Taste of Africa

If you’ve ever had “community involvement in a developing country” or “African safari” on your bucket list, but not quite had the courage or know-how to make it happen?  Well we’re most certainly the right tour company for you to take care of all your planning, preparation and ensuring you have the most amazing adventure of a life time!

Our large focus is on providing REAL African experiences and adventures, and our guests are nurtured and cared for 24/7.  Some years ago,  we established a primary school in a slum in Kenya, so our guests experience not only the abundantly rich culture and magnificent beauty of Africa, but go to places most travellers never go to meet people most travellers never meet and support and make a difference in the lives of local people, local communities and local small businesses.

Our guests forge everlasting friendships and leave having had a truly life-changing experience.

Exploring the Diverse City of Nairobi and Surrounds

We begin our tour experiencing a true taste of what Nairobi has to offer. This includes:

• Visiting our school, Tamariki Educational Centre
• Exploring the diverse city of Nairobi and surrounds
• Trawling local handcraft markets for shopping
• Visiting David Sheldrick’s baby elephant orphanage
• Visiting Karen Blixen’s coffee farm, Kazuri Beads, and Akamba woodcarvers
• Experiencing afternoon tea on a sustainable organic animal and vegetable farm and a traditional Kenyan tribal dance concert

Full details

You will visit our school Tamariki Educational Centre in a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi, where you will be interacting with our beautiful kids, staff and community. So that you get to enjoy the wonder of what our school is all about, we visit our school over four different days, each for just one hour. The school is set up for kids and their families who come from poor backgrounds, some orphaned and some affected by critical health matters. You do not need to be a trained teacher either, this isn’t about teaching! The volunteer work is to help and support the school by way of interaction, assisting teachers, maybe teaching a class on a topic you are familiar with, or helping with activities and projects that you may wish to bring along with you, or simply just playing with the kids. The wonderful Director/Headmaster will also assist in this area. Of course, if you have your own specific project that you would prefer to undertake, that is fabulous.

There are very many conservation projects set up in Kenya to protect the country’s prolific wildlife, but one of the most fantastic projects is David Sheldrick’s Baby Elephant Orphanage, situated on the edge of Nairobi National Park. David Sheldricks was set up as a rescue centre for orphaned babies, often whose mothers have died from tragic circumstances, or babies have fallen down wells and so the babies are left to struggle for survival on their own, out on the savannah.

The main aim of the project is to assist the baby’s rehabilitation, which can take many years, so they can survive back in the wild. Because of the importance of very little interaction with humans, the centre is open for 1 hour per day only, during a feeding time. Here we’ll get to see the babies, touch them, watch them being fed and marvel at their mischievous antics.
Trawling Local Handcraft Markets for Shopping

Nairobi has the most amazing, colourful, vibrant craft markets and there is always a bargain to be had. Part of your African experience is to mix, mingle and interact with the locals, and there is nowhere quite so perfect as the markets to have a laugh and a chat with all the stall holders who are desperate to make a sale.

Akamba Woodcarvers

A woodcarving cooperative set up in Nairobi where carvers from the creative, artistic Akamba tribe come together to carve chunks of wood into exquisite statues, figurines, utensils and so much more. We get a fascinating insight into just how much time, effort, and skill goes into these crafts that we often take for granted. Watching them work is literally mind-boggling.

Kazuru Beads

This involves a project setup for single mums back in the 70’s, which is now a thriving industry employing over 350 women. Meet these fabulous women and watch them create beautiful porcelain beads from the raw clay material and turn them into stunning items of jewellery and crafts which are exported right around the world.

Visiting Karen Blixen’s Coffee Farm

Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her role in this movie about Karen Blixen called “Out Of Africa”.

Afternoon Tea with a Delightful Order of Nuns

We pop in for afternoon tea with the delightful order of nuns who operate a fantastic sustainable organic animal and vegetable farm in Nairobi. Their knowledge and expertise is quite something.

Experience a Traditional Kenyan Tribal Dance Concert

We participate and watch a traditional Kenyan tribal dance concert.

Hanging Out With the Locals

One of the best ways to really get to know a country and its culture is by interacting with the local people. On this tour you will be doing exactly that. The Kenyan people are beautiful; they are happy, friendly and full of fun. You will get to meet and socialise with many of my local friends on this tour.

It’s all about experiencing up-close and personal encounters with Africa’s finest wildlife

This includes:

• Game driving in the savanna, in search of the “BIG 5” – leopard, elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino.
• Interacting with the Masai tribal community.
• Experiencing the exhilaration of staying in a tented camp in the fabulous Mara, where wild animals roam freely.
• Accommodation: We rough it a bit by staying in ‘permanent tents’ as part of the camp area. It’s similar to low end glamping style. An en suite is provided with each tent; each tent sleeps 2 or 3 persons.

It’s all about spotting wildlife in its’ natural habitat

• Taking a small boat trip out on to Lake Naivasha for a close encounter with hippos and hopefully some pink flamingos.
• Cycling safari through Hell’s Gate National Park, nestled in the Great Rift Valley, for game viewing, and to take in the magnificent natural beauty of this geo-thermal area.
• Exploring the volcanic region, including a 50 metre descent down onto an ancient canyon floor.
• Accommodation: Cottages at a lovely tranquil lake front camp.

3 days Experiencing Kenya’s Ocean Coast | Diani Beach

1 hour flight to arrive at Kenya’s Indian Ocean Coast. This includes:

• Lazing on the snow white sandy palm-tree fringed beach and swimming in the crystal clear aqua sea.
• Taking a glass-bottom boat ride out to a white sandy reef.
• Snorkelling and other water sports (at extra cost).
• Interacting with the locals.
• Indulging in a great deal of “R n R” around the pool.
• Accommodation: House on a gorgeous, gated and private property.
• Return to Nairobi for a final group dinner.