Perspectives on East Africa: Cradle of Mankind and Symposium

Kenya has been called the “Cradle of Mankind” since the discovery of archaeological evidence supporting the earliest origins of mankind, with the Leakey family’s research center in Koobi Fora still making headline news in fossil finds today. Our journey brings us from this world-renowned center, based at Lake Turkana, to Ethiopia’s Omo River, one of the last great tribal lands left in the world today, where we enjoy cultural interactions with a kaleidoscope of intriguing cultures. Our grand finale is in the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s most sublime game reserves, where we experience phenomenal Big Five gameviewing in an unimaginably beautiful setting.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Perspectives on East Africa Symposium

Presentations, excursions, and other activities with our guest speakers at the Mount Kenya Safari Club.

Days 4-5
Sibiloi National Park, Lake Turkana, Kenya

Fly to an airstrip on the shores of Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world and the northernmost of Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes. Its shimmering waters contrast sharply with the surrounding lunar landscape of extinct volcanoes and lava beds. At Koobi Fora, where Richard Leakey’s team of anthropologists discovered some of the oldest human remains, and where our Guest Speaker Louise Leakey works, we explore this incredible fossil-rich research center and enjoy informal presentations from local archaeologists who are working at uncovering yet more clues to man’s early origins (dependent on availability of archaeologists currently on site).

Days 6-9
Omo River Valley, Ethiopia

We head to our camp on the banks of the Omo River where we encounter a fascinating mix of semi-nomadic tribes who coexist in a harsh land isolated by the rest of the world. Among the people we meet are the Karo, who excel in body painting and use red and yellow minerals to create elaborate face and body decorations, and the Mursi, whose men practice scarification and shave their heads in geometric patterns, and whose women wear huge clay plates in their lower lips. We also visit the Nyangatom tribal people, pastoralists and honey gatherers who are also legendary warriors.

Days 10-13
Masai Mara National Reserve

We return to the Lake Turkana airstrip and fly to the Masai Mara for two full days of incredible gameviewing and game walks on the rolling grass plains, woodlands, and riverine forests of this fabled reserve, the northern extension of the Serengeti. Overnights are at Governor’s Camp, a luxury tented camp nestled in the forest along the banks of the Mara River, whose waters teem with birdlife, hippos, and crocodiles. Depart via Nairobi on Day 13.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 2+, moderate, according to our trip grading system. This is a rugged trip in a very remote region. Participants should be fit, healthy, and have no mobility restrictions. Medical facilities on the trip will be far away and often non-existent. Trip members must be prepared for some walking and some long days of rugged vehicle travel. On our safari in the Masai Mara, we enjoy gameviewing by 4WD vehicle and nature walks. Accommodations at Lake Turkana and the Omo River Valley are in tented “fly camps” that are simple but comfortable.

Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.

Explanation of Trip Levels