ACTIVITIES
2 activities are included in the $ 20 package you pay for the duration of your stay at Engaresero Village CBO Cultural Center.
You will be escorted by a local Maasai guide to Lake Natron activities and Engaresero River waterfalls.
LAKE NATRON SHORES
half day
Easy guided walk from the Eco Lodge. In one hour, you will have reached the Southern part of Lake Natron to explore the ecological diversity and discover the magnificent breeding sites of flamingos. Around two millions of these large birds migrate each year to nest on the salty pack ice, forming in the dry season in the middle of the Lake.
Your guide, will talk to you about the flora and fauna of the lake but also about the maasai culture, rituals and customs. These local populations live in a semi nomadic way of life around the lake shores.
Your walk will then be extended to admire one of the oldest footprints of Homo sapien believed to date back almost 120,000 years.
During this walk you will cross a forest where you will have the pleasure of meeting our neighbours the giraffes.
Wonderful sunset to admire if you go there at the end of the day.
Walk included in the activity fee of $20 pp to be paid to the local cultural Centre CBO, free guide included
ENGARESERO FALLS
half day
Accompanied by a Maasai guide, come and refresh yourself in the falls of Engaresero river.
The round hike will take you 2-3 hours. You will join the start of the walk by 4x4.
The walk follows the bed of the river. You will contemplate the huge gorges to finally discover and take a good shower in the cataract.
After your return, your driver will drive you back to our lodge.
You can also choose to start your trek directly from Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge, which will take you 4-5 hours. You will cross the beautiful valley admiring the volcano and you will surely be escort by Maasai children.
Walk included in the activity fee of $20 pp to be paid to the local cultural centre CBO, free guide included
TREK TO THE ESCARPMENT OF LEPAREKASHI
full day
You will leave around 6am with the sunrise, to get to the foot of the mountains of the rift valley. There, you will begin the ascent to reach the place called "Leparakashi", place of transhumance of the semi nomadic Maasai, who graze their herds in these pastures of altitude during the dry season.
You will meet warriors with their animals but also families who live up there temporarily. They call these houses "temporary bomas".
Your Maasai guide will have plenty of time to explain his culture, local rituals and traditions.
Change of scene guaranteed.
The climb lasts about 3 hours, just like the descent.
Maasai Giraffe will prepare you a good picnic.
Good pair of shoes advised
$10 pp in addition to the $ 20 activity fee to be paid at the local CBO Cultural Center
$20 tip per group to your Maasai guide
OL DOINYO LENGAI VOLCANO ASCENT
one night
Ol Doinyo Lengai, the sacred mountain of Maasai people. If you are up to the challenge, we can organize a trek with a experienced guide, to climb to the edge of its crater.
The climb of this active volcano takes place at night. Departure from the camp around 11 pm. You will start climbing around midnight, and so will be at the top around 5am. You can rest while waiting for the beautiful sunrise to finally admire the wide plain of Serengeti that will stretch in front of you.
The descent must be done before it gets too hot, because the sun heats up very quickly the slopes composed of volcanic ash.
The round trip takes 10-11 hours.
A 4X4 vehicle is needed to get to and from the starting point of the climb. You can rent one on the spot for $100/car (4 persons maximum).
Proper shoes, a headlamp, pair of hiking sticks and good jacket are highly recommended.
Price: $93 pp, min 2 persons.
TREK TO THE UPPER WATERFALLS OF ENGARESERO RIVER
full day or half day
Ascent to the Rift Mountains to discover the gorges of Engaresero River.
Breathtaking landscapes and change of scenery guaranteed.
You will climb up to a rocky wall from which hundreds of springs gush out giving birth to the river. Swimming and natural showers along the way.
You will reach the beginning of the Rift Valley Gorge in a 4×4 vehicle.
Maasai giraffe will provide you with a picnic for lunch.
The round trip to the summit will take 5 to 6 hours.
Your Maasai guide will have the opportunity to explain to you his culture, rites and traditions.
10$ pp in addition to the activity fee of 20$ to be paid at the local CBO cultural center.
20$ per group for your Maasai guide
EXPLORE THE EAST PART OF THE LAKE
full day or half day
You will need a 4X4 to get on this side of the lake, +/- an hour drive to go.
The landscapes are breathtaking.
