Kenya Ethno-Cultural Tour: discover and experience the rich cultural heritage, immerse yourself in local traditions in our vibrant communities, and have unforgettable adventures.

Day 0: Arrival in Nairobi

Upon arrival, you’ll be met by Mara Expeditions staff. Pick up from JKIA and drive to your hotel for overnight on a bed and breakfast {B/B} basis.

Day 1: Nairobi – Baringo {280km, 6hrs}

After arrival, the driver/guide will pick you up and head into the Great Rift Valley. From the rim, you can see the volcanoes Longonot and Suswa. After passing Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita and Nakuru town you turn north. A hot brunch will be served en route. Upon reaching the Mogotio equator point, you stop for a photo or buy a souvenir. Drive past Lake Bogoria, famous for the millions of Greater and Lesser Flamingos colouring the lake pink. We visit our tribal village of the day for the Pokot community late afternoon. Accommodation at a hotel.

Lake Baringo is, after Lake Turkana, the most northern of the Kenyan Rift Valley lakes, with a surface area of 130 square kilometres (50 sq mi) and an elevation of 970 metres (3,180 ft). The lake is fed by several rivers: the Molo, Perkerra and Ol Arabel. It has no obvious outlet; the waters are assumed to seep through lake sediments into the faulted volcanic bedrock. It is one of the two freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley in Kenya, the other being Lake Naivasha. The lake is part of the East African Rift system. The Tugen Hills, an uplifted fault block of volcanic and metamorphic rocks, lies west of the lake. The Laikipia Escarpment lies to the east.

The lake is in a remote hot and dusty area with over 470 species of birds, occasionally including migrating flamingos. A Goliath heronry is located on a rocky islet in the lake known as Gibraltar.

Day 2: Baringo – Maralal {170km, 4½hrs}

We awaken for an early sunrise boat ride to Olokokwe Island and visit the Ilchamus “Jemps” village. We sample their tradition in search of hippos, crocodiles and numerous bird species before settling down for breakfast. You’ll spot the unique Njemps tribe fishing in their traditional boats (Baringo is their traditional home). Break up camp and depart towards Maralal town where we spend the night (cold). Maralal is the unofficial capital of the Samburu people and has a distinctly frontier feel about it. Full board {F/B} accommodation at a Maralal hotel/ lodge.

Maralal is a small hillside market town in northern Kenya, lying east of the Loroghi Plateau within Samburu County. Maralal is also home to Kenyatta House, where Jomo Kenyatta was detained before his release. This rather unassuming modern house has a significant place in the history of modern Kenya. Here too, the internationally acclaimed annual Camel Derby (not to be confused with the Camel Caravan) that draws tourists and visitors to the county is among the key attractions.

Day 3: Maralal – Ngurunit {220km, 5½hrs}

After about a 1 hour drive you will reach a place called “World’s End”. The Great Rift Valley walls are extremely well visible, steep and eroded here. The rough road continues north, and you will pass dry river beds, mountains and villages. Also, herders as well as some antelopes and
ostriches can be seen. This part of Kenya is inhabited by the Samburu and Rendille people, known for their colourful traditional attire complete with ornate beads and earrings. This is among the most beautiful places in Northern Kenya. This evening, we will visit the Samburu village within the vicinity.

Ngurunit, located in the shadow of the Ndoto mountains, is known for the famous natural rock pools – a perfect cool down from the heat.

Full board accommodation in a camp/ lodge.

Day 4: Ngurunit – Loiyangalani {180km, 4½hrs}

We take a pre-breakfast tour of the nearby Rendile village in a time of camel-milking. Sample their culture before we return for a full breakfast. Drive towards South Horr After about a 1 hour drive you will reach a place called “World’s End”. Here the Great Rift Valley walls are extremely well visible, steep and eroded.

At the The rough road continues north, and you will pass dry river beds, mountains and villages. Also, herders as well as some antelopes and ostriches can be seen. For a bit late lunch you will reach the lodge in the shade of palms. You will enjoy the little shade and the breeze since it is very hot.

You can choose between stone house rooms or palm-leave huts cooled by the wind. Later in the afternoon, you drive for around half an hour to a hill over towering Lake Turkana. Here a group of Samburu will perform their dances while the sun is setting. Carry a cold drink from the lodge along.

Loiyangalani is a small town on the south-eastern coast of Lake Turkana in Kenya. Loiyangalani means “a place of many trees” in the native Samburu dialect. It is home to the Rendille and El Molo tribes. It was founded near a freshwater spring in the 1960s where the Rendille and El Molo people live. Its main industries include fishing, tourism and gold panning. It is a popular tourist destination in Northern Kenya, as the surrounding El Molo and Turkana villages offer unique experiences.

In June 2008, the 1st Cultural Festival took place at Loiyangalani and united all tribes of the Lake in celebration for one weekend.

The town is home to an airstrip and lies near Mount Kulal (50 km), known for its forest and stones. There are a few Lodges in the area, the “Oasis Lodge,” the “Palmshade Camp,” the “El Molo Lodge,” the “Mosaretu Women’s Groupe Lodge,” and the “Sailo Bandas” all located only a few hundred meters from the airstrip.

Your accommodation will be in a hotel/ camp on a full board {F/B} basis.

