11-Day Private Kenya Cultural Safaris and Heritages Tour

This Tour is best for any traveler as it crisscrosses the country with so many different vegetation and sceneries. From Nairobi city, we pass through the Rift Valley province to Maasai Mara game reserve to see the many animals which abound the park including the big five.
You then drive through Kilgoris to Awendo Sugar belt with a Sony sugar processing factory. Through to the mythological sites of Thim Lich Ohinga in Migori, Nyamgodho in Homa bay County, Kit Mikayi and Lwanda Magere in Kisumu county. Not forgetting the oldest Gold mines of Macalder in Migori and the tea highlands of Kericho County.
The tour will also take you to the beautiful and historical Islands in Lake Victoria that is Rusinga Island and Mfangano Island. The two islands are the home of the Suba tribe which is a Bantu tribe that came to Kenya from Uganda and got assimilated to the bigger Luo tribe.

This Tour is best for any traveler as it crisscrosses the country with so many different vegetation and sceneries. From Nairobi city, we pass through the Rift Valley province to Maasai Mara game reserve to see the many animals which abound the park including the big five.
You then drive through Kilgoris to Awendo Sugar belt with a Sony sugar processing factory. Through to the mythological sites of Thim Lich Ohinga in Migori, Nyamgodho in Homa bay County, Kit Mikayi and Lwanda Magere in Kisumu county. Not forgetting the oldest Gold mines of Macalder in Migori and the tea highlands of Kericho County.
The tour will also take you to the beautiful and historical Islands in Lake Victoria that is Rusinga Island and Mfangano Island. The two islands are the home of the Suba tribe which is a Bantu tribe that came to Kenya from Uganda and got assimilated to the bigger Luo tribe.

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi – Maasai Mara

Pass By: Nairobi, Nairobi
You depart Nairobi early in the morning to start your 11 days cultural tour. The name Nairobi comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to “cool water”, a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in the 2019 census, while the metropolitan area has a population of 9,354,580. The city is popularly referred to as the Green City in the Sun.

Stop At: Rift Valley Province, Rift Valley Province
We drive south through the dramatic Great Rift Valley with a stopover at the viewpoint to see the escarpment. While still at the viewpoint you can see the volcanic mountains of Longonot and Margarita from a distance.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Narok, Narok, Rift Valley Province
Descend further to Mai Mahiu, a small business cosmopolitan town at the junction of Narok/Naivasha. You will continue further with your drive through the Maasai land reaching Narok well in time for hot buffet lunch. Narok town is a Masai business hub where you can find almost everything you can get in a small countryside town in Kenya before you proceeding to Masai Mara National Reserve.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Rift Valley Province
After lunch, you will further drive to the Maasai Mara game reserve for an introductory evening game drive. Maasai Mara is 1500 square kilometers on the rolling Savannah grassland. This provides an enabling environment for the existence of the wild animals which are abundant in the famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve. You will check-in at our camp for dinner and overnight.

Meals included:
• Lunch: Hot lunch in Narok town.
• Dinner: Served at the camp
Accommodation included: Overnight at the camp

Day 2: Maasai Mara – Full Day Game Viewing

Pass By: Mara Triangle, 83 Muthaiga Road, Maasai Mara National Reserve 00619 Kenya
Leave the camp in the morning after full breakfast with your picnic lunch boxes for an extensive full day game viewing in this vast savanna grassland within the Mara triangle – famous mara reserve is renowned for its great Herds of Plains Game, Black-Manned Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs, it also contains numerous elephants and virtually every type of wildlife to be found in Kenya.

Pass By: Mara River, Maasai Mara National Reserve 00200 Kenya
This game drive will take you to the Mara River, the famous gateway of the migration of the Wildebeests and Zebras from Serengeti in Tanzania in late June/early July to Maasai Mara and in October back to Serengeti. You will have an opportunity to see the Hippos and the Crocodile basking along the river bank. After lunch in the middle of nowhere, you will have another extensive game drive on your way back to the Camp for dinner and overnight with an option of visiting a Masai village at an extra cost of US$25

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at the camp
• Lunch: picnic lunch at a convenient picnic site.
• Dinner: served at the camp
Accommodation included: Overnight at the camp

Day 3: Maasai Mara Game Reserve – Kilgoris – Awendo

Pass By: Kilgoris, Kilgoris, Rift Valley Province
Depart Maasai Mara after breakfast with your picnic lunch box for Awendo through Kilgoris – a town in Narok County, Kenya. The town has a population of 4500. Kilgoris is one of two major urban centers in Narok County; the other being Narok town. Maasai are the prominent tribe in the area, though it is located near an area inhabited by the Gusii people. On the way, you will see the beautiful landscape.

