Kenya: Women's Expedition
10 days
from Nairobi to Nairobi
From
$ 3215
Duration10 days
Discover Kenya’s vibrant culture from a female perspective, on a women’s only adventure. Make your way through the heart of East Africa and meet local Kenyan women and men from all walks of life, who will share their stories and triumphs in the struggle for gender equality. Hear inspiring stories from our all-female crew including your local leader and driver, Becky, who was the very first female overland truck driver in East Africa. You’ll also have the chance to meet a range of local women – from entrepreneurs, female park rangers and Maasai villagers. Beginning and ending in Nairobi, you’ll visit women’s only villages, join a cooking class with local women, go on safaris in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Samburu National Reserve and meet a local women’s only support group striving to improve gender equality.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 10 daysService level: Standard
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Starts in: NairobiPhysical Grading: Light
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Ends in: NairobiAges: 15+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi
Start place: Nairobi
Jambo! Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya's capital. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6pm, but feel free to arrive early and check out the sites or maybe even book a day tour with Urban Adventures.
After you meet your incredible female driver and leader, head out for an included dinner to try some local cuisine.
Please ask the hotel reception where the evening meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that gets in before 6pm, you may want to consider arriving a day early, but if you’re running late please inform hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance and next of kin details at the meeting, so please ensure you have these on hand to give to your leader.
After you meet your incredible female driver and leader, head out for an included dinner to try some local cuisine.
Please ask the hotel reception where the evening meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that gets in before 6pm, you may want to consider arriving a day early, but if you’re running late please inform hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance and next of kin details at the meeting, so please ensure you have these on hand to give to your leader.
Meals: D
Day 2: Mount Kenya Region
Check out of your hotel after an early breakfast and drive three hours to the Mt Kenya region. The roads can become narrow as you climb past Sagana and approach the hills around Karatina and Nyeri, but don’t worry, you’ll be travelling in our custom-made safari vehicles. If it isn’t too cloudy, Mt Kenya provides a very scenic view as the road veers past its western slopes. From here the landscape levels out and the road is flanked by open plains all the way to Naro Moru — the base for climbing the most popular route up Mt Kenya.
At Mt Kenya, you’ll check in to your accommodation and enjoy an included lunch before setting out on a nature walk guided by female rangers. Explore around the base of Mt Kenya and pay a visit to the Mau Mau caves, to learn how women played a key role in helping the Mau Mau war movement defeat colonial rule. From here, head back to the lodge for a well-deserved dinner.
At Mt Kenya, you’ll check in to your accommodation and enjoy an included lunch before setting out on a nature walk guided by female rangers. Explore around the base of Mt Kenya and pay a visit to the Mau Mau caves, to learn how women played a key role in helping the Mau Mau war movement defeat colonial rule. From here, head back to the lodge for a well-deserved dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Samburu National Reserve
Drive for about two hours to Samburu National Park to admire the stunning landscapes and learn about the rich culture of the Samburu people. Samburu County forms part of a wider ecosystem that includes Buffalo Springs to the south of the Ewaso Nyiro River and Shaba National Reserve on the opposite side of Archer’s Post. You’ll arrive at the park for a morning game drive, then check-in at the lodge for lunch. There’ll be time to relax and have a swim before you set off for an afternoon game drive.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Samburu National Reserve
This morning you have the option to head out on an optional early morning Game Drive. Then head to Umoja Village. The all-female village was founded in 1990 by a group of 15 women who were survivors of sexual assault, violence or child marriage. You will have time to talk with the women and learn how they overcame their situations and how they now enjoy their new-found freedom.
Before and after independence, the women in these communities were oppressed by men to the extent that they were not allowed to go to school or work. Now, they make beads and other artefacts which they sell to tourist and locals at a reasonable fee to help sustain their self-sufficient community.
The women in this village are now taking their children to school and empowering the women to take part in all economic activities beyond this region. There are many success stories from this village and you will get to hear about them.
Before and after independence, the women in these communities were oppressed by men to the extent that they were not allowed to go to school or work. Now, they make beads and other artefacts which they sell to tourist and locals at a reasonable fee to help sustain their self-sufficient community.
The women in this village are now taking their children to school and empowering the women to take part in all economic activities beyond this region. There are many success stories from this village and you will get to hear about them.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Lake Nakuru
After breakfast, leave Samburu and drive six hours to Nakuru with a stop for lunch at the famous Thompson Falls Lodge. Nakuru, the capital city of Nakuru County and the home of Lake Nakuru National Park, is famous for rhinos, giraffes, lions and leopards. Lake Nakuru is an algae-filled soda lake with abundant bird life and if you’re lucky you may even spot flamingos. Enjoy an afternoon game drive before returning to the lodge for the evening.
Back at the lodge, you’ll be joined by one of the female rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Society for dinner who will share her experiences and the challenges of working in a typically male dominated industry.
Back at the lodge, you’ll be joined by one of the female rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Society for dinner who will share her experiences and the challenges of working in a typically male dominated industry.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Lake Naivasha
After breakfast you’ll head to Mwariki Village, a women-based community project dedicated to empowering less privileged women and children.
Before coming to Mwariki, the women lacked education, skills training, and a dependable source of income. A Community Tourism program was set up to include walking tours, artisan demonstrations, chapati making classes to help women provide for themselves.
