultural tours and safaris
After an early morning breakfast, depart for the drive to the masai village. Here you will be welcome with songs and dance by the masai women. After a briefing, you will join the community activities for the day. Like in the Samburu community, women will join other women, same with men and children/teenagers.
After the communal lunch women and men will join villagers in going to the market where women will join in shopping while men will join other men in local meetings or for local bar for a drink. Note in all the activities, the aim is learning and understanding their traditions and way of life. Later, early in the evening, depart the village and go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight. 
Day 7: Masai Mara – Nairobi
Early morning game drives in the vast masai mara in search of game returning back in time for breakfast. 10am, check-out of the lodge in readiness for the drive back to Nairobi. However, you have an extra lunch thus depending on your international flight time or if having an extra day in Nairobi, you can decide to do an extra game drive before lunch.
At the end of the day, you will be dropped back to your hotel or at the airport by your driver guide making the end of your Kenya cultural tours and safaris.
Wondering about the cost for this great safari and cultural tour itinerary?
The cost inclusive of cultural tour, unlimited game drives, accommodation on full board, service of experience driver guide, local village Masai guides and Samburu guides accompanying each group activities, all park entry fees, communal lunch with Samburu and Masai communities (with a population of 100 people and over depending with size of the village) with safari vehicle being luxury safari jeep. 
Entire safari cost is:
- 2 person each is USD$
- 3 persons each is USD$
- 4 persons each is USD$
- 5 persons each is USD$
- 6 persons each is USD$
- Single room supplement is USD$
- Child below 12 years old sharing room with 2 adults pays 50% of per person price
- children in their own room pays 75% of per person price
- Optional Hot Air Balloon safari with bush champagne breakfast is USD$450
Get your personalized discounted quote now or best price using less prized luxury safari mini bus.
If having more days more days to spend, an extension to Amboseli for 2 nights will be great. Here you will not only see the largest and biggest herds of elephants but also the best view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Alternatively, for beach holiday lovers, extension at the Mombasa coastal beach hotels will be a great idea.