Kenyan communities and wildlife conservation 8-day tour from Nairobi

This fascinating One Horizon 8-day cultural and wildlife tour will appeal to anyone that wants to both meet and help Kenyan people in grassroots social enterprises, and go on a safari in a sustainable way at a conservancy where wildlife flourishes and communities thrive.

Day 1 Nairobi to Laikipia - Morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel and transfer you to Wilson Airport for the 45-minute flight to Nanyuki. Arrive the camp in eastern Laikipia, about a two-hour drive north of Nanyuki, which is your home for the next four nights. Laikipia lies northeast of the Great Rift Valley and is a vast high plateau where landowners and conservationists have created a special place for communities and wildlife to coexist, and it is recognised as one of Kenya’s best safari regions.

Day 2—4 Laikipia - Have a unique opportunity to take leisurely walking safaris around the campand conservancy and take in the wide-open spaces and wildlife that Laikipia is famed for. These might include eland, hartebeest, steenbok, giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and buffalo and lucky visitors may even see spot elephants, lions and wild dogs. Each walking safari is tailor-made to suit the guests’ abilities. You will also be accompanied by camels that carry your heavier cameras, refreshments and day-packs and also learn about the local ecosystems and traditions from the Laikipia Samburu and Maasai guides. Other activities include game-viewing by vehicle along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, which is an excellent spot to watch elephants and other animals come to drink, rock-climbing in the kopjes, and as the area has a very rich traditional culture, there’s the option to visit a local market where all the warriors and women come dressed in their finest adornments.

Day 5 Laikipia – Nairobi - After breakfast, flight back to Nairobi. Transfer to Nairobi hotel in the early evening. This will be your base for the next three nights to go on three inspiring day trips to meet some remarkable communities in the rural areas around Nairobi.

DAY 6 Women's Empowerment Centre - Today visit the Women's Empowerment Centre in a developing area in the west of Nairobic and spend time with Mary to learn about her vision and meet some of the proud and resourceful women. See how teaching empowerment and skills can lift people out of poverty.

DAY 7 Kikuyu Grandmothers - Visit a rural Kikuyu community of delightful and resourceful grandmothers who will show you their pig-farming operation. This is another project that One Horizon supports, and the initiative aims at improving the livelihoods of the grandmothers by economically empowering them through small-scale farming. Sit down with the grandmothers while they cook traditional meals for their families, enjoy some joyful singing and dancing, and listen to them narrate their powerful stories about progress and resilience.

DAY 8 Maasai Village - Venture into rural Maasai country where you will meet a family and immerse yourself in the midst of the daily hustle and bustle of village life. Lean how the Maasai have managed these precious lands for centuries and have a traditional Maasai shuka cloth or ‘African blanket’ dress. Learn more about being a warrior in Maasai society and how to throw a traditional spear and the techniques needed to survive in the bush. You may enjoy the extraordinary jumping dance, or ‘adumu’ which is how Maasai warriors demonstrate their prowess. Return to Nairobi.