Kenya Deep Travel Tours – Going Beyond Safaris
Dreaming about an adventure in Kenya that goes beyond the standard packages and tourist routes? Combine breathtaking wildlife safaris with unique cultural experiences where you get to experience Kenya in a more authentic and community-empowered style. In this collaboration, One Planet Journey introduces Steri Tours – a company redefining travel in Kenya. Through a focus on culturally immersive activities where travellers interact with locals in a respectful way, Steri offers clients more than safaris and wildlife. Founder Phoebe Maina explains how their tours provide travellers with deeper connections, lasting memories, and purpose.
Magical Kenya
As a destination, Kenya has an allure that few can beat. Here, in the warm and sunny climate, it all began for humankind. And we’re coming back in droves to experience its wonders and uniqueness. For example, Nairobi is the only capital in the world to have a national park within its borders. Imagine that. Lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and leopards so close to a major urban centre. But, as with many popular destinations, the service offerings have become quite standardised, everyone flocking to the same places, with almost no variation.
Bucket list tourism does little in the way of creating lasting connections between travellers and resident communities. With the rise of deep travel, there is a desire for more meaningful pursuits. A new crop of tour operators with responsible and immersive practices in place provide experiences like no other. Perfectly matched with travellers who know more.
What’s great in Kenya is the palette of activities on offer. You can easily combine exclusive wildlife safaris with a deep dive into the diverse culture. But what should you see and do? Let’s get specific and showcase some absolute highlights, making it easier to mix and match your perfect Kenya tour.
Wildlife Experiences
When you think of Kenya, the birthplace of the safari, you immediately conjure images of famous wildlife, especially the spotlight-stealing Big Five; lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, and elephants. But, there is more. If you venture off-the-beaten-path, you can spot some of the rarest wildlife species like wild dogs, pangolin, melanistic leopard, reticulated giraffe, Beisa Oryx, and striped hyena. These animals are best found in less visited parks and conservancies in Laikipia and Samburu in Northern Kenya, often through private and curated safaris.
The country also prides itself as the ‘host’ of the world’s ecological event, migrating wildebeest in the Masai Mara National Reserve. You’ve seen the documentaries where millions of wildebeest and zebras cross Mara River every year from Serengeti, a natural, awe-inspiring spectacle.
If you want to see flamingos and black rhinos head to Lake Nakuru, one of the Rift Valley lakes, sitting at an elevation of 1,754 m above sea level.
Mountains
Kenya prides itself with over 3,000 named mountains with Mt. Kenya, the highest and most prominent (second tallest in Africa at 5,199 metres). You’ve heard of Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is technically in Tanzania. However, Kenyans say that while Tanzania owns the mountain, Kenya owns the magnificent views. Some of the best you can find in one of Kenya’s popular parks, the Amboseli.
Beaches
The white sandy beaches that stretch along the Kenyan coastline give guests a mix of both bush and beach experiences. After a safari on the savannah plains, the beach represents a perfect place to unwind. Stellar spots include Lamu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site most known for its Swahili culture and beautiful beaches. An ideal spot for slow travel aficionados as it’s an island without cars. You will meet a lot of donkeys instead.
South of Mombasa you find Diani Beach. Actually, it’s a group of interconnected beaches along the Indian Ocean. Enjoy kilometres of powdery sand so white you fear getting blinded. If you go out at low tide, the beach stretches hundreds of metres out into the ocean. Further out, a coral reef protects the lagoon like environment, making it ideal for scuba diving, snorkelling, and windsurfing.
Culture and History
Kenya’s cultural diversity is another strong tourist draw. 45 ethnic groups that have unique languages, traditions, cuisine, and music, call Kenya home. This makes the country an exciting destination for travellers that value people centred experiences, diving deep into local customs, songs, and dances.
If you want the ultimate history trip, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lake Turkana, won’t disappoint. It’s the world’s largest permanent desert and alkaline lake. Drive to Kenya’s remote northern region to see the striking green-blue waters where you will meet several indigenous communities, including the Turkana. They have adapted to the harsh environment, no mean feat. The area, known as the cradle of humankind, has many fossils that provide crucial insights into human evolution.
Without a doubt, this land is a unique destination for meaningful, deep and immersive travel. Especially if you find the right tour company who can show you the authentic Kenya.
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Discover Kenya with Steri Tours: Travel That Makes a Positive Impact
“How come the tourist places thrived, while locals didn’t benefit from it?” – Phoebe Maina, Founder Steri Tours
Founded in 2020, the idea for Steri Tours originated from a simple question: How can tourism contribute to the local communities it touches? Phoebe spent more than a decade in the humanitarian and development sectors travelling extensively while interacting with people in the places she visited. She witnessed firsthand the stark contrast between thriving tourist destinations and struggling local communities. Genuinely affected, she created Steri Tours to bridge that gap, using travel as a tool for economic empowerment and cultural preservation in Kenya.
