Rafiki rafí:q (Swahili) n. noun: friend, comrade.
Come to Africa for the wildlife. Return home with a friend for life.

 

Culture

Although most people travel to Africa for the wildlife, we believe that your trip is not complete until you experience the local culture. Rafiki Safari Tours offers opportunities to visit the real Africa, mix with the locals where they live, learn and practice indigenous crafts and forge lasting friendships.

Indeed, a visit to East Africa simply would not be complete without enjoying authentically prepared nyama choma (roast meat), kicking a football with local children, learning to weave a basket or picking up a few dance steps or even joining village men on a hunt (not the big game kind).

   

      

   

 

We are currently offering cultural tours with the following tribes:

Kenya:

Kamba 

If you have ever seen a wood carving labeled “Made in Kenya,” chances are that it was made by the Kamba woodcarvers. Wamunyu, Kenya, located approximately three hours east (by car) of Nairobi, is our base for exploring Kamba culture. While the Kamba men are master woodcarvers, the women are best known for their colorful sisal baskets. Music and dance also play a major role in the Kamba culture. During your visit you will be entertained by school children as well as elders who will wow you with their vast repertoire of exciting sacred and secular songs and dances. We also offer an opportunity to learn basket weaving and traditional dance steps with the villagers.

In the spirit of ecotourism, your visit with the Kamba is coordinated with and helps to benefit Kenya Connect , an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange and grass roots community development through personal and service oriented relationships between East African children and their peers throughout the world.

 

Tanzania:

Our cultural tours in Tazania are coordinated with the Tanzania Cultural Tourism Programme. Although we are able to offer visits with nearly two dozen tribes, the following represent a couple of our favorites:

Meru – Agape Mulala Cultural Tour

The Meru reside just outside the city of Arusha at the base of Mount Meru. This is great hands-on cultural tour with rewards being fresh roasted and brewed coffee and a sampling of local cheese. Check out this video for more info:

Hadzabe Bushmen

The Hadzabe are nomadic hunters and gatherers who live roughly an hour drive southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater on the northern shores of Lake Eyasi. We offer a unique opportunity for you to join these legendary masters of the hunt and experience survival as Mother Nature intended -- from using a bow and arrow and learning to make a fire from wood -- to gaining insight into a culture that to this day, literally survives off the bush.

Rafiki Safari Tours · P.O. Box 13742 · Arusha, Tanzania · (255) 754 688 933 · rafikitours@yahoo.com