The Ultimate Maasai Village Experience

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Is This Trip for Me?

Yes ! This tour is designed for anyone, you can book this tours as solo traveler, couple & also Expedition Heroes offers this tour to small & large groups who are willing to travel together. Do not hesitate to contact us and our specialist will be ready to help you plan your holiday to Africa.

OVERVIEW

Overview

Tanzania is a melting pot of around 125 peacefully co-existing ethnic groups. Of these, the tribe you’re most likely to have heard about is the Maasai. The Maasai have a rich cultural tradition and this includes crafts such as beautiful beadwork and intricate hairstyles that articulate the wearer’s position and stage of life.

This immersive, fascinating two-day tour gives you an in-depth experience of authentic Maasai culture and traditions. You’ll spend a day and overnight with the Maasai people in the 100% traditionally built boma (village) of Olpopongi. Olopongi is a purpose-built cultural heritage centre that’s run by the Maasai themselves.

Olopongi is where you’ll get to know Maasai art and dance, spiritual customs, medical and herbal practices, crafts and, of course, their hearty and tasty cuisine. You’ll be shown round the village with its teeny-tiny museum, and you’ll enjoy a herbal walk in the bush, guided by Maasai herbal specialists. Spend the evening in deep cross-cultural conversation around the campfire before you drift off to sleep in a traditional Maasai hut.

ITINERARY

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1: Moshi to Olpopongi village

We’ll collect you early in the morning for the drive to Olpopongi village, west of Kilimanjaro. Relax on the two-hour drive through the beautiful outback where, depending on the season, you’ll see an array of wildlife such as zebra and elephant. And, of course, on clear days you’ll take in the awesome views of not just Kilimanjaro but its brother mountain, Mount Meru, too. Olpopongi is a purpose-built cultural heritage centre that is doing its part to protect the natural lifestyle and culture of the Maasai. Not only does the work and hospitality there support the Maasai who live in the nearby village of Tinga-Tinga, but it’s a sustainable and educational alternative to the usual tourist cultural trips that intrude on the privacy of the Maasai and often lead to the degradation of the Maasai culture. Olopongi is run by the Maasai people as an authentic village experience; the only non-authentic details are the Western showers and toilets! You’ll reach Olpopongi just before lunchtime, when the friendly Maasai will greet you with a traditional welcome song and dance and some refreshing mango juice.Your guide will show you around the village and you’ll check in to your hut where you’ll later spend the night. After settling in, you’ll visit the little museum where your guide will tell you all about the history, social organisation and tools of Maasai people – and there’s plenty of time for questions and conversation. To keep your energy up, you’ll enjoy a traditional Maasai lunch (don’t worry, veggies catered for!) and after a bit of a chill out, you’ll visit a midwife and herbalist in one of decorated huts, where you’ll learn about traditional plant remedies and the Maasai’s strong spiritual attachment to the land. After a break for coffee (or tea – we haven’t forgotten tea lovers in this country of coffee!) and perhaps a little forage into the jewellery shop for beautifully crafted beadwork, you’ll take a herbal walk into the bush to discover more about the plants and their usage. Day 1 is rounded off nicely with a fire-making session and a bbq under the stars, before you dream the night away in your Maasai hut.

Day 2: Olpopongi village to Moshi

To make the most of your tour, try to wake up early to experience the pink-and-apricot sunrise, clear, cool air and the dawn birdsong; but of course you can snooze a bit longer in bed. Whatever you choose, you’ll have a tasty alfresco breakfast and afterwards some time to chat to villagers, explore some more and take a few final photographs of this unique heritage centre and the people you’ve met. After the farewells, we’ll drive you back to Moshi just in time for lunch.

INCLUDES

INCLUDE / EXCLUDE

Transport
Accommodations
Village fees
Professional English speaking safari guide
Lunch box
1,5l bottle of water

Personal items
Gratuities / “tip” for safari guide
Increases in park fees where applicable
Travel insurance

GALLERY

TOUR GALLERY

ESSENTIAL INFO

ABOUT VISA

Passport and Visas for Tanzania can be obtained via Online Visa Application before arrival or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport. All travelers will need a passport which will remain valid for at least 6 months longer than your expected visit. You will also need to present proof that you have a return ticket, and proof that you have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay in Tanzania. Each traveler is responsible for sorting out their own passport and visa requirements, and we cannot offer much assistance in this matter. If you do not yet have a passport, apply for one early, as they can take some time to arrive. If you already have a passport, double check when it expires.

While Tanzania is a commonwealth country, UK citizens definitely do need a tourist visa to enter. This is also true for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, India, United States, Canada and most EU countries. Citizens of countries not mentioned should contact their nearest embassy or high commission to check visa requirements. Visas usually cost in the neighborhood of $50 (around £40), but some visas from the US can cost $100. Tanzanian visas expire three months after they are issued so be careful not to apply too soon.

Visas can be purchased upon arrival at Kilimanjaro international Airport (IATA code: JRO), but you can expect long queues, and for the process to take an extra hour or more. The Tanzanian High Commission has stressed that they have the right to deny visas applied for on arrival. We have never had a report of this happening, but it is a danger best avoided.

For these reasons, we highly recommend that travelers get their visa in advance if at all possible. On the other hand, many US travelers prefer to avoid risking their passports in the mail, and other potential delays, by applying upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

It is also now possible to apply for your Tanzania visa online https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/. Please read the Visa Application Guidelines carefully before beginning your application to ensure you apply for the correct type of visa, and that you are planning on entering Tanzania through one of the approved entry points.

Where to obtain a Tanzanian visa

In Dar es Salaam: The Office of the Director of Immigration Services
In Zanzibar: The Office of the Principal Immigration Officer
Abroad: Any Tanzanian Embassy or High Commission or via the Tanzania Immigration Services website
Entry points to Tanzania: Any gazette entry point, including international airports, Zanzibar Airport, the port of Kigoma, Horohoro, Sirari, Tunduma, and Nagama

Please be advised that, whilst we make every effort to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information, travel requirements can change quickly and sometimes without notice. We urge you to double check the visa and passport requirements for your trip, consult with an embassy or consulate.

REQUEST THIS TOUR

DEPARTURE DATES

The departure dates for all our African safaris and trekking packages are totally flexible according to your own personal needs. Please contact us for further and more detailed info, as well as information on photographic safaris and Kilimanjaro trekking packages.