Travel Beyond the Ordinary
Steri Tours is all about going beyond traditional sightseeing. Their curated experiences create genuine connections between travellers and locals, traditions, and the environment. Whether it’s a bespoke safari, a cultural immersion with Kenya’s diverse tribes, or a peaceful retreat along the coast, every trip has its roots in authenticity and responsible tourism.
Phoebe Maina built Steri Tours on the belief that travel should leave a positive impact. Thus, the company partners with eco-friendly accommodation providers and local communities to ensure that their tours supports actual Kenyans. As a native, Phoebe grew up surrounded by the country’s diverse landscapes and vibrant cultures. Her experiences left her with a profound respect for nature, the people of Kenya, and a desire to share with the world what makes her country special.
She wanted to offer tours that did more than observe from a distance. Instead, she asked, how can travellers participate in daily life? As a result, Steri clients might milk cows with local farmers, attend a traditional wedding, or join families in preparing meal, all while respecting their routines and supporting their livelihoods. How’s that for immersion?
Travel with Purpose
What sets Steri Tours apart is a deep connection to Kenya. With a network of trusted partners and community alliances, they offer exclusive and immersive experiences that support locals. The mission is simple: to make the travel experience in Kenya seamless, unforgettable, and impactful. Through insider knowledge and a commitment to luxury and sustainability, they ensure you won’t get served the same places as the vast majority of standard tour operators suggest. Benefits include:
Small group travel to reduce the carbon footprint and to provide a personal and exclusive touch.
Curated tour packages centred around joint activities with resident communities.
Focus on sustainability through accommodation partners, digital itineraries to cut waste, reusable water bottles, and engaging with carbon-offset projects.
Steri hires and trains local guides, providing job opportunities in host communities. They also support artisans by buying their beadwork, textiles and carvings.
Co-creating experiences with the community-owned conservancies to ensure they share in the tourism revenue.
Staying in local homes/lodges so travellers get a first-hand perspective on people’s lifestyle and personal stories.
Steri Tour Experiences
Steri Tours and Travel caters to a wide range of interests and preferences by offering different tours. There is the one day variety, more immersive 3-5 day packages, and 7-10 days for those who want to experience even more of Kenya. Travellers can also opt for total customisation and private tours from the following categories:
Safari tours
The safaris include the Big Five, where Steri whisk travellers to various parks for example Nairobi, Amboseli, Samburu, Laikipia, Masai Mara National Park, where they can spot elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos. Steri advises travellers to visit the less crowded parks like Samburu, thus reducing pressure on the environment in Masai Mara. By visiting community conservancies it boosts their economy through tourism.
Slow & Deep Travel Tours
These are custom made tours that give travellers an opportunity to experience Kenya beyond safaris. Here you can hike on Kenya’s gorgeous mountains, use homestays and cosy eco-friendly accommodation with access to rivers, peaks, and storytelling with the locals. It also involves cultural exchange where locals prepare a Kenyan meal with the travellers and the travellers make their cuisine with the Kenyans.
Non-hikers can instead choose boat rides on the lakes, or just relax in pristine accommodation in Laikipia. Enjoy the tranquillity of the destination as you watch animals from your room.
City Tours
During the city tours, travellers meet with Kenyans on the streets of Nairobi, learn about Nairobi’s history as they visit art galleries and museums. The itinerary includes historical caves and a lush tea plantation near the city centre. A day tour comes as a package, which covers culture, food, wildlife, the city and the farm tours.
Steri also does special excursions for historical sites like Lamu Old Town and Fort Jesus for history minded travellers.
Bush and Beach Tours
The bush and beach tours include a slow train ride to Tsavo national park where you spend a couple of days enjoying the wildlife. You also experience Taita culture and magical waterfalls. Then, it’s time to head for the pristine white sandy beaches in Diani or Watamu. While at the beach, travellers indulge in water sports and Swahili cuisine, stories and dances.
Kenya Beyond the Tours
Picture yourself face to face with the world’s most iconic wildlife crossing your path. You stand on the vast savannah as the sun rises, preparing for more breathtaking safaris around Kenya’s landscape. But instead of heading home, you now have the chance to engage in cultural experiences. Taste freshly prepared Swahili dishes you help make, or immerse yourself in stories being shared by warm-hearted locals.
Safaris are a must in Kenya, but to truly understand the pulse of the country and its people, culture plays an important role. Steri Tours offers a different type of travel, one that’s rooted in respect for people and planet. If you’re looking to explore Kenya and give back to the places you visit, they will guide you every step of the way.
Come for the adventure. Leave with a deeper connection to Kenya.
Ready to make your Kenyan dream tour come true?
Visit Steri Tours website for more information.
Bookings via bookings@steritourske.com
Telephone: +254 795 914 324
Have you been to Kenya? What activities did you engage in? Let us know in the comment section! Subscribe to our newsletter and benefit from travel guides, sustainable tourism and luxury travel tips, insightful interviews, and inspirational places to visit. One Planet Journey – The World’s First Deep Travel Magazine.
