With most of the world changing at a staggering pace, it is rare to find people who live as their fathers, grandfathers and even great-great grandfathers did. Yet this is still the case for a handful of tribes in Africa, and especially in parts of Tanzania and Kenya.
In the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, this vast tract of territory crisscrossed by ancient migration routes and inhabited by Samburu, Rendille, Pokot and Turkana herders, it is still possible in the 21st century to see nomadic tribesmen living as they have for centuries. And in Tanzania, the region around Lake Eyasi tribes such as the Bushman Hadaz, Wahadzabe and Datoga retain their culture and traditional practices imperative to their tribes’ survival, and core to their identity and sense of place in the world. Among the smell of calfskin skirts, the jingle of antique ankle bells, and the aroma of fresh earth after a sparse shower of precious rain, you will feel immediately connected to this land and its people, with an inner resonance for why these tribes wish to continue their traditional way of life.
The Maasai are probably one of the most well known tribes in Africa., Their vast homeland spans much of Kenya’s most popular safari regions. Through building crucial partnerships with communities, we have access to many cross cultural interactions to offer our guests that will add a vibrant dimension to your safari. Unlike the contrived performances staged at big lodges or souvenir markets primarily catering to tourists, the cultural opportunities we make available are genuine. Visit a Maasai village, witness the bustle of market day, step out onto a community-owned conservancy and learn to throw a spear as these traditional hunters do. Walking into the bush from camp, you’re accompanied by a local guide who can’t help but share his deep knowledge of a land handed down from generation to generation. There’s no better way to learn the intricacies of ecosystems and wildlife than from someone who was born on the land. Back in camp, there is always a chance to share together around the fire, and local tribesmen love nothing better than telling stories and celebrating our cultural diversity. After dinner, join them in a traditional dance as you immerse yourself in the natural rhythm, freedom of expression, and sense that any time is a moment to celebrate the gifts of life.
Whether you drop into remote locations via a helicopter or scenic plane flight or indulge your senses at one of the many extraordinary properties in these regions, you will experience how these tribes co-exist with the harsh beauty of this extreme country. Given the potential impact of our presence on both culture and environment, preservation is our primary concern. We thus take pains when visiting these areas to leave them exactly as we encounter them.