Kenya Craft + Culture Tour

Jun 30

Written By Kirsten Dickerson

LOCATION: Nairobi, Amboseli, and Maasai Mara

DATES: June 22-30, 2026

GUESTS: 10 adults + 1 host

PRICING: $6,395 per person, shared occupancy

Please inquire about single supplement/private room availability.

Join our curated insider journey to Kenya.

Kenya is perhaps one of our favorite places on the planet. This tour is led by Kirsten, who has journeyed to Kenya over twenty times, and each visit continues to be awe-inspiring.

Safari is the Swahili word for journey. We know this is a bucket list opportunity, and many have never been able to go on an African safari because of the costs and time commitment, so we have curated an insider safari that is both magical and approachable, giving you an authentic, unforgettable experience that will impact you for a lifetime.

Save My spot

This will be the journey of a lifetime and a wonderful experience to share with a loved one or best friend.

As you journey throughout Kenya, you will be invited to slow down and pay attention to the beauty that surrounds you in the people and the places you visit. There will be an extra emphasis on conservation and creation care as you gain first-hand experience of some of the most majestic animals and terrain in the world. All the places we will stay are sustainable hotels and lodges that are committed to making a positive impact on the local community. The warm hospitality of our local hosts will inspire the way you want to welcome people into your own life and home.

Experience safaris that are otherworldly experiences of awe and wonder in both private conservancies and renowned national parks.
Experience incredible wildlife first hand with our local expert Maasai guides, such as elephants, giraffes, lions, zebra, hippo, rhino, and so much more. If you love birds, you will be in heaven.
You will be invited to learn firsthand about Kenyan crafts such as glass blowing, leather, beading, brassworks, and ceramics.
Learn about the Kenyan culture from our local hosts as we are welcomed into their communities and villages.
Support local artisans and sustainable shops that make beautiful handicrafts.
Visit iconic places in Nairobi such as the elephant orphanage and Karen Blixen’s home and coffee farm.
Enjoy locally grown and lovingly prepared delicious food, often sourced in the gardens at our accommodations.
Experience bush breakfasts and sundowners with breathtaking views of the savannah and African bush.
Visit untouched areas of Kenya that will give you a glimpse of the truly wild and wonderful world that God has created.

What’s included

Accommodations: 8 nights’ accommodations in handpicked eco-safari lodges, a boutique designer hotel, and a relaxing retreat center- all accommodations have a positive social impact on their local community.

Transportation: Local transportation (vehicles, safari jeeps, and in-country flights) as well as airport transfers.

Meals: All meals and all drinks, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at some locations. Meals are lovingly prepared by skilled chefs and locally sourced produce.

Experiences and Other Inclusions:

Guided safaris and tours with an extra emphasis on conservation and creation care (3 different locations: Nairobi National Park, Amboseli, Maasai Mara ).
Bush breakfasts, bush walks, and sundowners in the private nature conservancies.
Evenings relaxing under the stars, maybe the brightest you will ever see.
Visit to local private Maasai community that owns the nature conservancy area where our lodge is located.
All national park fees, conservancy fees, and museum fees, such as an elephant orphanage and a giraffe center.
Hands-on artisan workshops, including supplies.
Shopping at local artisan stores for handmade Kenyan treasures.
ARTIST & NOMAD tote bag and journal
ARTIST & NOMAD host and local Kenyan guides

A detailed itinerary and specific accommodations are provided to registered travelers only.

What’s not included?

Airfare, travel insurance, visa (if needed), tips for hotel staff and guides, some alcohol, extra snacks, and personal purchases.

Details

Age requirement: All travelers must be 18 years or older.
Registration deadline: December 20, 2025
- We will review your application and send you a confirmation email + invoice for your deposit within 48 hours. If we have any questions about your application, we will contact you.
Pricing per person:
- $6,395 USD - shared occupancy.
- Please email us about single supplement/private room availability and extra fee.
- A portion of your fee goes toward the ARTIST & NOMAD Artisan Fund.
Due with registration confirmation: $995 USD (non-refundable).
Deposit: $995 USD due with registration confirmation.
2nd payment due January 20, 2026: $2,700 USD. (+ if applicable, single supplement room fee)
3rd Payment due March 20, 2026: $2,700 USD.
Payment Terms: Our tours and retreats are intentionally small, and cancellations have a significant impact on our team and our local partners. For this reason, all payments are required, non-refundable, and non-transferable, except for the few situations noted in our Terms.
ARTIST & NOMAD Full Terms: Please review our Full Terms before registering.
Travel Packet: 3-4 weeks after your registration confirmation, you’ll receive a detailed packet to help you prepare for your journey. This will include everything needed to prepare for your journey, including a detailed itinerary, travel arrival/departure guidelines, packing list, travel insurance information, cultural insights, and other travel tips.
- Flights: The tour packet we provide will have detailed information you need to book your flights and travel insurance. You are responsible for booking both on time and following the arrival and departure details we provide.
  - Please don’t purchase flights until ARTIST & NOMAD sends you the detailed itinerary and arrival/departure guidelines.
- Travel insurance: This is required to protect you in case of an emergency or unexpected change of plans. To cover tour fees, most insurance must be purchased within 2 weeks of your first payment to ARTIST & NOMAD. The company, type, and level of coverage you choose are entirely up to you.
- Passport & Visa: Please ensure your passport it is current and secure any visa needed, depending on your nationality.
  - Currently all travelers need an ETA Visa to enter Kenya.
Connect Online: ARTIST & NOMAD will host a group video call via Google Meet, usually 2-3 months before the tour. This invites our travelers a chance to connect, ask questions, and learn more about the upcoming adventure in Portugal. You will receive an email with a detailed link when it is scheduled.
Activity Level: This tour is mild activity, but rustic. There will be some long walks and a lot of in-country travel via safari vehicles and small planes.
Vaccinations: You are responsible for ensuring you have the vaccinations or vaccination exemptions required for travel and entry into your destination. We recommend visiting your doctor or a travel nurse to discuss what is best for you.
- Currently, you must have the Yellow Fever vaccine for the area we are visiting.
Health Policy: We kindly ask you to enjoy alcohol mindfully and in moderation. Please note that smoking and drug use are not permitted.
Please read ARTIST & NOMAD’s Full Terms and Travel Philosophy before you register. Agreement to these terms is required to travel with ARTIST & NOMAD.
Questions? We are updating our FAQ page. In the meantime, please email us, and we’d be happy to connect and answer any questions.