You will cross a very arid area, the land has been desertified by salt residues, and then as you get closer to the foot of the mountains, rivers come and flow into the lake, everything becomes a swamp of mosses and greenery.
Huge concentration of birds, pelicans, marabouts, flamingos etc... nest on this side.
You will also observe zebras, giraffes, ostriches, gazelles, wildebeests, etc...
You will be able to swim in a natural spring water pool by the lake and visit Maasai families living on the lake.
We offer tours with a Maasai guide.
10$ pp in addition to the activity fee of 20$ to be paid at the local CBO cultural center.
20$ tip for your Maasai guide per group
TRADITIONAL MAASAI VILLAGE EXPERIENCE
2 hours
By staying at the Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge, you will be right next door to the Maasai families of Engaresero. You will be able to discover the traditional life of the Maasais, their culture, their traditions and visit their bomas (grouping of huts of an extended family).
You will be able to participate in the milking of animals when they come back from the pastures.
Maasais women will offer you the purchase of their handmade Maasai jewelry.
The children will be happy to escort you.
You will have to ask for their permission and expect to have to buy jewelry to photograph them.
The guides work in shifts, each one will take you to his family of origin.
$ 20 for the family
MAASAI BARBECUE
Maasais love meat. Discover with them how they choke a goat, drink the blood and meticulously cut each piece of meat that they will then roast around a wood fire.
During the cooking, the warriors will sing and dance their traditional songs for you.
80 $ for the goat and dances per evening. Minimum 10 warriors.
ONE NIGHT IN A MAASAI
BOMA
Spend a night in a Maasai hut in the heart of a boma surrounded by other Maasai families at the foot of the majestic Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.
Enjoy your meals prepared by a Maasai chef, observe the beautiful starry sky and enjoy this moment alone in front of nature.
Comfortable hut : double bed, shower, western style toilet, solar electricity. No wifi.
Change of scenery guaranteed.
Price: 130$ night full board for 2 people in low season and 180 $ high season. Limited availability.
SAFARIS
Camping or lodge
We organize tailored safaris (in camping or lodge) in the big parks of the North : Serengeti, Ngorongoro and its crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha NP, Kilimanjaro etc...
Do not hesitate to let us know the desired itineraries, we will make you a detailed offer without any commitment.
COMPENSATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT BY PLANTING A TREE
1-2 hours
The moringa, named « miracle tree » as well, is a tree with miraculous virtues by its richness in minerals (calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium), in vitamins A, C, E, in proteins (it contains the 9 essential amino acids) and antioxidants.
Everything is used. Its powdered leaves are used as a food supplement and as a fertilizer for the soils.
The seeds are used to purify water or to produce oil used in cooking or cosmetics.
The cut branches can be replanted as they are and a new tree grows.
Maasai Giraffe offers you to plant your baby moringa. You will be able to lean on it a name stone in order to leave a trace of your passage.
Our staff will be pleased to explain you more in details the symbolism, the virtues and the composition of this mythical tree.
A small participation in the project is welcome.
EXPERIENCE SOME DAILY ACTIVITIES OF THE MAASAIS
2-3 hours
Put yourself in the shoes of a Maasai by spending some time with them. They will make you discover their culture, their beliefs and their daily gestures.
They will show you how to load a donkey (good luck to the one who will try, these animals are real mules), how to carry a baby, how to make fire or how to carry firewood and water cans on your back. It's up to you to try !
You will also discover how they draw blood from their cows by shooting an arrow through the jugular vein in the neck and collect it in a calabash. The precious liquid is mixed with the milk as a source of protein, without having to kill the animal.
They will also teach you to count in Maa by sign, which is very different from our way of counting.
They will also spend some time showing you their skills in handling their spears.
You will finish by singing, dancing, jumping (there is a very particular technique that they will be happy to show you) all together.
Unforgettable moment guaranteed.
Price : 15$ / pp, 6 people minimum
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
live an authentic experience
SHARE 3 DAYS and 2 NIGHTS WITH a Maasai family in the heart of the savannah
Native Maasai from Lake Natron region, in Northern Tanzania, welcome you to their land to share their daily lives for a few days.
You can follow them in their transhumance to the highlands of the Rift valley or find them at the local market of Engaresero village every week on Thursday, and escort them with their donkeys to their remote territories.