AP 02 | SCENT OF THE LAND – KENYA FRANKINCENSE & AROMATICS JOURNEY

  • Wajir
  • 0 booked
  • Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
  • Language: English

Overview

What to prepare

  1. Comfortable clothing & layers
  2. Sturdy footwear
  3. Sun protection (hat & sunglasses)
  4. Notebook & camera
  5. Personal medications & water bottle

 


 

What’s Included

  • VIP airport meet and greet
  • All domestic flights (Nairobi–Wajir–Nairobi–Mara–Nairobi)
  •  4×4 safari transport where applicable
  • Accommodation as specified
  •  Meals as indicated (FB / BB)
  • Community resin harvesting experiences
  •  Soap and essential oil workshops
  •  Guided ethnobotanical bush walks
  •  Cultural immersion sessions
  •  Government taxes and conservation fees

 


Excluded

  • International flights
  •  Travel and medical insurance
  •  Visa fees
  •  Personal expenses (tips, laundry, beverages)
  •  Optional activities not specified

 


 

Additional Information

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, comfortable clothes and shoes.

 


 

Meal Plan Key

  • BB – Bed & Breakfast
  • FB – Full Board
  • FB – Full Board
  • BB – Bed & Breakfast
  • FB – Full Board B – Breakfast

What To Expect

1

DAY 01: NAIROBI – ARRIVAL & AROMATIC HERITAGE INTRODUCTION

Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where guests are met with VIP assistance and transferred to a boutique hotel in Nairobi. Evening welcome briefing introducing Kenya’s aromatic legacy Frankincense (Boswellia), Myrrh (Commiphora), Aloe, and indigenous medicinal plants. Optional visit to the Nairobi National Museum botanical section for contextual grounding in East African plant biodiversity.

Overnight: Golden Tulip
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Highlights:
• VIP meet & greet
• Aromatic heritage presentation
• Optional botanical orientation walk

2

DAY 02: NAIROBI – PRACTICAL AROMATICS & SOAP CRAFT

Morning visit to a local production facility My Kenya Soaps or Kakia Oils for introduction to cold-pressed oils (avocado, macadamia, aloe) and plant-based cosmetic formulation.

Hands-on workshop covering:

  • Basic soap formulation principles
  • Essential oil blending fundamentals
  • Introduction to Kenyan aromatic raw materials

Afternoon at leisure or optional visit to a herb/spice garden within Nairobi for sensory familiarization. Dinner at Carnivore or restaurant of choice.

Overnight: Golden Tulip
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Highlights:
• Soap-making fundamentals
• Essential oil basics
• Kenyan plant raw material overview

3

DAY 03: NAIROBI TO WAJIR

Morning scheduled flight to Wajir, located within Kenya’s arid resin belt. Afternoon introduction to dryland ecosystems where Boswellia (Frankincense) and Commiphora (Myrrh) thrive. Briefing on:

  • Resin ecology
  • Seasonal tapping cycles
  • Grading and drying techniques
  • Historical Indian Ocean trade routes

Overnight: Grand Oasis Hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board

Highlights:
• Flight into Kenya’s resin heartland
• Ecological overview of Frankincense & Myrrh
• Trade history discussion

4

DAY 04: WAJIR – COMMUNITY HARVEST & TRADITIONAL APPLICATIONS

Morning field visit with local harvesters to observe:

  • Controlled bark incision techniques
  • Resin exudation and curing
  • Quality differentiation

Discussion of traditional uses:

  • Medicinal fumigation
  • Wound care
  • Ritual incense
  • Soap and cosmetic applications

Afternoon simple resin cleaning and processing workshop, followed by community cultural exchange.

Overnight: Grand Oasis Hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board

Highlights:
• Live resin tapping demonstration
• Traditional medicinal applications
• Community interaction

5

DAY 05: WAJIR TO ISIOLO

Scenic overland transfer to Isiolo, gateway to Kenya’s northern conservancies. En route exploration of desert-adapted medicinal plants including wild sage, desert date, and indigenous shrubs used for aromatic and therapeutic purposes.

Evening optional astronomy session under northern Kenya’s low-light skies.

Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Highlights:
• Scenic northern landscapes
• Desert medicinal plant identification
• Optional stargazing session

6

DAY 06: ISIOLO

Morning guided aromatic plant tour focusing on:

  • Climate adaptation mechanisms
  • Sustainable harvesting practices
  • Conservation challenges in ASAL regions

Interactive session discussing integration of botanical knowledge into conservation models across northern Kenya.

Afternoon blending session using desert plant extracts.

Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

7

DAY 07: ISIOLO TO NAIROBI

Morning departure from Isiolo by road, descending through Laikipia plains and the central highlands toward Nairobi (approx. 5–6 hours scenic drive). En route discussion on ecological transition:

  • From ASAL drylands to highland agricultural zones
  • Changing vegetation belts and aromatic plant distribution
  • Climate gradients and plant adaptation

Afternoon arrival in Nairobi. Time at leisure or optional short visit to a botanical garden or artisanal herb shop for comparative plant exposure.

Overnight: Golden Tulip
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Highlights:
• Scenic highland drive
• Ecological transition briefing
• Relaxed evening in Nairobi

8

DAY 08: NAIROBI TO MASAI MARA

Morning departure by road to the Maasai Mara National Reserve (approx. 5–6 hours), descending the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Afternoon introductory bush walk identifying native aromatic and medicinal species traditionally used by the Maasai community.

Overnight: Mara Sweet Acacia Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Highlights:
• Great Rift Valley scenic descent
• Arrival into iconic savannah ecosystem
• Initial plant identification walk

9

DAY 09: MASAI MARA

Morning guided bush walk exploring:

  • Indigenous shrubs used for cleansing rituals
  • Aromatic smoke traditions
  • Plant-based wound treatments
  • Traditional plant-based livestock care

Afternoon visit to a Maasai village for structured knowledge-sharing session on ethnobotanical heritage, stewardship practices, and intergenerational transmission of plant knowledge.

Overnight: Mara Sweet Acacia Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Highlights:
• Maasai ethnobotanical session
• Cultural immersion
• Traditional aromatic practices

10

DAY 10: MASAI MARA

Morning safari drive with interpretive discussion on ecological-plant relationships and biodiversity balance.

Afternoon hands-on workshop:

  • Essential oil blending (Frankincense, Myrrh, wild sage, lemongrass)
  • Aromatic body oil formulation
  • Basic botanical synergy principles
  • Simple wellness ritual creation

Optional sunset meditation incorporating aromatic blends.

Overnight: Mara Sweet Acacia Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Highlights:
• Safari experience
• Advanced blending workshop
• Wellness integration session

11

DAY 11: MASAI MARA TO NAIROBI & DEPARTURE

Morning transfer by road or scheduled flight to Nairobi. Arrival transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for onward departure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Highlights:
• Scenic return journey
• VIP airport transfer
• Departure with handcrafted aromatic products

Map

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Light, breathable clothing in neutral colors, sturdy shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, notebook for workshops, and camera/binoculars for plant and wildlife observation.

  • Yes! Safaris and workshops are family-friendly, but children should always follow guide instructions during bush walks, community visits, and desert excursi

  • You will gain hands-on experience in soap-making, essential oil blending, plant-based cosmetics, and traditional uses of Frankincense, Myrrh, Aloe, and desert medicinal plants.

Review

0/5
0 Reviews
5 stars
0
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

There are no reviews yet.

    Fill up the form below to tell us what you're looking for

    Write a review