On this 12 days Kenya Safari trip we will extend our stay in the Masai Mara to do two full-day activities that we will not be able to do on our 10-day Kenya trip.
These two extra activities are as follows:
Remember that during the days in the Maasai Mara we will be with a non-profit organization that distributes the benefits of tourism in the community: in the form of education, women’s empowerment programs, and other projects that you will be able to see during the trip.
At the beginning of our 12-day safari holidays in Kenya, we will stay in the Lemek Conservation Area, which belongs to the Maasai Mara. What are the differences between the Maasai Mara and the Mara National Reserve?
The Maasai Mara is very large and within the Mara there are several parks and conservation areas. Our lodge is in the Lemek area, and the Mara National Park is a few kilometers away. During the 12-day safari trip to Kenya we will be able to see the differences between the two areas. We will see how the National Park is a much more restrictive area with more tourists and we will see that where we stay there is less tourism and the rules are less restrictive, being able to do, for example, a walking safari in the savannah.
With this map you will get an idea:
During the first few days William and the rest of the Maasai “family” that manages the lodge will take us to the various activities planned.
And unlike the 10-day Kenya trip, we will do two more activities:
That adds up to two full days of activities and therefore a total of 12 days of travel to Kenya.
During our stay in the Maasai Mara, our guide will be a local Maasai (William) who is the official National Geographic guide in the Maasai Mara. What could be better than having a guide like him who also shares the money from tourism among his community.
After several days of safaris, and getting to know the reality of the Maasai and the Maasai Mara, we will head to a totally different place. During our 12-day safari trip to Kenya, we will also visit the beautiful beaches of Lamu Island or Zanzibar.
In this second part of the trip, we will go to Lamu Island where we will spend the last days of beach and relax in one of its hotels. We have two categories of hotel, the economy, a hotel located in the village, and the luxury, which is a 5 star hotel located outside the village.
In Lamu, there are several activities that can be done, such as a ride on a Dhow (typical boat of Lamu), relax on a beach or in the hotel pool.
A 12-day trip to Kenya where we will be able to see the best of safaris, practice a responsible responsible tourism in Kenya and finally spend a few days of sun and relaxation on the island of Lamu or in Zanzibar.
This 12-day trip to Kenya has positive impact when we visit the Maasai Mara. Trip to Help, for the organization of the safaris, only collaborates with a non-profit organization, led by William and Rosa, who manage the tourism, show the most recondite sites of the Maasai Mara and destine all the benefits to the Maasai community.
In the second part of the trip, we will go to the island of Lamu. We will enjoy a few days of sun and beach.
12 Days
English
As soon as we arrive in Nairobi and pass through passport control, our driver will be waiting for us to start our 12-day safari trip in Kenya. The Masai Mara area will be the first destination of our driver.. The drive will take about 5 hours, during which we will pass through the impressive Rift Valley, where we will be able to admire this unique geological area. If we arrive early, we will have time for an afternoon game drive in the area, or to enjoy the first sunset in the middle of the savannah with our Maasai guides.
Today the real adventure begins. We will be in the Lemek Conservation Area, an area managed by the local, mostly Maasai community, where they live in close contact with the wildlife. One of the advantages of doing a safari here is that there are far fewer tourists, and the animals are tending to come here as it is a more relaxed area for them. You will see lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, zebras and many other animals. Another unique detail of this day: we will be able to have lunch in the middle of the savannah. In very few places this is possible, but here it is, as our Maasai guides have permission to do so.
The white rhino is a species seriously affected by poaching. In Kenya there are some sanctuaries, guarded 24/7 by several rangers, who care for and protect this species, to prevent its extinction. Today we will visit one of them, and we will learn about their great conservation work. In this sanctuary we will meet a female, Elisabeth, and a male, Kofi, and we will be able to learn, thanks to our guide and the rangers, about this impressive mammal. It is important to know that the cost of this activity goes entirely to the sanctuary, for the protection of these animals. In the afternoon, we will get to know the school project, and spend some time with the teachers and children once they have finished their classes.
A unique place in the world. Today we will visit the Masai Mara National Reserve, and we will get to know first hand the enormous extension that this place offers us. We will spend the day on safari with our guide, who will explain all the details and curiosities of the behaviour of large mammals such as lions and elephants. We will be able to see an infinite number of living creatures up close, and we will do so with the help of a Maasai, so learning is guaranteed. A safari with a Maasai has nothing to do with any other person who does not belong to this tribe. Their enormous knowledge of nature, its rhythms, and of all wild animals will captivate us. We will have lunch there and return at sunset. If your trip is in July, August or September, this visit will be even more exciting as the wildebeest migration takes place in the area.
Today we continue our adventure with increasing intensity. In the morning we will visit a women's manyatta, a Maasai village where only women and their children live, as they have been rejected by their families for various reasons or have suffered abuse. This village is supported by the project through women's empowerment programmes.And after lunch, comes the star activity: a safari with our Maasai guides, we will go to see the hippopotamus coming out of the Mara River at sunset, they will prepare dinner for us in the middle of the savannah and... we will sleep there! Yes, sleeping next to the Mara River is possible if you do it with Masai. We will not lack comfort, with our mattress, blankets, pillows... and we will feel the hypnotising power of nature when the sun goes down. This night, and the sunrise that it will give us, we will always keep it inside us.
In the morning, we will wake up early in the middle of the savannah. We will be able to take a walk with our guides and Masai warriors, and step on the earth that hundreds of animals tread on every day. It is something indescribable, and it makes us understand that we are one more in this planet, full of impressive living beings. At mid-morning we will start our return to our camp, meeting all kinds of animals on our way, and in the afternoon, we will have time to continue getting to know the work of the NGO, with the projects it carries out with women and children, especially.
Unfortunately, there are many Maasai settlements that are practically made for tourism. In Trip to Help you will not find them, on the contrary: we only facilitate the approach to the Maasai culture by the hand of community leaders, in a real, respectful and above all, contributing to these communities. Today our Maasai guide will take us to Siana, a remote community, several hours away by jeep, where many Maasai live. It is very off the beaten track, they have no contact with tourists, and it also belongs to a conservation area in itself, so our way there will be a safari as well. We will bring food or other products that they may need (our Maasai guides are in contact with them and know what they need), and we will share lunch with them. We will get to know this culture very closely, and our guide will translate from Maa to English/Spanish.
Today it's time to pick up our luggage and head for the second part of our 12-day Safari Trip to Kenya: the Island of Lamu. We will be able to go by car or light aircraft (extra cost) to Nairobi. There we will take a flight to Lamu.*During the previous days, if our trip falls on a Sunday, we can also visit a Maasai mass, and learn how Maasai beliefs have been merging with Christianity. This visit is contemplated in this 12-day itinerary, and the guides will place them in the programme once they have the arrival and departure times of the travellers, etc.
Our 4 nights start in Lamu, where we can enjoy the calm, tranquil pace of life and experience a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lamu is considered the cradle of Swahili culture, and is the ideal place to observe and interact with local life and learn about their customs. We will be able to choose between two types of accommodation according to our budget, and we will take advantage of these free days to visit beaches, local markets, snorkel or go out on a Dhow (typical local boat) to see a unique sunset, bathed by the Indian Ocean.
Download this tour's PDF brochure and start your planning offline.
This price is based on a trip of 2 people in low season, if you are more or you are a single person, the price varies. The price is based on cheap accommodation on Lamu Island. To have a budget with Premium accommodation, please contact us. We need to know in which hotel you prefer to stay in Lamu, what is the travel date and how many people are traveling. With this information, we can provide you with the final price.