TWALA CULTURAL MANYATTA

Twala Tenebo Cultural Manyatta is a cooperative of over 200 women who coexist with the stunning wildlife of the semi-arid Laikipia plateau, located near Mount Kenya in northern Kenya.

LINKING LIVELIHOOD & CONSERVATION

Twala women engage in the commercial production of aloe and honey, beadwork, and ecotourism—offering guests traditional Maasai accommodations conference facilities, and Maasai cultural experiences, including traditional songs and dances, as well as indigenous plant and baboon walks. The Manyatta was initiated by local Maasai women to provide a unique and authentic experience for visitors while fostering respect and understanding of the local environment and culture.

RESERVATIONS

To make reservations, please contact:
Manager: Rosemary Nenini
Phone: +254 72950049

Please note, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reservations are very limited at this time.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Visit for a day or stay in a traditional Maasai hut in the Manyatta. Individuals or groups of up to 20 can be accommodated. Huts are self-catering. Food can be provided with advance notification. Teas and coffees also available. Traditional goat roast can be arranged. Water, bedding, lamps and firewood are provided.

RESERVATIONS

For information on rates and to make reservations, contact:

Rosemary Nenini
+254 729 540049

The Manyatta offers many activities, including the opportunity to watch and participate in traditional Maasai dances and songs, learn about daily activities and Maasai enterprises (cattle, bee keeping, beading, aloe, and opuntia), enjoy Maasai songs and stories, visit the breathtaking nearby Mukogodo Forest, or embark on a bird watching tour led by a local guide. Below are some additional unique opportunities offered to Manyatta visitors.

WALKING WITH CATTLE

The Maasai way of life revolves around their cattle. Livestock pastoralism has been an important adaptation to the savanna environment. “Walking with Cattle” allows visitors to learn about Maasai cows, traditional herding techniques, and Maasai culture. This is a hands-on experience, and you’ll have the opportunity to apply the techniques you learn to control the herd! This is an experience of a lifetime, and one of the highlights of the Manyatta visit.

WALKING WITH BABOONS

Take a guided walk among a troop of local baboons and learn about these amazing primates. Gorillas are big and impressive but mostly sit around. By contrast, a baboon troop is filled with active and smart monkeys who practice sophisticated politics in their daily lives. Come find out what happens when smart baboons meet their smart human cousins! It is truly a unique and exciting experience. Walks can be arranged to start as early as dawn (6:30 a.m.) or as late as 4 p.m.

TOURING THE LANDSCAPE

The landscape tells the story of how cattle, people and wildlife have interacted using the same savannah resources. Putting on “landscape glasses” allows you to see the ways in which each member of the human/wildlife community shapes the world for the others, sometimes helping and sometimes hindering the success of other species. Tours can start in the early morning or the late afternoon to avoid the midday heat. Tours generally last one hour.

BRACELETS FOR GIRLS SECONDARY EDUCATION

Twala women make beautiful beaded bracelets to enhance their income and support girls to complete their education. The bracelets are being sold in middle schools in Michigan to raise funds to build the Girls’ Boarding Block at Il Polei Secondary School. The Il Polei School supports girls to complete their education, avoid early marriage and even allows girls to return to school after they are pregnant. These young mothers have become the stars of their classes earning A’s and A+ in their exams!

Photos courtesy Jen Douthwaite, Shirley Strum, and David Western