What are 3 curated travel experiences to kick off 2023? [Part III]
As we enter the first week of the new year, the time has come to reveal our final writeup from our series of 3 curated travel experiences that can transform the start of your 2023. To recap, our first entry involved purposeful travel in the Brazilian Amazon and our second writeup profiled the unique travel experiences at Living Land Farm in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Our third curated travel option embodies experiential tourism at its core. Experiential tourism is as far removed from resort package holidays as you can get. It’s being exposed to a completely new setting and reveling in the unfamiliar, beyond any superficial differences. Through this type of travel, you engage with destinations in an intimate way. It’s an activity-based exploration of hidden gems, where you have genuine interactions with local people. It’s the gateway to authentic experience.
Routeme is a specialized boutique travel planning service that helps modern-day travelers fulfill their appetite for authentic experiences. Navigating the endless opinions and reviews online to plan a truly rewarding and purposeful trip can be just as overwhelming as starting from scratch. That's where we come in. We’ve taken the time to research, so you don’t have to. And when it comes to intimate travel experiences, such as homestays, this research and vetting is more vital than ever. Welcome to Kenya’s Maasai Mara region, specifically the Ewangan Maasai Village Homestay.
What makes a 3-day stay at a Maasai Mara homestay an immersive travel adventure?
On the medicinal plant and bush walk with two of our hosts- truly unique travel.
We arrived at Ewangan Village after a multi-day safari experience in the Maasai Mara reserve. Conveniently, the village is located only 15 minutes from the main entrance of the reserve.
During the homestay experience, guests can participate in a wide range of immersive travel experiences including guided wildlife tours, medicinal plant and bush walks, cultural tours, jewelry making, honey production, Maasai songs & dances and warrior training.
Here are three of the most memorable parts of our stay at Ewangan:
1.) Exploring the neighboring communities by foot: Over the course of our time at Ewangan, we walked a lot. It was so energizing and enriching to stop and talk to locals, share a bit of our lives with them, learn from them, and get exposure to their day to day life. Our hosts showed us a clinic, school and tech center which have been funded by several international partners and are essential to the communities livelihood. Another day, we went on a medicinal plant and bush walk to learn about the flora and fauna of the area. We even practiced archery! On a separate occasion, we helped bring back the cattle after a day of grazing, so it really feels that you are participating in their daily routine.
Sunset walk to bring the cattle back home after a day of grazing- authentic travel.
2.) Night time chats: One of our favorite aspects of our stay was dinner time, which was always shared with some of the hosts. This was the time we were able to have heart to heart conversations and learn about the Maasai culture and the importance placed on preserving traditions. The community is incredibly open to answering any questions and shedding light on past, present and future topics that will affect the sustainability of their culture. Although some aspects of the Maasai beliefs are very different from ours, or ones you may not agree with, the biggest takeaway is their deep love, respect, and commitment to their ancestors and culture.
3.) Accommodation: We stayed in a small traditional 3 bedroom mud house on the village property. The house had three beds, a bathroom, electricity and running water.
The traditional mud house we stayed in during our immersive travel experience to Ewangan Village.
Some quick tips
Local food and water
Our Maasai homestay provided three delicious and healthy meals per day as well as beverages and bottled water. Tap water is not safe to drink in many parts of the world, including Kenya where we were - therefore the only critical advice is to ensure you have access to clean drinking water throughout your stay. Thankfully this was not an issue for us as the host family had plenty of bottled water for us throughout our stay. Please consider vaccine requirements for different regions and follow CDC. (or local equivalent) guidelines.
Should I bring a gift to my homestay?
Though this is by no means required, you can definitely consider bringing a simple gift for your host family. Remember this should not be monetary, but rather something that can serve as a cultural exchange, shedding light on a tradition or something typical from your home.
Set an intention for your time at your homestay.
Cultural experiences, such as homestays, are immersive and usually free of pressure to buy. They are a great way to learn about a local culture, make new friends, and be exposed to a different type of community. This experience allows you to truly see life from an alternate perspective. The Maasai people have many beautiful traditions and wisdom to learn from - which were shared with us at the campfire and throughout the enriching experiences we had with them. Go into each homestay experience with a personal objective and challenge for self-growth. Being intentional and proactive about it will ensure your time builds on your interconnectedness,
How does Routeme give back?
Routeme is committed to championing responsible tourism enterprises that promote inclusivity and sustainability. We believe that conscious traveling and purposeful exploration can serve as a powerful economic growth driver for communities.
10% of your business with us will go towards supporting an initiative positively impacting the social, financial, cultural, or environmental fabrics of tourism in your destination country. For those who want a more hands-on approach, we are more than happy to share a selection of innovative projects for you to choose from.
