Cultural Tours in Kenya

Kenya cultural tours offer travelers a chance to learn about the traditions and lifestyle of Kenyans. Kenya is located in the East African region on the African continent. It is among the most visited countries in Africa by tourists. The country is made up of over 42 tribes which makes it an essential destination for cultural tours. These tribes are situated in different parts of the country. The Kiswahili is majorly used by these people of the different tribes to understand each other. The cultural tours usually engage the travelers in the visit to the remote villages, towns, and other areas to engage in the cultural. The cultural tours in Kenya always engage travelers to immerse themselves with the natives of Kenya.

Cultural communities in Kenya

Masai community

The Masai are the Nilotic group of people living in the northern, central, and southern parts of Kenya. They live in the Great Lake regions of Africa and they are similar to the Kalenjini, Dinka, and the Neur. The Masai generally speak the Maa language. They are the major inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of Africa. The Masai are generally pastoralists and they take cattle to be the wealth of the community. The Masai are the communities that resist the laws enforced by the governments of Tanzania and Kenya. They always want to graze from the parks. They are not engaged with modern life and they prefer living in their true African life. During the colonial time, the Masai were most notorious and so rebellious to the British empire. In 1911, the Masai lost their fertile land to the British.

Circumcision 

Traditionally in the Masai, both the male and female are usually circumcised. The females are not allowed to decorate themselves until circumcision is done. Also, the males and females when they are at the age of 8, usually piece the upper part of the ears and the lower part after two years. The main purpose of piercing the ears is to increase the size of the holes of the ears which is a sign of beauty in their society. The Masai elders and some of the males in the Masai community are in charge of making decisions for the development of their community.

The Masai also engage in the removal of the teeth from the young children to prevent them from vomiting and diarrhea. The land ownership is communal among the Masai and this prevents conflicts amongst them and the ownership is ignored in the dry season due to lack of pastures. The Masai have a different way of life which tourists include on their cultural tours to Kenya.

Masai food

The Masai generally depend much on the livestock products got from their cattle. The livestock products include; milk, meat, and blood. The blood is usually taken on special occasions during birth and circumcision, and also the elderly take it when they are drunk to be sober. The blood from the cow is obtained by puncturing the loose skin of the cattle and then the wound is treated to avoid the infections. The Masai also practice cultivation at a small rate where they grow major cereals and others like potatoes, cabbages, and many others.

Traditional clothes

The Masai usually wear different clothes according to age, sex, and nature of the ceremonies. The Masai dress is colored in red which is the favorite and the black, blue, checked, and cream colors are worn also. The females usually make their beads which is a special ornamentation of their body. Also, the other form of beauty is ear-piecing is part of the beauty.

Masai music dance and drama

The Masai music, dance, and drama are usually done by use of the vocals and here the person with the best vocal is called Olaranyani. The Olaranyani usually start the song title and the rest join in the singing. The beads on their body make the rhythm of the song. They usually use horns as the only musical instrument and other form of dancing is jumping while in their dance and drama. Usually, their celebrations are done in the form of singing and dancing in the rainy season to celebrate a new life for the community. During cultural tours in Kenya, the Masai community is among the essential communities that one can choose to visit.

Samburu community

The Samburu community are the close relatives of the Masai who do all the same activities and cultural practices related to that of the Masai. They are also nomadic pastoralists and these are usually so hostile when any community tries to interfere with them.

Turkana community

The Turkana community is a group of people speaking the Turkana language belonging to the Nilotics group of people living in the northern part of Kenya. They live near the shores of the lake Turkana. They are nomadic pastoralists famous for the rearing of the camels and weaving baskets. The community is the third-largest pastoralist community in Kenya. Their origination was from the Karimajongs of northeastern Uganda who were not much affected by the colonialists. They majorly depend on the lake Turkana for water for domestic use, cultivation, and their animals.

They don’t have permanent settlements due to the weather conditions and they keep on searching for water and food. During the drought, they usually transfer their milking cattle to the mountain areas since they have permanent vegetation. Traditionally they are similar to the Masai and Samburu for their colourful clothes and jewelry. The Turkana live in small groups called Awi which are usually headed by a man with his polygamy wives and also live in a group of 20 to 25. The Awi usually have cattle allocated to the wives and the wife with many cattle has a lot of respect.

Where can I do Cultural Tours in Kenya?

While on the cultural tours in Kenya, also travelers are recommended to visit the other forms of destinations in the country. These destinations include;

Masai Mara National Reserve

This reserve was gazette in 1961 located in the southern part of Kenya towards the Tanzania border. It is one of the preserved reserves with savannah-type vegetation with the true African wilderness. The major wildlife in the reserve are lions, leopards, buffaloes, wildebeests, elephants, and many others. In the reserve, the wildebeest migration is the animal activity that travelers usually enjoy. In this park, you can find very many communities of the Masai people. The activities done in the park include the game drive, nature walks, and birding.

Hell’s Gate National Park

The Hell’s Gate National Park traces its name from a narrow break cliff within the park. The park is in the south of the lake Naivasha in the north of Nairobi. The Hell’s Gate National was named by great explorers – Fishers and Thomas. The park was established in 1984. The park hosts wildlife similar to other parks. On the cultural tours in Kenya, travelers have several destinations to visit to create a memorable experience on the Kenya safari. If you intend to do a cultural Tour in Kenya, Book yours Now and create a signature of everlasting memories.