Marsabit County is endowed with beautiful scenic sites such as Marsabit National Park, which is famed for its indigenous tropical rain forest, the large herds of elephants, buffaloes, and other wildlife species. The internationally famous elephant Ahmed lived in the Marsabit Mountain forest. The home of the famous elephant bull “Ahmed” with its remains preserved at the National Museum of Kenya. There are also amazing crater lakes such as Lake Paradise and Gof Bongole, and other scenic craters like Gof Chobba, Gof Aredo and Gof Ogicho. Other famous sites include Chalbi desert, Mt. Marsabit, Mt. Kulal, Sibiloi National Park and the famous Koobi Fora prehistoric site, famously recognized as the cradle of mankind due to unsurpassed fossil remains dating millions of years back, it’s a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Marsabit- is the most diverse, unique and original culture having 14 communities that form the bulk of the larger Marsabit County’s populace.

12. The Gabra — a nomadic camel-keeping ethnic group, residing in the north-western part of the County, bordering Lake Turkana on the east.
13. The Borana — the largest cattle-keeping community spread across Moyale, Isiolo and Marsabit Mountain.
14. The El Molo — a near-extinct ethnic group living in El-Molo Bay on the banks of Lake Turkana.
15. The Rendille — which also means the holders of the stick of God. This is a Cushitic community living across the Kaisut desert.
16. The Samburu — ethnic Nilotic people who are undisputedly cousins to the Maasai, the face of tourism in Kenya.
17. The Turkana — the 3^rd largest pastoralist group after the Maasai and Samburu. They live around Lake Turkana and the Omo Valley.
18. The Dasanech — one of the ancient tribes of Africa, the Dasanech are also known as the crocodile hunters of the night.
19. The Konso — a Cushitic ethnic group spread across Marsabit County and rich in steaming cultural practices.
20. The Sakuye — are the smallest of Oromo-speaking people, a semi-nomadic group of pastoralists sharing the tradition with Rendille, Gabbra and Somali.
21. The Waata — also known as Sanye, are a hunter-gatherer community whose wealth of unique cultural tradition is felt across Kenya. They are also found in the Arabuko Sokoke forest.
22. The Burji — ancient agriculturalists who introduced this mainstay to the pastoralists of northern Kenya, particularly within Marsabit county.
23. The Somali — probably the largest Cushitic group but a minority in Marsabit county, they are mostly Islamized.
24. The Gabbra — an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Chalbi Desert in northern Kenya and the highlands of southern Ethiopia. Camel-herding nomads, Gabra are part of the Oromo; and are closely associated especially with Borana.
25. The Gurreh — this is a unique ethnic group which is mostly Islamized, related to the Somali and practices both agriculture and pastoralism.

Day 5: Loiyangalani – Full day.

Since this area is really hot you have breakfast very early and then drive for about 40 minutes to the Lake to visit the smallest tribe in Kenya, the El Molo. They only survived intermarrying with other tribes, mainly Samburu. You will visit their village and see how they dry the fish. With a bigger boat than they use for fishing, you go to the island where they have put some shrines – wind and weather permitting.

They also harvest green stones that they sell together with beadwork and very nice baskets made of palm leaves. The palm tree stem is used to make their small boats. Palm trees are very important in this region since there are not many other tree species. For lunch, you return to Palm Shade Resort to rest and wait for the heat of the day to subside.

Later in the afternoon, you drive a short distance to see how Turkana built their houses and what their dances look like. Woman have a special way to treat their hair. The plastic pearl jewellery is not only decoration but indicates the status in the society. Is she married, does she have a boy child, is the boy child circumcised and so on. The Turkana belong to the Nilotic who often have very dark skin.

Dinner and a refreshing shower are awaiting you at the hotel/ camp.

Day 6: Loiyangalani – North Horr/ Kalacha {150km, 4hrs}

Kalacha: A small settlement by the oasis located at the edge of the Chalbi desert. It is dotted by doum palms and acacia trees. The main inhabitants are the Gabbra tribe. These are pastoralists keeping camels as a sign of wealth and status. Gabbra has beautiful traditions, and their unique adornments and dances are eye-catching.

Discover a well-hidden gem on Kenya’s largest desert is the gorgeous Kalacha Oasis situated on the northern edge of the Chalbi. This picturesque and tranquil setting offers a welcome break from the sweltering heat of the desert thanks to its acacia trees and doum palms. Kalacha Springs is a popular watering spot for the local Gabbra community and its livestock.

After breakfast, visit the El-Molo people who live on the shores of the lake and are 100% dependent on the lake for survival. Later depart for North Horr, a beautiful oasis at the edge of the Chalbi desert before proceeding to Kalacha. The roads you are driving on today are sometimes good and sometimes quite rough. It depends on the amount of rain received recently. Desert and semi-desert are dominating the landscape and as a surprise, you might suddenly come to a place with water.

 On this day you get to drive through the Chalbi desert. It’s a fun and adventurous ride.

The Gabra people love colours and you will see that when you
visit them and they dance for you. Very special is that they use a dried cowhide to stamp on to underline their singing. The Gabra tribe belongs to the Eastern Cushites and is far related to the Oromo in the Horn of Africa. We enjoy the sunset at the edge of the desert or watch a Gabbra performance in the evening (optional cost) (windy evening).

Accommodation at Kalacha camp on a full-board basis.

Day 8: Kalacha – Nanyuki {490km, 8½hrs}

Depart early morning cruising over the Chalbi desert. We head south towards Marsabit an astonishingly cool, green and hilly oasis rising high above the dry heat of the surrounding desert lands. En route, we stop to enjoy views of the massive Gof Redo crater and desert landscape. The area is home to the local Rendille and Samburu people abundant in their bright red outfits, beads and earrings. We join the trans-African highway towards Nanyuki with lunch en route. Arrive in Nanyuki for dinner and an overnight stay in a town hotel.

Day 9:  Nanyuki – Nairobi. {200km, 4hrs}

After breakfast, we will start our journey back to Nairobi. You can opt to stop over at the equator point. Arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon after an adventurous northern exploration journey.