Maasai – Empakaai Cultural Safari

Memories for life

Every Empakaai Cultural Safari trip is special and unique, and our trip with Cindy, Fredrik, Carina and Patrik was all of that and even more. We opened up new destinations, such as Tsavo West National Park and Mombasa Coast. We saw wildlife in its pure and raw moments, when every detail of a cheetah hunt and capture was unfolding in front of us. We went through happy moments and challenging moments – and we admired the happy mood and the talent of Cindy, Fredrik, Carina and Patrik to enjoy every little detail and every nice moment. And we are now truly thankful to receive and share this wonderful review letter that we received from them:

” In May 2016, I received a new follower on Instagram – Empakaai Cultural Safari. I looked more closely at the profile and saw that Moses Nkapiani worked as a guide, especially in Kenya and Tanzania. Me and my husband have been in South Africa and Namibia before and we were interested to go back to Africa again, so I sent a message to Moses and asked him for advice – what he recommended? 10 days later, we had booked a flight to Nairobi and hired Moses as a guide! My husband’s brother and his wife also came with us.

Six months later, we landed in the early morning and fumbled out of the airport in a dark Nairobi. Outside I saw a tall and stately masai, with a red blanket over his shoulders. I recognized his face from Instagram – Moses!

Then a 16 days long adventure began and it has given us memories for life. We visited several of Kenya and Tanzania’s beautiful national parks – Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Amboseli and Tsavo West – and we got to experience so much. We saw a leopard with his prey in a tree, we saw two lions mate, a cheetah trap her prey and an impala which had just come into the world.
After we seen so many lion flocks that we lost count and seen our fourth leopard Moses found that we were very lucky and said; If you have an open heart luck comes to you. However, we believe that it had a lot to do with our guide. As masai, grown up in the bush, Moses have the right eyes!

And, it was not just us who were impressed by Moses. Another tour guide said; you know that Moses is one of Kenya’s best guides? And, another tourist who met Moses on a previous trip came up and said; you know you are lucky and pointed towards Moses.

We know that these statements aren’t a coincidence given everything Moses did for us and all the knowledge he possesses. Speaking of “If you have an open heart, luck comes to you”… of all people in the world, I managed to contact Moses. How lucky!
Now we have raised Moses to the skies (which he’s worth), but we should not forget the rest of the crew, Allan – our driver in Kenya, Tonkei – Moses son, Benjamin – our chef and our driver in Tanzania “The Jungle Master ‘. All the guys were superb!
And, then it is one more person who should have a lot of credit. Before the trip, we had contact with Moses colleague Olena and she was the one who made the whole trip possible. She was the one who answered all our questions and helped us put together a good program. Olena gave us a basic proposal, which we could rework together, according to our requests and our budget. Olena is incredibly helpful and is always quick to respond. She is super nice!

We can highly recommend a trip with Empakaai Cultural Safari. Everything was well organized and everyone took care of us in the best way. We experienced so much that it is impossible to describe everything. Besides all animal experiences, one of our best memories is our three nights in tents. The feeling of waking up in the African wilderness is both magical and powerful. During those nights, we also had our own chef who cooked good food for us. To camp a few nights is a must. Something else you can’t miss, is a visit to a Masai village and learn about their history and culture. It´s very interesting.

Take the chance to experience wonderful people, wildlife, other cultures, nature and feel life, real life! Asante sana Empakaai Cultural Safari!

Cindy, Fredrik, Carina and Patrik from Sweden”

Would like to know more about the trip of Cindy and family? Don’t wait too long with planning your own dream trip in Kenya and Tanzania – just go for it and we are here to help you!
Check our our Instagram profile for more inspiration and ideas (this button below will take you there):

Or drop us a quick email on empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com and we will be happy to discuss your plans with you! Welcome!