Pass By: Awendo, Awendo, Nyanza Province
Our destination is Awendo sugarcane country, It has large Sugarcane plantation and host one of the largest Sugar Factory – Sony Sugar Factory. You will enjoy the scenic views of the Sugarcane plantations as you drive to Awendo town, to check into a budget hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at the camp
• Lunch: picnic lunch en-route
• Dinner: served in a budget hotel in Awendo.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a budget hotel in Awendo town

Day 4: Awendo – Gogo Falls – Thim Lich Ohinga

Pass By: Migori, Migori, Nyanza Province
Depart the hotel after breakfast, equipped with your picnic lunch box to Thim Lich Ohinga – the unique architectural stone structure situated in Nyanza province 181kms South of Kisumu in Migori district. The site lies on a gentle sloppy hill some 46kms North West of Migori town near Macalder’s mines. Abundant rocks on the hilly areas provided them with building materials to meet their security requirement to drive away from the wild animals and protect them from the warring tribes around that area.
Thim Lich Ohinga literally in Dholuo language means “frightening dense forest or scary jungle” was occupied after the Bantus by Kabwoch Kochieng clan who drove away from the Bantus then followed by Kanyamkago clan whom also subsequently were driven away by Kadem who are the present occupants of the area around Thim Lich. More stories can be heard from the curator on the ground. Dinner and overnight in a budget hotel in Migori town.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: breakfast in a budget hotel in Awendo.
• Lunch: Picnic lunch in Thim lich Ohinga
• Dinner: dinner in a budget hotel in Migori town
Accommodation included: Overnight in a budget hotel in Migori town.

Day 5: Thim Lich Ohinga – Macalder Mines – Thim Lich Ohinga.

Pass By: Macalder Mines, Kenya
After breakfast with picnic lunch, You will drive to Macalder Mines, have a walk in the compound and get to learn how the Gold processing is being done by local people. You will enjoy your picnic lunch, then spend the afternoon at leisure taking your notes with an optional guided nature walk to the villages to meet the people and get to learn much more about the rich culture and tradition of the Luo people and especially the Kadem clan at a cost – not forgetting the panoramic view of this virgin land and its natural status. You will return to Migori town for dinner and overnight.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at the budget hotel
• Lunch: Picnic lunch in Macalder mines
• Dinner: dinner served in a budget hotel in Migori town
Accommodation included: Overnight in a budget hotel in Migori town

Day 6: Thim Lich Ohinga – Sori – Nyamgondho site – Sindo – Mbita

Stop At: Nyamgondho Mini Park, 72CX+VXG, Nyandiwa, Kenya
After breakfast, you will leave Migori hotel with your picnic lunches to drive up to the junction of Lwanda Magwar, then on to the highway dirt road to Sori, have a stopover to have a glance at the mythical stone which disappeared with no trace. Then to the right further to Karungu then to Gwasi, turn left at Kiabuya shopping center then drive and meander over to the vintage hill to have a glance at the most scenic panoramic view of Kiwa Island which is the busiest Island and very rich in fishing activities and the peninsular almost 2km inside the lake. Pass through Nyandiwa shopping center, then turn left to reach Nyandiwa beach where we will stop and leave the car. Walk to the legendary site of Adikinyi Nyamgondho (connoting the time and the type of fishing in Dholuo) the wife of Julu son of Ombare. Listen to the legendary story from the locals.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Mbita, Mbita, Nyanza Province
After the amazing story from a local curator at Nyamgodho Historical site, drive further, still along the Lake through Sindo town and Gingo shopping center which is known for its Dagaa (the smallest type of fish in Lake Victoria} to arrive Mbita early evening, to check-in at a budget hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at a budget hotel
• Lunch: picnic lunch at a convenient place
• Dinner: served in a budget hotel in Mbita town
Accommodation included: Overnight in a budget hotel in Mbita

Day 7: Mbita – Rusinga Full day

Pass By: Rusinga Island, Rusinga Island, Nyanza Province
After breakfast depart from your accommodation with your picnic lunch and drive past the course way to enter the famous Rusinga Island. Rusinga is an austerely pretty island with high crags dominating the desolate goat-grazed landscape. A single dirt road is running around its circumference. Drive towards left from the junction to see Ligongo Hill site where Dr. Mary and Louis Leakey found the skull of Proconsul Africanus which is believed to be approximately 18 million years old and was a man’s earliest ancestor and so was taken to National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi.
Drive further to Tom Mboya’s mausoleum which lies on family land about 7km by the dirt road from Mbita. Tom Mboya, civil rights champion, trade unionist and charismatic young Luo politician who was gunned down in Nairobi in 1969, sparking off a crisis that led to over forty deaths in widespread rioting and demonstrations.
Drive further to go around the Island with its beautiful scenery before you drive back to the hotel.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at a budget hotel.
• Lunch: picnic at a convenient picnic site
• Dinner: served at a budget hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at a budget hotel.

