Travel with Us: Hands-On Culture and Conservation in the Maasai Mara
- Racquel Leongson
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
This is a Special Journey
This immersive small-group adventure takes travelers beyond traditional safari experiences and into the heart of Maasai culture and conservation efforts. Guided by an Uplift Travel Foundation co-founder, you will spend invitation-only time in local villages, support community projects for women and widows, and explore the remarkable wildlife of the Maasai Mara. Along the way, you’ll participate in conservation activities, connect with local communities, learn about the importance of conservancies while staying within them, and discover Kenya’s landscapes through meaningful, hands-on experiences like an annual count of prey animals like giraffes and zebras. We end with a special trip (appropriate. for all fitness levels) on bicycle within Hell's Gate National Park.
For your convenience, we've planned this to be completed over two weekends and one week for travelers looking to take just a week (and a couple of days) off work. For those who can extend their stay, we're offering an extension to Kenya's remote Samburu region for time with that region's signature animals, an elephant sanctuary (Reteti) run by and supporting the Samburu community and Samburu women whose lives have been transformed by this relationship.
Both segments are designed to have a positive impact on women, an impact accomplished through relationships and joyful interactions.
Learn more: Email kim@uplifttravel.org
Your Kenya Cultural & Conservation Journey
Detail | Information |
Dates | October 9-18, 2026 |
Group Size | 6-8 travelers |
Price | $3,920 per person (sharing) |
Destination | Kenya – Nairobi, Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha |
Trip Type | Cultural immersion, conservation, and wildlife safari |
Oct 13–17 | Maasai Mara Conservation Safari
Spend four nights at Aitong Crater House, a unique retreat overlooking the Maasai Mara ecosystem. Activities include working alongside researchers to conduct wildlife census surveys, learning how wildlife conservancies balance conservation with Maasai pastoral life, visiting local homes, and experiencing thrilling game drives — including the chance to witness the Great Migration if conditions allow.
Oct 17–18 | Lake Naivasha Adventure
Lake Naivasha
Travel to Lake Naivasha and explore the surrounding landscapes. Take a boat ride past fish eagles, pelicans, and hippos, hike Crescent Island among grazing wildlife, and bicycle through Hell’s Gate National Park past giraffes and other animals while exploring dramatic scenery.
Oct 18–22 | Samburu Extension (Optional)
Optional extension available for travelers who wish to continue their journey. Pricing varies based on number of guests, ranging from: $3,600 per person, sharing, for 2, to $2,700 per person, sharing, for four, and $2,400 a person sharing if we have a group of six.
Day 1 – Oct 18 | Arrival in Nairobi
Arrival in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel. Settle in and unwind after your journey.Overnight at Nairobi Tented Camp on a bed and breakfast basis.
ia.
Nairobi is the only city in the world with a national park within its environs. Since it was founded a little over a century ago, the city has grown at a very fast rate.
https://www.tamarindtree-hotels.com/
DAY 2 – 19th October 2026 : Nairobi – Bufallo Springs National Reserve (Samburu)
Departure from Nairobi will be after breakfast at 06h30. Your driver guide will meet you at the lobby of the hotel. Proceed to Bufallo Springs National Reserve (Samburu). Along the way, you will have a short stop over at The Equator point for an opportunity to learn more about the Equator point and how it came to be. Lunch on arrival at camp. Arrival will be in the afternoon. Begin your Samburu adventure with an afternoon game drive from 16h00 until sunset. Dinner and Overnight at Surana Bufallo Springs on Full board Basis.
DAY 3 – 20th October 2026 : Explore Bufallo Springs National Reserve (Samburu)
Your 2nd day in Samburu will begin with an early morning breakfast at the camp followed by a morning game drive in
the park enroute to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, with packed lunch. At 11h00, your public visit to the ellies at Reteti will
begin all the way up to 1300. Return to camp for leisure, thereafter, in the mid afternoon until evening. Dinner and
overnight at Surana Bufallo Spings on Full Board Basis.
DAY 4 – 21st October 2026 : Buffallo Springs National Reserve (Samburu)
After breakfast in the morning, depart for a morning game drive in Samburu from 07h30. Return to camp at noon for
lunch and short leisure in the afternoon. At 16h00, proceed for an afternoon game drive in Samburu until sunset. Return to camp and retire for the night after a successful day in the wild. Dinner and overnight at Surana Buffalo Spings.
DAY 5 – 22ndOctober 2026: Samburu - Nairobi
You will have leisurely breakfast at camp at 08h30. Check out of camp at 10h00 and drive back to Nairobi. Arrival in
Nairobi will be in the early afternoon approximately 15h00 in time for lunch in Nairobi at Talisman Restaurant. After
lunch, finish the day with shopping at one of the local community stores. Your driver guide will drop you off at JKIA
Airport from 18h00 for your flight back home.
Join This Journey
This small-group expedition offers a rare opportunity to experience Kenya through meaningful cultural connections and conservation efforts. From working alongside local communities to exploring the incredible wildlife of the Maasai Mara, this journey invites travelers to connect deeply with both people and nature. To inquire, email: kim@uplifttravel.org or call 231-357-1631.
Travel beyond observation — be part of the work that makes a lasting impact.
To learn more: email kim@uplifttravel.org or call: 231-357-1631.
Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about the Uplift Travel Foundation and our wonderful in-country partners and projects. Learn more about both our areas of impact and how to travel with us at UpliftTravel.org.
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