Amboseli National Park: home of swamp-loving elephants

Amboseli was born together with Mount Kilimanjaro, during the times of the Roof of Africa’s volcanic formation. The beautiful and fragile ecosystem lies at 1,150 metres above sea level. Its name takes origin from the Maasai word Empusel – a salty, dusty open plain. The waters of Mount Kilimanjaro sustain life in permanent swamps of Amboseli, the only permanent water source in an ecosystem stretching to the Chyulu Hills near Tsavo West National Park.

Amboseli remained protected and not accessible to ivory hunters for a long time due to the fierce reputation of Maasai warriors. The area of 392 square kilometers became a National Park in 1974 and a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1991.

Semi-arid Amboseli is home to over 50 mammal species and over 400 bird species. Its swamps provide life source to aquatic flora and fauna. These swamps quench the thirsts of millions in this ecosystem receiving less than 340mm of rainfall annually.

In the old days, wild animals grazed and drunk side by side with livestock at these swamps. Water from Kilimanjaro trickles down porous rocks and underground channels and erupts into numerous springs in Amboseli. Without Kilimanjaro, many lives would cease here.

Wildlife of Amboseli

Amboseli National Park is a superb destination for safari. Photo safari enthusiasts will be delighted by the fine landscape, by the picturesque mini sand tornados, by the Mount Kilimanjaro at the background, and by the beautiful animals living here. There are large herds of elephants, matriarchs with their young, always moving around, accompanied by the male elephants at the distance. Elephants would take a swim in a swamp at a hot hour of the day and emerge from there half black, half grey, with white egret birds sitting on their backs. Their tusks are impressive, as the fragile soils of Amboseli are rich in minerals.

Big cats live here too, beautiful lions and impressive cheetah. They obviously like it next to the swamps that always attract zebra and wildebeest in multitude. African buffalo and giraffe graze here too.

Where do we stay on our trips visiting Amboseli National Park?

Oltukai Lodge offers great comfortable chalets, with open views on wildlife grazing next to their open fences. Their great service and facilities, including an excellent bar and restaurant, turn your stay in Amboseli into a truly pampering experience!

Kimana Camp is a nice location just outside the park that providing a perfect camping experience for those who prefer to be outside and close to nature.

Ready to visit Amboseli? Would like to include this amazing place to your Kenya trip plan? Just contact us at empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com

Source of facts on Amboseli: Kenya Wildlife Service

Photo impressions: visiting a traditional Maasai village in Kenya

We are happy to let you see some photo impressions from the visit to a Maasai village, situated next to the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya.

These fantastic photos were taken by our guest Gigi and are published here with her permission. Please visit, like and follow her amazing Instagram gallery @ggluna79

We visited this village during our trip in September 2015. The men showed us their traditional dance and welcomed men guests to participate in the traditional jump contest! We were also lucky to see many Maasai traditions and some elements of their life that have not changed for many years. Enjoy the photos and BIG THANKS again to Gigi (@ggluna79 on Instagram)

Cows and goats are the most precious possessions of Maasai people

Maasai men dressed in their colorful shukka's — Maasai men dressed in their colorful shukka’s

The group of Maasai men is preparing to show their famous jump dance

A traditional Maasai dance is all about jumping as high as possible

Maasai men compete in jumping during their dance

Maasai keep their goats and cows inside the village during the night

Traditional skills of Maasai include making fire just using wood

Maasai can make fire just using wood and grass

Fire making skills passed from generation to generation by Maasai

Would you like to visit a Maasai village in Kenya? With Empakaai Cultural Safari you will be guided by a professional Maasai guide who speaks Maa. You will be able to communicate with local people and enjoy a well organized and enriching experience.

Contact us at empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com to book your next holiday in Africa. We guarantee to deliver you a trip of your dreams!

NEW TRIP: Kenya, Tanzania North and Zanzibar, 15 days

We tried this intensive and exciting itinerary for the first time in September 2015. And the trip was really a success! Why? Because it provides an unforgettable combination of the best natural and cultural experiences of East Africa, that are almost never combined in one trip:

Two most famous National Parks of East Africa: Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania
Maasai village in Maasai land, close to Maasai Mara National Park
Lake Naivasha, one of the most beautiful Great Rift Valley lakes in Kenya
Lake Victoria in Kenya
Ngorongoro crater
Visit to traditional Tanzanian village in Mto Wa Mbu
Usambara Mountains
Beach in Dar Es Salaam
Zanzibar island: Stone Town and North Zanzibar beaches in Nungwi.

