For a very long time most of us have thought that visiting wilderness, beaches and excursions but we have an alternative for you. Cultural visit in Kenya is a reflection of the purest forms of traditional culture of the 42 tribes of Kenya.
Although, most of our cultural experiences are visiting authentic remote villages, the cities and townships of Kenya represent a unique culture of its own. Each city represents an interesting blend of cultures and ethnic creeds that is reflected in the architecture, food, art, clothing and much more.
We as Explorer Kenya Tours & Travel are here to arrange for you cultural tour to a local village where you witness a reliable way of life that exists in few places in today’s world. You are welcomed into a traditional home to observe meal preparation, familial structure and ancient practices. These visits will make you understand the mystery and strange lifestyles of the different tribes of Kenya.
Other cultures that you may interact with are the Swahilis in their small coastal towns. The Kenya beach areas are also near many of their ancient settlements and ruins. Another intriguing tribe in Kenya is the Turkana, Rendille and Pokot located at the shores of Turkana alongside the smallest tribe in Kenya – El Molo,
From the 42 tribe of Kenya, the two most commonly experienced in Kenya are the Maasai and Samburu this is because till date they have kept their traditions intact.
The first thing you will notice as you enter a village is the many bright colors of their garments (red shukas or sheets) and the brightly beaded jewelry – necklaces, bracelets and amulets – worn by the women and men. Their art in beadwork is very appealing and has more than just an ornamental value; mostly they express their identity and social status with these handcrafted pieces. You can help support the village with a purchase as well as bringing home an authentic souvenir from your travels.
The Maasai’s are known for their rhythmic call-and-response singing and their dance that is mostly known as the adumu or “jumping dance”. The warriors form a circle with one person entering the center and the dancer will jump higher and higher to the rhythms of the singers. As he jumps higher the singers will raise the pitch of their voices. You will also be invited into the circle adding to the dance fun.
Your village visit may be enhanced with a personal meeting with the elders who gladly share their wisdom. You will also get to see the Maasai’s houses, called Bomas. These are small structured with thatched roofs and the unique park of it is that it is the job of the Maasai women to build these Bomas. They begin with a framework of timber poles and interweave smaller branches to form a structure. This is then covered with a mixture of mud, grass, cow dung, urine and ash. The men also participate in constructing this homestead but it is their responsibility to build the protective fencing around the village to keep lions and other predators away from the livestock.
You may also be invited to participate in a traditional wedding, other rites of passage e.g. warrior ceremonies or watch the village women create the intricate beaded jewelry for which both tribes are known.
Bomas of Kenya explores a cultural centre in Lang’ata, Nairobi introducing you to Kenya’s 23 major tribes and their homesteads. The term Bomas, means “homestead” and there are several traditional mud huts each representing one of Kenya’s major ethnic groups. Each traditional house is built to the original traditional architecture of an African home as built by the ancestors.
When you visit Bomas of Kenya you are guaranteed to have a display of acrobatic shows and traditional dances from the local tribes such as Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luhya, Taita, Masai, Kamba, Kisii, Kuria, Mijikenda and Luo.
As discussed earlier, the Maasai’s are world-renowned for simply refusing to let go of their culture and we love and admire them for this. Taking a guided tour in the Loita Plains will give you an insight on how traditional Maasai live (Manyattas, spears and fearless warriors who do not flinch at the sight of a lion and a nomadic lifestyle).
This is the home to the endangered El Molo people – a tribe that is quiet literally disappearing before our very eyes. There is almost nowhere else in Kenya that you can experience the Turkana and El Molo culture as you can at Lake Turkana.
Lamu is a semi-remote location that has seen very little impact from the outside world and cultures.
