Immerse yourself in the authentic and unchanged culture of the Masai and enjoy a safari that mixes wildlife wonders with intimate traditions. Masai warriors lead you across the plains to reveal the resplendent mammals of the Mara and the intricacies of animal tracking. Then they invite you into their customs with a visit to local villages, and the chance to watch their iconic dances and ceremonies. Split across the Masai Mara and Chyulu Hills, this 8-day safari will combine rich culture with pristine...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Maasai Mara – First Journeys on the Maasai Plains
The Maasai Mara plains come from the annals of African travel reverie. Maasai warriors lead their goats across the grasslands, carrying traditional spears and avoiding confrontations with lion pride. Their red blankets flow in the breeze as they pass huge numbers of zebra and wildebeest. Elephants also make their nomadic journeys while cheetah rises on rocks that protrude from the plains. Nothing is quiet here, and on your first journeys, it's hard to go a few minutes without an inspiring impression of old-world Africa with zebra galloping, buffalo on the march and giraffe loping past the camp. In many ways, it is all just how you had imagined.
After landing at Nairobi International, you will be transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport where a local flight will take you to the Mara North airstrip. Maasai guides will collect you at the airstrip, and your journey to your safari camp is a game drive that will quickly reveal so many of the dreamy Mara impressions. As animals fill your view, you will quickly realize that this is also a landscape of surprise. Unusual antelopes gallop past, hyena send echoed calls across the plains, and a baby elephant swings his trunk as he wanders directly past the camp. Relax in your spacious boutique tent and watch the charms unfold from your private wooden verandah.
What's Included:
Day 2
Maasai Mara – Tracking Animals on Foot
Day 3
Maasai Mara – Game Drives Reveal the Big Cats and Wildebeest
Day 4
Maasai Mara – Hot Air Ballooning and Traditional Maasai Dances
Day 5
Chyulu Hills – Following the Maasai Herders Beneath Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 6
Chyulu Hills – Horse Riding Safari and Bush Walks
Day 7
Chyulu Hills – A Day With a Local Maasai Community
Day 8
Chyulu Hills – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Wander across the Maaasai Mara grasslands on foot, guided by the knowledge and ancient wisdom of Maasai warriors
- Discover the drama of the plains and watch the big cats as they stalk large herds of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelle
- Spend a day with a traditional Maasai community and learn about the intricacies of their culture
- Hot air balloon above the Maasai Mara plains and enjoy an aerial impression of one of Africa's most sublime landscapes
- Learn the tricks of animal tracking on game drives and walks with the Maasai
- Find the Big Five and savor the exclusivity of the Mara by exploring two private conservancies, where the safari is limited to just a handful of visitors
- Encounter antelope and zebra from a variety of angles, including on a unique horse riding safari
- Enjoy bush dinners that are made even more personal when Maasai warriors dance around the crackling fire
Starting Price
$10,600 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.93 stars based on 241 reviews.
The trip was exhilarating and the job done by our Zicasso travel agent was second to none.
Our trip was 20 days, with multiple locations, flights, and activities. Our agent arranged things so well, we hardly had to do anything. Guides and contacts always arrived on time and led us through each location efficiently and safely.
The gorilla trek in Rwanda was amazing. On safari, we saw the Big Five by the end of day two and saw many, many unique animal encounters. We did a walking safari one day, which was also a highlight. Our agent recommended the Lewa Conservancy as a stop and this was wonderful for seeing many black and white rhinos.
I would give our travel company a 10/10 for personal care and attention. I highly recommended them for a high-quality, memorable African adventure!
Reviewed By Michael D.
We had a wonderful journey, with every step detailed and escorted from end to end. Our Zicasso travel experts did a great job and were always available for support.
Reviewed By Margarita M.
Without exaggeration, this was the most amazing trip of my life. Everything was perfect, from the itinerary to the lodging, food, and guides. We saw so much and so many varied topographies. We also got such a great flavor of the culture, people, and way of life in both countries. It truly was incredible from start to finish.
Reviewed By Stephanie L.
We had a fantastic trip. There were a few hiccups, but they were minor and were resolved very quickly.
This was pretty much the trip we had envisioned coming to life! Zicasso's travel agents on the ground, assisting us, were on top of things and made the trip go super-smooth. Thanks!
The camps we stayed at were amazing, the food was fabulous at both camps, the hotel in Nairobi was very nice; all in all, a great trip. Thank you so much for putting together my bucket list, including the experience with elephants in Tsavo East National Park!
Reviewed By Tracy C.
There aren't enough superlatives to describe our safari. Every single aspect exceeded expectations. The Zicasso trip designer, who handled the in-country arrangements, was terrific, and literally every arrangement went smoothly. A few last-minute changes on the front and back end were handled effectively.
Each of the camps was different, but wonderful in its own way. We liked the variation. The accommodations were great and the food was great. But the people – hosts, driver/guides, spotters, service personnel were really great – friendly, fun, helpful, enjoyable to be with, and really great. It's difficult to put into words how much we enjoyed being with them and with each other (me, my five adult children, and their spouses). And the wildlife and landscapes, again, quite different over the three camps, were spectacular. Every game drive was a much-anticipated adventure and the guides were, to a person, superb in helping us understand the animal behaviors we observed.
There is nothing we would have done differently and we were constantly amazed at how smoothly everything worked out (literally no hitches, even minor ones), how much fun we had with each other and our hosts, and how much the people we were with contributed to our experience. I'm not given to hyperbole, but I'm left without words to describe how great the experiences we had were and how seamless the arrangements seemed to be.
Reviewed By Jim K.
It was a unbelievable, fantastic trip. Working with Zicasso's travel agency was a pleasure. They set everything up, working with me closely to customize my trip. Everything went as planned and all the selections and partner companies were great.
Reviewed By Dave A.