For full and detailed itinerary please click here.

Prices starting from USD 2,500 per person, based on 4 persons traveling together and depends on accommodation level.

Included in the price:

Accommodation excluding North Zanzibar, two persons per room / per tent, breakfast included
Full board during camping days (breakfast, lunch cooked or packed, dinner)
Transport: vehicle, driver and fuel
Airport transfers
Transfers in Zanzibar
Experience English speaking tour leader / driver (Maasai from Kenya)
2 game drives in Maasai Mara National Park
Visits to Maasai village next to Maasai Mara NP
Boat trip in Lake Victoria
Visit to Maasai village of Mto Wa Mbu, including lunch in the village
Spice Tour in Stone Town, Zanzibar

National park entrance fees and service fees:

Maasai Mara NP entrance fee
Serengeti NP entrance fee
Ngorongoro conservation area entrance fee
Ngorongoro conservation area crater bottom fee

Excluded from the price:

Accommodation, food and expenses in North Zanzibar
International flight and insurance
Visa to Kenya
Visa to Tanzania
Return speed ferry tickets to and from Dar Es Salaam (depends on the airport of departure)
Meals not indicated above
Optional excursions and entry fees by own choice not listed above
Drinks, daily water intake and refreshments
Tips, personal expenses

Contact us through direct mail on Instagram or on empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com to discuss your preferences and book this exciting trip.

We are back from a great trip to Tanzania!

At the end of March we started a 10 day trip to Tanzania, with Serengeti and Ngorongoro as the main destination. The trip started and ended in Nairobi, and so our route took us from the busy capital of Kenya to the Kenya-Tanzania border in Namanga, and then further to towns of Arusha and Karatu. After a great experience in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park, we stopped in Mto Wa Mbu to take some rest before returning to Nairobi.

This trip is a perfect way to combine the overwhelming experience of a visit to Serengeti and Ngorongoro with some relaxed days in the midst of Tanzania. Traveling in a small group with Empakaai Cultural Safari meant that we could move around easily and stay in touch with what is going on among the locals. As all our guests said: a great professional guide who speaks local languages and knows how to get things done makes the world of difference on the trip!

Why this trip might be a holiday of your lifetime – here are just some thoughts shared by our guests:

“After visiting Serengeti and Ngorongoro you will never see the world in the same way. These places give a very powerful feeling – this is how our planet was created, you are a visitor here, but at the same time you are a part of this same beautiful world. It is surreal to be in the midst of a space that is so enormously vast as Serengeti and still be able to see so far to the horizon. You will most probably come across some unexpected images, like Maasai shepherds and their cattle grazing next to wildlife in the secluded area of the Ngorongoro area. Or hyena taking a mud bath right next to a group of wildebeest.”

“This time we saw the best of Africa, as we combined experiences of wildlife and nature with being really close to daily life in Tanzania. We travelled between the towns by the local shuttle buses together with local folks, ate most of our meals together with locals in street restaurants, watched TV with locals, shopped with locals. People in Tanzania are very friendly, you can relax and be yourself, just don’t forget to smile and wave when a child calls out: “Mzungu!”

This trip is ideal in combination with a visit to Zanzibar, as there are regular flights from the airport of Arusha to Zanzibar. If you prefer to finish your holiday on a beach, you will be able to experience three gifts of Tanzania: incredible wildlife in Ngorongoro and Serengeti, daily life in Arusha, Karatu and Mto Wa Mbu, and amazing culture in Stone Town together with a relaxing tropical beach in Zanzibar!

Contact us at info@empakaaiculturalsafari.com and we’ll be in touch to talk about what you would like to see and experience in Kenya and Tanzania during your next trip to Africa with Empakaai Cultural Safari.