Kenya Cultural Tours
Kenya Cultural Tours : Cultural Tours in Kenya takes you for an amazing encounter with the Kenya’s indigenous tribes. Visiting Kenya’s tribes exposes you to their traditional beliefs, dances, pastoral life, festivals, marriage ceremonies, polygamous practices, food and lifestyles, during the visiting to those tribes you will notice just how the hospitability Kenyans are to foreigners. The Kenyan culture is so interesting such that many visitors have chosen to stay permanently after interacting with the locals.
Kenya’s culture is heavily influenced by the expert workers, migrants and the inter-marriages that occurred when the first foreign settlers arrived at the East African Coast, as a result, it is possible to visit some of the most primitive tribes in Africa and also those that have embraced modern ways of living in the major cities/islands. Each major town and city has its own cultural identity depending on the dominant tribe in the area. English is the national language but Swahili is the dominant language. Each tribe group still speak their own language but Swahili helps the various tribes in Kenya to unite together.
Cultural Experiences in Kenya.
Experiencing the culture of people in a new country not only helps you to understand your own but also erases the doubts you have over the others. During the cultural tours you get to know why people behave in a certain way, what makes them different and what you can learn an example is the value of the extended family and raising of children as a community. Apart from visiting the indigenous tribes living close to the national parks, there is also an opportunity to visit schools and certain market areas in order to learn how people live.
Cultural Attractions in Kenya.
Visiting the Maasai people at the Loita Plains in Narok.
The Maasai are the one of the few indigenous tribes in Africa that have left their culture intact, the Maasai are proud and confident people who have gained a reputation as fearless warriors, in that the Maasai people stand out because of their colour, garments, jewelry and spear-wielding habit. The Maasai depend entirely on their livestock and because of that they live a nomadic life in search of pasture and water for their animals, the Maasai tend to live in the communities or small settlements that can contain between 8 to 15 houses, the settlements are protected from the predators using thorn fences and bushes.
The tourists who visit the Maasai Mara tend to make stop at Loita plains in Narok, during the period, the tourists are led by the guide to visit the Maasai homesteads, while with the Maasai people, the tourists can help tend the goats, sheep and cattle. There is always a chance to meet the elders where the tourists get to learn about the history of the Maasai and their culture, and if it gets to evening the Maasai entertains you with their folk songs, stories, dances around the camp fires.
Visiting the Luo Speaking people.
The Luo are among the dominant tribes in Kenya. The Luo people moved from the South Sudan and traveled to Kenya through Uganda, most of the Luo people live in Kisumu or the wider Nyanza province which is close to Lake Victoria. During your visit to the Luo people, you will not only experience their rich culture but also visit Lake Victoria and the Kit-Mikayi, and the Kit-Mikayi is a rock formation with a lot of historical importance to the Luo people, many villages still go to the rock for sacrifices and the prayer.
Islamic Culture in Lamu.
Lamu seem to be the oldest town the coast of Kenya. It is an archipelago consisting of other islands like Kiwayu, Lamu is traditionally Swahili and Muslim town hence one of the best place to experience the Swahili culture, it is also a great place to learn about the kind of life lived by the first Arab traders who arrive as the 11th century, they still use Dhows for navigating through the Indian Ocean and the donkeys while on the Island.
During the visit, the tourists take time to explore the narrow streets in the town before going the pristine beaches of the different islands, other activities in Lamu includes the swimming with the dolphins and other water sports. By the end of the cultural visit to the archipelago, you would have discovered beautiful scenery, ancient buildings and learnt a lot about the history of the Swahili language or culture.
The Turkana and El Molo.
The Turkana live in the northern part of Kenya and are also pastoralists like the Maasai. The area where they live is arid forcing them to move from place to place looking for fresh pasture and water for their animals. As climate change and land degradation becomes more prominent, the Turkana are gradually embracing other ways of making a living, it is now possible to find them employed in cities or as fishermen in Lake Turkana, during your visit to the Turkana gives you the great cultural experience that is comparable to the Maasai, during your visit you can as well visit the endangered El Molo tribe.
The Kamba in Machakos.
The Kamba are one of the great and more assertive tribes of Kenya, as most of them live in Machakos. The town has major tourist attraction and a lot of development work was undertaken in the recent years.
The Samburu.
The Samburu are closet relatives of the Maasai. Like the Maasai the Samburu have not allowed western influenced to erode their original culture, the Maasai they speak Maa and arrives in Kenya from what is now South Sudan. Their dancing style is similar to the Maasai involve dancing in the high circle. Samburu are also nomadic pastoralists and depend on their animals for survival, like they feed on cow milk, meat and blood on the occasions they sell their animals to get money.
Visit Bomas of Kenya.
Bomas of Kenya there is a chance to see all the different tribal groups in one place, the center was opened in 1971 and found in Nairobi, along the Lang’ata Road. The Bomas of Kenya is special because it offers variety hence the tourists to see, experience and learning everything in Kenya there is a chance to know more about Kenya’s different cultural groups.
Mombasa.
Mombasa is one of the best places to experience the Swahili culture in all the variations. The culture of residents of Mombasa was deeply influenced by the Arab and Persian traders who first visited the coast of East Africa over the 400 years ago. They intermarried with the locals resulting in the birth of the Swahili culture. The Arabs, Persians and the Europeans left behind stunning architectural wonders which are separate attractions of their own.
The Mijikende Kaya forests.
To experience the unique cultures of some parts of Kenya, you must visit these sacred forests. There are 11 forests in the area surrounded by the villages which were built in the 16th century, most of the village folks abandoned the villages in the 1940’s leaving behind the elders to keep the cultural values a live, the elders have started ensuring that their ancient practices and believes remain intact. Visit the Mijikenda Kaya forests for a truly unique experience that is different from everything.
