A CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLES AND TRIBES
Masai – Amboseli is surrounded by many Masai settlements. The small town of Oloitoktok (pronounced Loytoktok) is a major Masai center, with fantastic views of Mount Kilimanjaro and huge bustling markets. Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru are a traditional watering place for Masai herds and toady many herds can still be seen along the lakeside roads. Masai villages or Manyattas are usually a circular encampment of long, low, rounded houses, created by daubing cattle dung over a framework of sticks. There are many manyattas in these areas that can be visited by tourists. The best way to experience and learn about the Masai life is to take a foot safari or organized trek with an experienced Masai guide.
Kalenjin - Laikipia is predominantly the land of the Samburu and some Western tribes belonging to the collective Kalenjin group. One of the most populous of this group are the Pokot. Laikipia is home to several community ranches, which are owned and managed by local communities to protect wildlife, communal lands, and grazing and herding lands. Staying at one of these ranches can be a good way to experience and learn more about the local cultures, whether they are Samburu, Pokot or any other member of the Kalenjin collective.
Samburu - takes its name from the nomadic tribe who live throughout this desert area. Shaba, Buffalo Springs and Loroghi Hills are Samburu land. The Samburu have long used the waters of the Ewaso Nyiro as a water source for their herds of goats, sheep and camels. Today, many of the lodges and camps in this are work closely with local Samburu communities. Arrangements can often be made to visit Samburu villages or communities around the reserve. Visitors can take a camel or walking safari with a local Samburu guide or stay in a lodge or camp managed by a Samburu community.
Meru - is a collective tribe united by a common heritage. The Meru group incorporates the Igember, Igoji, Imenti, Muitini, Tigania, Muthambi, Mwimbi and Chuka people. There is a good museum with displays on local culture and history in Meru town.
Swahili - are to be found along the Kenyan Coast and are one of the most visible cultures. Since the 14th century, Lamu has been an important center for Swahili culture. Both Lamu town and the village of Shela are home to many fine examples of Swahili architecture. On nearby Manda Island are found the ruins of Takwa a civilization razed in the 17 Century. There is an excellent museum in Lamu town with good exhibits on Lamu culture and Swahili culture in general. The narrow labyrinth streets of Lamu town itself are a historical attraction in themselves. The Old Town was recently declared a World Heritage site. At the center of town is the impressive Sultan’s Fort built by the Omanis in 1808 that is now a museum and home to Lamu’s largest open market
British Colonial - The forested area of the Aberdares offers an interesting blend of British influence combined with Kikuyu tribal lands. A famous landmark, Thompson’s Falls is found here. The colonial town of Nyeri was the center of the Happy Valley settlers, a group of British aristocrats and adventurers who became infamous for their decadent lifestyles and exploits during the 1930s and 1940s. The town still has the atmosphere of a sleepy English village. Just outside of town is the Outspan Hotel, a colonial landmark that has become a place of pilgrimage for the European ‘scouts’. Outspan is also the base for visitors to Treetops, the safari lodge where Queen Elizabeth was the night her father King George IV died and therefore officially marked her passage from princess to queen.
Kikuyu - Making up 22 percent of the countries population, The Kikuyu are the single largest ethnic group in Kenya. The Kikuyu are of Bantu origin. In Kenya, they are concentrated around the fertile regions surrounding Mt Kenya with Muranga County being their main cradle. The Kikuyu are avid farmers and wield a lot of political and economic influence on Kenya.