You may have heard of the Maasai people before arriving in Kenya. While many tourists visit villages near the Maasai Mara or Amboseli, these experiences are often commercialised “performances” designed for mass tourism. In many cases, these villages have been turned into businesses where traditions are traded for profit, often leading to the exploitation of vulnerable community members.
At Happy Tribe, we do things differently. Our village tour offers a truly authentic experience. We are the only company permitted to visit this specific village, and we limit visits strictly to our clients’ bookings. This prevents the community from becoming dependent on tourism and protects their traditional way of life.
From cooking ugali in a manyatta and traditional fire-lighting to beadwork, milking sheep, and joining in traditional song and dance, you will experience the genuine daily life of the Maasai.
We pick you up from your hotel for a 2.5-hour drive into the heart of Maasailand. Along the way, you’ll witness the shifting landscapes and local lifestyles.
The Market (Mondays & Fridays): If you visit on these days, we stop at Kenya’s second-largest livestock market and visit a women-run makeshift kiosk/restaurant. We do not eat here but the company pays a fee for the courtesy visit.
Ethical Impact: We believe in radical transparency. We are likely the only company that pays every participating villager individually. Using an online register, your guide records attendance, and payments are sent directly to each person via M-Pesa immediately after the visit. Through the Happy Tribe Foundation—a legally registered NGO in Kenya—we sponsor school fees for children from underprivileged families and support girls escaping early marriage or FGM. We also buy rain water storage tanks for the villagers among other needs. Your guide will provide details on how to donate and how we communicate the impact of your contribution to you.
Responsible & Sustainable Tourism: We kindly ask that you dress and behave modestly during your visit. If you smoke, please step away from the group and the villagers, and ensure that cigarette butts are disposed of properly and not left on the ground. We encourage a respectful atmosphere and ask that guests refrain from using profanity. We do not offer the visit on Sunday to allow as it is the villagers day of worship. You are warmly invited to share stories about your own culture and ask questions; we believe in a meaningful exchange of ideas. Finally, we ask that any photos taken in the village be used for personal memories only and not for commercial purposes. You can post them on your socials to promote the tribe. Refrain from leaving your phone number with the villagers. Through experience, allow us to manage communications and intentions.
We don't just ask you to trust us—we invite you to investigate. Ask us about our payment structures and how we ensure every member of the community is remunerated fairly and equally.
