Kenya. Maasailand Safari: Living Among the Maasai

Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi and drive to Merrueshi

Arrive in Nairobi this morning where you are warmly welcomed by a guide from the Merrueshi Village after collecting your bags and passing through customs. Climb into the vehicle for your 3 hour drive to the Merrueshi village. Along the way you can watch as the hustle and bustle of the big city gives way to the farms, fields, and wilderness of the countryside, or catch up on some sleep after the overnight flight. Arrive at Maasai Simba Camp in time for lunch and an activity this afternoon. Overnight at Maasai Simba Camp. You are met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel for a good night’s sleep after your long flight. Overnight Macushla House.

Accommodations: Maasai Simba Camp

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Days 2-3: Merrueshi Village

While at the Merrueshi community the schedule is rather free form and you’ll have the opportunity to participate in various village activities. The typical morning starts with a cup of tea and coffee, followed by a bush walk led by Maasai warriors. Learn how to track wildlife in the African savanna as Maasai do, as well as about wildlife conservation, poaching issues, and strategies for how humans and wildlife have survived and co-existed in this semi-arid habitat. The surrounding environment is a living pharmacy for natural medicine; traditional Maasai healers demystify this realm of ancient medicine by explaining their use of different plants and herbs to treat various illnesses. In addition, we have the opportunity to participate in bead-making facilitated by the Maasai Women Cooperative, storytelling sessions by elders around the bonfire, a visit to a local school, Maasai songs and dance, and a visit to the Maasai Association’s development projects. Oftentimes there are ongoing projects you may want to volunteer to assist like adobe brick making, painting the school, or other optional activities. Overnights Maasai Simba Camp.

Accommodations: Maasai Simba Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Amboseli National Park

Today your Maasai guides take you on a full day safari into the Amboseli National Park. Sitting at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, this grassland ecosystem protects several marshland swamps which provide fodder to around 1000 elephants and other plains game such as zebra and the white bearded wildebeest, which is genetically separate from those in the Mara/Serengeti ecosystem. Lions and leopards prowl the grasses and tiny dik diks shelter in low growing palms. Photography opportunities here can be spectacular, with elephants grazing under the shadow of Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa. Overnight at Maasai Simba Camp.

Accommodations: Maasai Simba Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Maasai Mara Game Reserve

Shortly after breakfast fly from Amboseli to the Maasai Mara. Upon arrival you'll be met and transferred to Mara Sarova Lodge, located in the Southeastern corner of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Your local Maasai guides from the Merrueshi community will meet you in the Maasai Mara and continue to guide you in this exceptional wildlife reserve. Overnight Sarova Mara Tented Camp.

Accommodations: Mara Sarova

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 6 & 7: Maasai Mara Game Reserve

The Maasai Mara is made of vast open rolling plains, and grasslands with seasonal river ways. The entire area of the park is situated within the enormous Great Rift Valley. The reserve is famous for its annual wildlife migration of over 1 million wildebeest and thousands of zebras crossing from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania from August through November. The reserve is home to hundreds of elephants, hippos, lions, hyenas, Cape buffalo and thousands of other ungulate species such as gazelle, topi, eland, reedbuck, zebra and giraffe. Over 500 species of birds including ostrich, larks, sunbirds, weavers as well as the lilac-breasted roller are abundant in the reserve. Your Maasai warriors will really brandish their skills in this environment and provide exhilarating morning and afternoon game drives each day. Overnights Sarova Mara Tented Camp.

Note: Hot air ballooning is available to glide silently over the Mara with the rising sun (at additional cost).

Accommodations: Mara Sarova

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Depart For Home

Transfer to the airstrip mid-morning for your return flight to Nairobi. Rest and relax at Ol Sereni, overlooking the Nairobi National Park and outside of the city center, before your evening transfer to the airport for your departing flight.

Meals Included: Breakfast