7 days Lake Turkana cultural and Maasai Mara wildebeest safari
This 7 days Lake Turkana cultural and Maasai Mara wildebeest safari is a great Kenya Safari tour package offered by Focus East Africa Tours to some of the distinct Kenya Safari Destinations for a Cultural tour Experience and wildlife
Day 1: land in Turkana area and transfer to Lake Nakuru and visit the Nakuru people
Upon landing at the airstrip in Lake Turkana region, you will be picked up your safari guide, a representative of Focus East Africa Tours, your safari guide will offer you a short safari briefing and transfer to Lake Turkana and also visit the beautiful Turkana people living in the communities around the shores of the lake.
The Turkana people are Nilotic people native to the Turkana County in the northwest Kenya, a semi-arid climate region bordering Lake Turkana, the Pokot, Rendille and the Samburu people. The Turkana people live in communities dotted along the shores of Lake Turkana, during your visit in the Turkana community you will visit their Manyattas for cultural dances, interaction with the locals, watch them as they go on with their daily lives among others. In the evening, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Eliye Springs resort (midrange) and Oasis Lodge (Budget)
Meal plan: lunch and dinner
Day 2: visit the Chalbi desert and the Gabbra people
Have breakfast and head to the beautiful Chalbi desert – a small desert in northern Kenya near the border of Kenya with Ethiopia, the desert is situated east of Lake Turkana with Marsabit as the closet major urban center and is located between Mount Marsabit and Lake Turkana. The Chalbi desert is a native home for the Gabbra people who are famous pastoralists particularly attached to their camels, during your visit to the Gabbra people you will visits their homes called Mandasse. These homes are light, dome-shaped tents made of acacia roots and covered with sisal grass mats, textiles and camel hides. Each Mandasse is divided into 4 quarters, a public quadrant each for male visitors, female visitor and a private quadrant each for parents and children. You will also be entertained by their local dances, have a camel ride, participate in rearing of animals. Return to your lodge for dinner and have overnight.
Day 3: visit the Rendille People and Kaisut Desert
Have breakfast and head to the Kaisut desert and also visit the Rendille people, the Rendille people also known as Rendili are a Cushitic – speaking ethnic group inhabiting in the northern Eastern province of Kenya. During your visit in the Kaisut Desert, east of Lake Turkana, you will be able to visit the Rendille and their semi – nomadic pastoralists lifestyle. The Rendille people are of two distinctive groups that are the northern Rendille who herd camels and the southern Rendille who herd cattle.
While in the Rendille community, you will take part in cattle rearing, have a carmel ride, be entertained by local dances and drama among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: drive to Samburu and visit the Samburu people
Have breakfast and embark on a journey to Samburu region for a visit to the Samburu people, the Samburu people are another fascinating tribe in Kenya closely related to Masai people. The Samburu people live in the northern Kenya in Samburu County, the Samburu people are known for their traditionalist lifestyle including religious beliefs, rituals and tribal clothing which is unchanged by the western and modernity influence.
During your visit in these indigenous people of East Africa, you will take part in their semi-nomadic pastoralists as they herd their sheeps, goats and cattles. Be entertained by local dances and drama and watch them as they drain blood from their cattle. Head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: transfer to Masai Mara national reserve
After breakfast, you will checkout of your lodge and embark on a journey to Maasai Mara national reserve a great Kenya wildlife destination, along the way you will have lunch and have another stopover in Narok for scenic views of the Rift Valley Escarpments. Then proceed to the reserve arriving in late evening, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: AA Mara Lodge (Midrange) and Talek Olkinyei Camp (Budget)
DAY 6: MAASAI MARA FULL DAY GAME DRIVE AND MARA RIVER
Have an early morning breakfast followed by a full day game drive at the Masai Mara National Reserve , drive to the park entrance where you will have a chance to view more animal count around the park including lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, hippos, thompson’s gazelle among many others with your guide coming in hand to give you all the details of the animals you will have spotted plus their ways of life.
The full day game drive in Masai Mara will enable you to explore other areas of the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Mara Triangle to the Mara Bridge, which is at the border of Tanzania just next to the famous Serengeti National Park. You will make a few stops along the banks of the scenic Mara River as to allow you to stretch your legs during your game drive. With your packed lunch you will have a 1 hour’s snug picnic lunch break as you enjoy more of this park. Later have a guided community tour to the Masai village and experience the stable pastoral culture of the oldest inhabitants of East Africa, the Masai. You will be fascinated by the men who stand tall and proud with their culture. The Masai women are bejeweled with bright beaded earrings and adorned with the brilliant red, blue and purple patterns of the shukas and scarves they wear. This will all be a 2 hour’s activity full with Traditional songs, dances, cultural practices and a community walk. Return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.
DAY 7: MASAI MARA TO NAIROBI
You will have early breakfast and then proceed to the Maasai Community for a brief visit to the Masai community, these people are one of the few tribes in Africa with cultures and traditions untouched by modernity and technology. During your visit, you will be amazed by their colorful dressing code in stripped shukas, the manyattas which a dome shaped huts among others. Then embark on a drive to Nairobi for a dropoff either at the airport or at the hotel of your choice.
End of the 7 days Lake Turkana cultural and Maasai Mara wildebeest safari
7 days Lake Turkana cultural and Maasai Mara wildebeest safari Tour inclusions
- Professional Guide
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- Full Board Accommodation
- All activities detailed in the safari
- Park entrance fees
- Drinking water on the safari
- Airport transfer
7 days Lake Turkana cultural and Maasai Mara wildebeest safari Exclusions
- Domestic flights
- Tips,
- Laundry services,
- Beverages/ drinks,
- international flights,
- Visas,
- Items of a personal nature,
- optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary
