Masai trekking holiday, Kenya

country:	Kenya
location:	Masai Mara
departures:	This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
price:	From US $860 - US $1560 (6 days) excluding flights, depending on group size

Masai Mara holidays

Kenya holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

An exploration of the findings of early man. This trip samples the resources of the untouched and scenic Nguruman that feeds into the main rivers being utilised for irrigation in the adjacent area and plays a role in depositing of salts in Lake Magadi. It is a tour that takes you to meet masai who are trying to partake the agrarian lifestyle in conjunction with their nomadism. Nguruman forest has been left untouched save for livestock rearing and collections of herbal medicines. A natural forest to venture into with your guides and porters.

Group sizes vary from 1 to 12 people, with prices changing accordingly. Trips should normally be booked at least 30 days before departure date but we may be able to make arrangements with as little as 2 weeks notice.

Prices include land transport, accommodations, food (including dietary requirements), local guide services and park & camp site fees. However, not included are insurance, mineral water and alcoholic drinks, personal effects including sleeping bags, special services requested and tips.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Great Rift Valley, Oloingesaile & Entasobia: Drive through the enchanting rolling Ngong Hills to the famous Oloigeisaile prehistoric site. Picturesque views of the Great Rift Valley just on the foot of the escarpment bordering the Ngong hills and Mt. Oloingesaile. Oloingesaile is a superb site to learn the evolution of the early man - explore the excavation site, seeing stone age tools and animals bones among others used by homo erectus neatly preserved. For bird lovers, the area is also rich in bird life with some endemic species like panasoma. Drive onwards through savannah land, crossing over a soaring cliff via Lake Magadi, the main source of soda ash and salt in East Africa, to the foot of Nguruman Entasobian escarpment for overnight. Entasobia is the only farming area where you find masai tilling the soil with their sword protruding behind as they bend on their knees. Other communities as well have come to settle and make use of Olborbototo waters for irrigation.
Day 2:	Hiking with masai guides to Olkeri: Hike up the Entasobian with masai guides and porters to our second camp. The trek meanders up the escarpment with aerial view of Entasobia and Lake Magadi in the distance. It is quite demanding on the hiker because it is stiff and hot - hiking in shorts with plenty of drinking water is a mandatory. There are nearly no people to meet - you almost have the area to yourself since all that you may see are masai herding their cattle and sometimes antelopes, buffaloes and elephants. The night this day is spent at the bank of Olkeri river.
Day 3:	Olasur River trek: Get ready to tackle a 6-7 hour hike with a masai guide up the hill facing the Entasobia and Lake Magadi. Then descend down to the Orbototo river covered by an indigenous forest. The area is relatively high (about 1500m) and is cool compared to the Nguruman floor. The trek winds up the river canopied by huge terrestrial trees occasionally spotting monkeys, baboons and myriad bird species enjoying themselves with plenty of fruits in the trees. It is challenging and exciting with opportunities to cross the river several times barefooted - an experience not to be missed. Picnic lunch will be served at the bank of the river. This day the night will be spent at Olasur spring or the bank of Olorbototo River with a better view of the Nguruman peaks.
Day 4:	Waterfalls trek or plains game hike: Settle the day with two options; if there is enough energy then go for a more demanding hike to the Olturoto waterfalls, one of the area's main attraction. Hike up hills to the plain and into the valley to follow the Olbortoto river. Hike steeply upstream occasionally crossing the river on the way to the waterfalls. The waterfalls is quite magnificent with water dropping almost 100m - the is about 6-7 hours to and fro. Alternatively, hike in search of plains game - buffaloes and antelopes. It commences in the same direction, but diverts up the hills to a clearing of the Olturoto area (Olturoto is masai for swamp). The hike is up to the swamp where all game congregate for water or grass during dry seasons. Up the hills is a scenic view of the entire area as compared to the hike to the waterfalls because it is open. You also learn to draw spear and the traditional way of making fire. On the way back is a photogenic view of the camp that can be seen at a distant. Overnight in the same camp.
Day 5:	Descent to Olkeri: After breakfast descend via a different gentle route back to Olkeri camp crossing the river once. The day is easy and it takes about 2-3 hours. Afternoon is spent exploring the smaller and scenic waterfalls of Olkeri and Olchororongai waterfalls.
Day 6:	Nairobi: Hike down along the road to Entasobia to be transferred back to Nairobi.

how this holiday makes a difference

This is a real adventure that lets you go out to interact with local communities and real nature. Moses, our local guide from Loita hills, leads us to a real jungle life and Masai wilderness skills and tit bits of Masai life. Your visit helps a local school and provides the community with an alternative source of income in addition to sensitising them on the importance of conserving Nuruman forest, the only remaining indigenous forest in the region.

The forest is facing serious encroachment from outside communities who are looking for arable farmlands. The forest is a holy ground for Loita Masai because it was and still is the ancestral home to Masai Oloiboni, a spiritual leader, healer and foreteller of the community. Promoting eco-tourism activities in this area is the only sensible approach to saving this important rain forest and sanctuary to the Masai. Participating in this trip will also provide job opportunities to the local Masai warriors who are trying to abandon the outdated cattle rustling.

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