Culture & Communities

One of the highlights of staying in northern Kenya is the opportunity to experience the rich and ancient culture of the Samburu people, the stewards of northern Kenya’s incredible landscape. The Samburu have a way of life and elaborate traditions that follow the pattern of the rains; such celebrations have remained unchanged for the last two centuries and the chance to witness them is unforgettable.

A safari in Mozambique is as much about its people as it is about its wildlife. Rich in history and traditions, the country’s remote wilderness areas are home to communities that have coexisted with nature for generations. In places like Gorongosa National Park, conservation initiatives are deeply intertwined with local livelihoods, supporting education, healthcare, and sustainable tourism. Visitors can engage with local guides, experience traditional storytelling, and witness the impact of community-led conservation efforts firsthand. From vibrant markets to villages where age-old customs thrive, Mozambique offers a safari experience that is both culturally enriching and deeply rooted in its people’s connection to the land.

From the iconic, red-robed Maasai to the hunter-gatherer Hadzabe people and the pastoral Datoga that live around Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley, Tanzania has a powerful and varied cultural heritage. The opportunity to meet with some of the ethnic groups and have even a glimpse of their traditions and beliefs is magical, and for most, only serves to deepen the magic of the country.

The Omo Valley has long been the home of a range of Afro-Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan tribes, including the Kara, the Mursi, and the Hamar, all of which are representative of some of the world’s greatest genetic variances. Primarily agro-pastoralists, the Omo River is their lifeline, its annual floods a natural irrigator of fields of sorghum, staple diet for most. Their traditions largely unchanged, their customs are a source of anthropological fascination and a window onto a past much of the rest of the world began to leave behind 10,000 years ago.

Meet the communities of Mbomo and Ombo villages, both located near Ngaga Lodge, for an opportunity to meet some of the people who have lived in the Congo Basin for generations. Learn about the challenges and rewards of life in the forest and share your own experience in the outside world.

The challenges of living alongside Africa’s iconic wildlife should not be undermined. In Botswana, you’ll have the chance to meet with some of the communities that live on the fringes of the Delta and see first-hand what it is like to live in such close proximity to wild animals.

A trip to Madagascar is about connection and connecting with the local community.