Meet Your Host

Your host for magical Kenya will be Kirsten Dickerson, our founder and director. Kirsten has traveled extensively (over 40 countries), building meaningful long-term relationships with artisans, designers, and local guides. She and her filmmaker husband Brandon currently live in they Islington Borough of London.

Sample Itinerary

The complete itinerary and accommodations are shared with registered travelers only. Travel- especially with a group-can require flexibility. To help create the best experience for everyone, ARTIST & NOMAD may adjust the itinerary as needed before or during the trip.

- Welcome to Nairobi!
- Check in a beloved retreat center in the heart of beautiful Karen, was renovated with Kirsten’s direction in 2021 to help create a sustainable business model which funds local programs for vulnerable youth and HIV impacted women.
- Relax and enjoy the artisan-made and locally sourced decor and the beautiful gardens .
- Dinner for those arriving at the center by 8:00 pm.
- Welcome breakfast at the retreat center.
- Depart for the day, exploring Karen, a lush, historic suburb of Nairobi.
- Visit the Karen Blixen museum, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, and Giraffe Center.
- Lunch at one of our favorite restaurants
- Shop local artisan stores for handmade Kenyan treasures.
- Dinner at the retreat center.
- Breakfast at the retreat center.
- Depart to visit the world of Kenyan crafts at a small workshop and creative studio in Nairobi, owned by one of ARTIST & NOMAD’S benefactors.
- See firsthand where local artisans make beautiful leather goods, brassworks, and ceramics, and learn about traditional techniques, and even try your hand at a few of the steps alongside the talented team.
- A delicious local lunch will be prepared for us on-site.
- Depart for our next accommodations, a sustainable Safari Lodge, situated right on the edge of the Nairobi National Game Park.
- Safari in the park, enjoy the gardens, relax by the pool, or read in the library.
- All our delicious meals are sourced from the regenerative farm on the premises.
- Sunrise safari to find some of the incredible wildlife in the park.
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Tour of the regenerative farm at the lodge
- After lunch, walk to Kitengala Glass for a glass blowing session with the artisans at their magical workshop.
- Evening safari to view the wildlife at sunset.
- Dinner at the lodge.
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Depart for the region of Amboseli, at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Arrive at our next accommodations at a Maasai-owned luxury safari camp with the best view of the majestic mountain on 5,000 conservation acres.
- Enjoy the grounds of the stunning lodge with breathtaking views of Mt Kilimanjaro, luxury tents, scrumptious food, and exceptional staff.
- View herds of magnificent tuskers roam across a backdrop of striking Kilimanjaro views and the Chyulu Hills, an oasis of green dominated by towering volcanoes and sparkling hot springs.
- Breakfast at camp.
- Morning safari on the private nature conservancy of the Amboseli National Park.
- Visit a local, authentic Maasai village in the community and experience the traditional dancing, learn about their local culture and traditions, such as how to light a fire the Maasai way, and local medicinal plants and herbs.
  - Note: This is an authentic, non-commercial experience only open to guests of the lodge by invitation from the community.
- Afternoon game drive and sundowner with a bush walk.
- Dinner at the camp
- Breakfast at the camp
- Depart to the famed Maasai Mara for the final leg of our journey located in superb Big 5 country.
- Experience access to multiple lion prides within minutes of the camp as well as the best leopard territory and black rhino density in the area. We will be staying at one of the best, private camps in the area. It's a small camp in its very own secluded location which means that you can often go on safari without seeing another vehicle for hours, which is quite special for such a famous national park.
The guides are also some of the best in the country, most of whom grew up in the area and know the land like the back of their hand.
Their meals are excellent for such a secluded location, and the personalized experience you'll have here is like nothing you've ever experienced.
Delicious picnic bush breakfasts and lunches in carefully selected sites will be part of your unforgettable safari memories
- Wake up to your last day in heaven on earth before preparing for your journey home.
- Enjoy a final early safari or sleep in for a slow, relaxing morning.
- Pack up your belongings and memories to last a lifetime.
- Depart for Nairobi where each guest will transfer for their international flight home.

Kirsten Dickerson