7 days (not including air travel)
Watch peaceful herbivores grazing, scope out carnivores preying, and witness the daily life of local Maasai people as they follow their roaming cattle through the Kenyan bush.
In south west Kenya lie one of the most extensive mountain ranges, the Loita Hills. The Loita Hills are superimposed against open plains that at times seem to extend beyond the horizon and are reputed to be the second largest in Africa after the Kano Plains in Nigeria. It boasts an attractive blend of bushes, woodlands and shrubs predominated by variety of acacia trees and bushes, with somewhat challenging and adventurous terrain. This is the heartland of the Maasai people who will guide us through their vast savannah lands. Lack of clear trails means hikers must find their way among obstacles, thorn trees and bushes and soaring temperatures and heat means exhaustion could pose a challenge to hikers.
Day 1: Nairobi-Maji Moto
From Nairobi, drive for 3-4 hours to to Maji Moto, a remote Maasai village at the slopes of the Loita hills. ‘Maji Moto’ is a Swahili word that means ‘hot water’ and the place derives this name from the nearby hot springs. The Maasai live as they have done for centuries in a traditional and sophisticated culture. After lunch our Maasai hosts take us on a cultural tour of the Maasai homestead (“boma”). In the evening you can take a refreshing dip in the hot spring water which the local Maasai use as a cure for skin ailments.
Accommodation: Camping in 3-man dome tents with foam mattresses but bring your own sleeping bag.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Maji Moto
Morning hike up the Maji Moto hills led by our local Maasai guides. As we walk we will most likely come across gazelles, impala, zebra and wildebeest. In the afternoon we return to our camp.
Accommodation: Camping in 3-man dome tents with foam mattresses but bring your own sleeping bag.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Morijo/Loita Hills
Hike across the plains and bush to meet up with vehicle ahead and drive on to Morijo at the base of the Loita Hills. This is a remote village in the expansive Maasai country. We camp overnight near our Maasai hosts’ ‘manyatta’.
Accommodation: Camping in 3-man dome tents with foam mattresses but bring your own sleeping bag.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Morijo/Loita Hills
With our Maasai guide, we hike across the plains and up the Loita hills to Osupuko peak (2500m), the highest peak of the Loita hills, where you have an enchanting view of the plains below. We will invariably meet Maasai herding their cattle or encounter animals like hartebeest, Klipspringer, dik dik, black and white colobus monkeys among dozens of savannah bird species. Later return for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Camping in 3-man dome tents with foam mattresses but bring your own sleeping bag.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Masai Mara
Drive to Masai Mara for lunch then afternoon game drive.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Masai Mara
We spend all day on game drives in the Mara. The Mara Game Reserve is largely plains and the open grasslands are habitat to rich and varied wildlife such as lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, zebra, giraffe etc. There are also several species of birds. The annual migration of millions of wildebeest and antelope from July to September is a spectacle never to be missed by any visitor to the Mara.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Nairobi
Optional morning game drive. Leave after breakfast for the return journey to Nairobi.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch