Maasai Guided Walks

Discover the wonders of the Great Rift Valley on foot with our Maasai Naturalists who offer guided walks through dappled forest and sunny open areas. Along the way, you’ll learn the traditional ways of the Maasai people and gain from their deep knowledge of the world around them. Slowing down means you get to imbibe the lovely views of the Mara 300 metres below, with glimpses of anything from great herds of buffalo to a solitary elephant melting into the forest.

Not Your Usual Walking Safari

  • An expert in bush lore, your Maasai Naturalist will show you how his people interprets and makes use of the animals, birds, plants and the magnificent landscape through which you walk
  • Get to know a few of the plants on the escarpment and their various uses by the Maasai for medicinal and hygiene purposes
  • During your walk, your Naturalist may share stories of his childhood with you, how he grew up to become a warrior, and how he learnt about the world around you
  • The Naturalist is clad in beautiful Maasai warrior regalia complete with headdress and ‘empere’ (spear), ‘engudi’ (peace stick), and ‘orinka’ (talking stick)

The Great Rift on Foot

With no established trail, every walk is different as our Maasai naturalist guide tailors the walk to his guests’ interests and preferences, taking full advantage of the seasons.

An Easy Bumble

One to two hour strolls

 

Take a short stroll in the vicinity of the lodge, along the Oloololo Escarpment. This is a plateau rich in flora and fauna and well worth exploring. It’s an easy walk, ideal for children, and can be done at any time of the day — although it’s best to go a little earlier before it gets too hot. This is an excellent opportunity to experience the Greater Mara ecosystem at a leisurely and intimate pace.

 

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Trails for the Fairly Fit / Moderate Walks

Walks of 2-3 hours

 

Take two to three hours and explore the forest upstream of Angama Dam, keeping an eye out for tracks in the periphery of the streambed, before climbing the slope to the plateau above. Or enjoy the trail around South Gully at the head of which is a small but idyllic kopje for watching the sun rise above the forest below and listening to the dawn chorus as the Mara comes to life. Once the sun is up, head down into the gully itself, following a stream through lush forest punctuated by beautiful glades and seasonal waterfalls.

 

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Half- or Full-day Trails

Moderate to strenuous walking: allow half or full day (fair levels of fitness)

 

A longer walk takes you south with your guide along the Oloololo Escarpment, exploring a mosaic of forest, grasslands, and Maasai settlements. For the most adventurous, there’s the walk in nearby Nyakweri Forest. After an hour’s drive, you and your guide will be met by Nyakweri Community Forest Scouts, who will escort you beneath the canopy of what is perhaps the easternmost remnant of equatorial African rainforest, and home to a wide range of unusual species at the extremes of their range. These walks offer the chance to see different habitats, to say nothing of the spectacular bird life of the forest.

 

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