Maa Eco- Travels: Nature and Inter Cultural Expeditions (NICE)

Be on the Adventure Frontlines......in Truly Maasai way!

We offer Tourism with a difference:

• Alternative and pro-poor tourism that uses Maasai and Samburu local resources and indigenous skills;
• eco -tourism that respects, recognizes and appreciates the diverse Roles and Rights of indigenous communities in conservation and also a right to a decent income and livelihood;
• We respect indigenous cultures, cultural expressions, heritage and their right to Free Prior Informed Consent in accessing and using their images and resources;
• We promote bush craft ventures that do respects natural and cultural diversity;
• We support and contribute to community development through volunteer work and organising fund raisers
• We organise and facilitate team building adventures based on indigenous that promote more open interactions between outsiders and communities.

Study Tours for Schools, Universities, NGOs, Communities, colleges: learning beyond the Class or formal set up

NICE is specialized and skilled in organizing and facilitating study tours of any theme and subject. We have organized educational and study tours for students, human rights monitors and defenders, social justice activists, researchers, faith based organisations, media and development workers.

Walking and Hiking Adventures in Samburu, Laikipia and Maasai Mara

NICE Safaris is an indigenous Community Based, owned and operated company registered in Kenya, that has developed and sustained a niche in organizing Eco Travels among the Maasai and Samburu communities of Kenya.

Read about Maasai cultural heritage >>

NICE safaris is specialized in organizing nature and intercultural learning and safaris, lifetime experiences, educational visits, interactive expeditions and leisure safaris, wildlife safaris, budget safaris, Maasai and Samburu community village stay and experience.We also organize internship and volunteer work and holiday. NICE also does organize village stays among the Kenyan well renowned communities such as the Maasai, Samburu among others- where you can experience their culture, way of life, ceremonies and rituals. You will have the opportunity and privilege of interacting with communities that have struggled to maintain and promote their cultural heritage despite all the odds.

We are Indigenous owned and operated and we understand the savannah, rangelands and much more we ensure that the Maasai and the Samburu, who have tirelessly contributed to the heritage, Nature and Wildlife Conservation in Kenya realize the broad range of benefits from tourism;

NICE is established based on the Maasai and Samburu cultural heritage, indigenous skills and knowledge that has established values and norms that takes care for and respects the nature, environment, wildlife and the whole ecosystems. The Maasai and Samburu have, over years, developed time –tested skills and knowledge that has helped them maintain a critical balance between their traditional lifestyles of keeping livestock, their rich and deep cultural heritage, the environment and the wildlife. They remain a pleasant and respectable people despite the odds and challenges. This is what motivated the creation.

The following values are what motivates and guide our Safaris, Excursions and adventures:

• We are Indigenous Maasai community based and -fully owned and operated
• We are local and promote use of local resources to alleviate poverty in an environmental friendly and sound way,
• We believe that can Community based owned and operated eco-tourism ventures can contribute and address to poverty alleviation and also address the power gap and imbalance between the rich and the poor using local initiatives and inter cultural connections,
• We use locally owned and run accommodation that promotes creation of job opportunities and income necessary for stable family life and enables the community particularly women and children earn from safaris and wildlife conservation,
• We use local produce, resources and skills.
• We support local initiatives such as nature conservation, environmental awareness and education in schools and education for children from poor households and marginalised communities.
• We believe in the Cultural Heritage and cultural rights for indigenous communities.
• We recognise, respect and promote the indigenous skills, knowledge and practices of these communities
• We promote cross-cultural experience, respect, understanding and Tolerance
• We believe in, promote and respect human rights, indigenous peoples rights, environmental and conservation, promote and support cross cultural connections as a means for building deep understanding.

Our Vision:

We envisage to contribute to poverty alleviation among the Indigenous Maasai and samburu communities through promotion of community based and owned ventures such as ethno- ecotourism, eco -safaris/study tours. We also promote self -fulfilling safaris and holidays through which our guests;individuals, families and groups draw satisfaction and happiness from the respect and value for the Maasai and Samburu communities, the environment and the wildlife Conservation. We educate and encourage tourists and visitors to respect Maasai and Samburu heritage.

The Team: We have a Team of 7 dedicated, diligent and humble Indigenous Maasai and Samburu professional and intrepid Warrior guides spread over the Maasai and Samburu.They speak fluent english, Samburu and Maa langauges.They are exprienced in walking/trekking safaris, cultural exprience/immersion, camel trekking, birding, wildlife and much more they understand and know the Kenyan savannah and the rangelands and traditional links with spiritual leaders of these two renowned communities. Beside the guides, we also have exprienced Maasai and Samburu Women who are exprienced Tour consultants in Both the Nanyuki and Nairobi office. They are efficient and prepared to help you plan and realise the objectives of your safari, holiday and adventure.

Salaton ole Ntutu:Key contact for Maasai Mara
An indigenous Maasai of the Purko clan, ole Ntutu was born and raised in the Maasai Mara eco-system. He belongs to the junior elder age-set of the Maasai. He has never had any formal schooling; he doesn't read or write English, but he can speak it well, having learned it from clients over the last 15 years. Ole Ntutu is an avid bird watcher. He is also a respected Maasai shaman, a power he inherited from his grandfather who was a traditional healer and diviner. Ten Maasai warriors, trained by ole Ntutu, act as guides, porters, and cooks at Maji Moto Camp. All walking and cultural expeditions are designed and typically led by Ole Ntutu himself.