Day 8: Mbita – Takawiri – Mfangano – Mbita

Stop At: Takawiri Island, Kenya
After breakfast, with your picnic lunch, enjoy a ride on a traditional boat with horsepower engine past the two smallest Islands called Mbasa Namiyolo to reach the beautiful Island of Takawiri with very white sands and get to know how they survive and live with the traditional fishing style. These Isles of Lake Victoria are settled by Abasuba tribes who are Bantu speakers and believed to have come from Uganda more than 200 years ago. The name “Suba” means “the people who are always wandering”. The arrival of the Abasuba displaced the Nilotic cattle handling Luo people who moved further north.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Mfangano Island, Mfangano Island, Nyanza Province
We ride further to Mfangano Island where we have the geometric rock paintings at Mawanga cave and Kwitone on the Island. It is believed that the rock art pre-dates the migration of both Nilotes and Bantus. It is known for instance those similar paintings in Eastern Uganda only 200kms North of Suba district were used for this purpose. Rock engraving sites in the area includes “cupule” sites, where cup-shaped depressions have been ground into the rock surface, as well as a rock gong.
You will have 5 minutes walk from the boat to Mawanga. Although they were painted as part of a vanished mythology, the cave, the paintings and the surrounding area retain powers in the traditions of the Abasuba. After getting to learn the wonders of the two rock from one of the local curators, you will ride back to Mbita, picnic lunch en-route. After relaxing, enjoy an optional hike to Gembe Hills at no extra cost for a view of the beautiful isles in Lake Victoria before dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at a budget hotel
• Lunch: picnic lunch at a convenient picnic site.
• Dinner: served at a budget hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at a budget hotel

Day 9: Mbita – Kit Mikayi – Kisumu.

Stop At: Kit Mikayi, Near Kisumu-Bondo Road, Kisumu 40100 Kenya
After an early breakfast, depart from the hotel at 06:30 am to the ferry which departs at 07:00 am to Lwanda K’Otieno. Between Mbita and Lwanda, you will have a chance to see fishermen at work in their boats closer to the ferry. After disembarking drive to Seme to reach Kenya’s most dramatic archaeological site, a vast granite rock tower called Kit Mikayi. The rock is situated in Kisumu district, Maseno division, East – Seme – location, Kit – Mikayi sub-location, Kangeso village, Kadol clan.
The rock which is about 70 to 80 ft tall is located 30kms Far East of Kisumu city and 1 km from Kisumu – Bondo road. The mythical story behind Kit Mikayi will be told by the local guides as they know from generations.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Kisumu, Kisumu, Nyanza Province
Drive further to Kisumu city formally port Florence. It is found on the bank of Lake Victoria which is the second freshwater lake in the world. This means that Kisumu City is the capital of freshwater fish like the Nile Perch, Tilapia e.t.c which is the source of income around the lake region. It is also the biggest town for one of the 47th tribes of Kenya which also is the Tribe where the father of the former president of the United States Barack Obama. You will check-in at a budget hotel or a guest house for dinner and overnight stay

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served at a budget hotel in Mbita
• Lunch: hot lunch en-route
• Dinner: served at a budget hotel in kisumu
Accommodation included: Overnight at a budget hotel or Guest house in Kisumu

Day 10: Kisumu – Lwanda Magere site (Kano Sidho) – Kericho

Pass By: Kericho, Kericho, Rift Valley Province
After breakfast, drive to Awasi junction, divert on your left-hand side and then drive to Lwanda Magere stone site –
After a fascinating and moving story, You will drive through the beautiful panoramic view of Nandi hills, Muhoroni sugar etc. Lunch en-route. You will arrive at Kericho town to check in at a budget hotel for dinner and overnight.
Kericho is a Tea country that has placed Kenya to be the world’s third largest Tea producer after India and Sri Lanka. There are beautiful rolling hills carpeted in neat, bright green tea bushes as far as you can see. The climate here is perfect for Tea with rain falling almost every afternoon. Kericho was named after Ole Kericho, a Maasai Chief who was killed in the battle by the Gusii in the 19th Century.
Optional tea plantation tour can be organized at an extra cost of $ 20 per person.

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served in a budget hotel in Kisumu
• Lunch: lunch en-route
• Dinner: served in a budget hotel in Kericho
Accommodation included: Overnight at a budget hotel in Kericho

Day 11: Kericho – Nairobi

Pass By: Kericho Tea Plantations, Kericho 20200 Kenya
After breakfast, take your picnic lunch boxes with you, depart to Nairobi through the Tea plantations the green land of the vast tea plantation to amaze at the vast tea farms which are very scenic.

Pass By: Rift Valley Province, Rift Valley Province
The journey continues through the tropical Molo forest into Great Rift valley. You will spot the Hills, Mountains, Valleys Escarpments most of which came into existence as a result of Volcanic activities. You will not miss the Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Lake Elementaita which are also among the lakes found in the Great Rift Valley. Your journey brings you to Nairobi in the evening to end your cultural safari

Meals included:
• Breakfast: served in a budget hotel in Kericho
• Lunch: picnic lunch at your convinience
No accommodation included on this day.