After sharing a meal and interacting with the local women in their homes, you’ll drive one and a half hours to Naivasha. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake and is the home of hippos, an abundance of fish and over 400 species of birds. Check in to the hotel before an afternoon boat ride.
The boat ride will end at the Elsamere Conservation Centre, the holiday and retirement home of local and global heroine Joy Adamson of “Born Free“ fame. Here we get to know more about the lady who dedicated her life to wildlife conservation and the environment. Enjoy a traditional high tea and a documentary movie before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
Before coming to Mwariki, the women lacked education, skills training, and a dependable source of income. A Community Tourism program was set up to include walking tours, artisan demonstrations, chapati making classes to help women provide for themselves.
After sharing a meal and interacting with the local women in their homes, you’ll drive one and a half hours to Naivasha. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake and is the home of hippos, an abundance of fish and over 400 species of birds. Check in to the hotel before an afternoon boat ride.
The boat ride will end at the Elsamere Conservation Centre, the holiday and retirement home of local and global heroine Joy Adamson of “Born Free“ fame. Here we get to know more about the lady who dedicated her life to wildlife conservation and the environment. Enjoy a traditional high tea and a documentary movie before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
Meals: B, D
Day 7: Lake Naivasha
Today you’ll visit a flower farm, which is run predominantly by women. While these women have little or no formal education, working at the farm provides them with a stable income to support their families.
You’ll have the chance to interact with the women and learn more about how, as part of their employment, they are part of women’s only financial independence support groups. These groups have led to creation of financial institutions such as the Faulu Kenya and Kenya Women Microfinance Trust.
Later in the afternoon, you may want to visit the Hells Gate National Park for an optional afternoon walk in the gorge, ending with a swim in the healing waters of the geothermal spa within the park.
You’ll have the chance to interact with the women and learn more about how, as part of their employment, they are part of women’s only financial independence support groups. These groups have led to creation of financial institutions such as the Faulu Kenya and Kenya Women Microfinance Trust.
Later in the afternoon, you may want to visit the Hells Gate National Park for an optional afternoon walk in the gorge, ending with a swim in the healing waters of the geothermal spa within the park.
Meals: B, D
Day 8: Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, you’ll drive approximately four hours to the Masai Mara, in south-west Kenya. It’s one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves and is often thought to be the best place in East Africa for game drives. Along with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania it forms Africa’s most diverse and spectacular eco-system.
You’ll head out on an afternoon game drive, joined by a local female ranger who will share her knowledge and experiences from the profession.
You’ll head out on an afternoon game drive, joined by a local female ranger who will share her knowledge and experiences from the profession.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Masai Mara National Reserve
This morning you’ll drive three hours to Loita Hills. The Loita Hills region, located south of Nairobi and north-east of the Masai Mara is one area where the Maasai people still live traditionally, with little influence from the western world. While it isn't an area for viewing big game, the hilly scenery is picturesque and meeting the Maasai people and learning more about their culture and way of life is a highlight.
You’ll arrive for lunch in Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. Maasai and Samburu women remain the most oppressed women in Kenya, due to a culture that doesn’t allow women to inherit land and other properties from their families.
The local community is striving to eliminate a number of injustices, including early marriage and lack of education for women, so Intrepid Travel works closely with the community on a number of projects.
You’ll arrive for lunch in Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. Maasai and Samburu women remain the most oppressed women in Kenya, due to a culture that doesn’t allow women to inherit land and other properties from their families.
The local community is striving to eliminate a number of injustices, including early marriage and lack of education for women, so Intrepid Travel works closely with the community on a number of projects.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Nairobi
You’ll leave the Masai Mara after breakfast and drive towards Nairobi, which will take around six hours. There’s plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy, but if you’d rather avoid the drive there’s an option to take a 45-minute flight instead.
If you drive, you’ll arrive back in the city in the afternoon and say goodbye to your tour leader and fellow travellers. If you’re staying on in Kenya, we can help you book additional accommodation, otherwise we recommend you don’t book your flight out before 8pm that day to allow for any delays.
If you drive, you’ll arrive back in the city in the afternoon and say goodbye to your tour leader and fellow travellers. If you’re staying on in Kenya, we can help you book additional accommodation, otherwise we recommend you don’t book your flight out before 8pm that day to allow for any delays.
End place: Nairobi
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Mt Kenya - Mau Mau Caves Visit
- Mt Kenya - Guided Nature Walk
- Mt Kenya - Female Ranger Introduction
- Samburu National Park - Morning Game Drive
- Samburu National Park - Afternoon Game Drive
- Samburu - Umoja Village Visit & Introduction
- Lake Nakuru - Afternoon Game Drive (Overland truck)
- Lake Nakuru - KWS Female Ranger Introduction and Dinner
- Thomson Falls - Thomson Falls Waterfalls Visit
- Lake Naivasha - Elsamere Conservation Centre
- Lake Naivasha - Elsamere High Tea
- Lake Naivasha - Mwariki Community Village Visit
- Lake Naivasha - Flower Farm Visit
- Masai Mara - Game Drive guided by female Ranger
- Masai Mara - Maasai Widow’s village visit
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Transport
Overland vehicle, 4x4 safari vehicle -
Accommodation
Hotel (4 nights), Permanent Tented Camps (5 nights)