Cultural Centrer The women of Umoja live and work in a women's only manyatta. They invite tourists to visit their manyatta to learn about Samburu life, culture, and history, as well as the history of Umoja. Tourists are given a guided tour during which they visit the preschool, a women's home, the napoo (the village's parliament), and the curio shop where the women display their beadwork. The tour also includes traditional singing and dancing by the women and morans. This unique opportunity should not be missed! More Info Located a few metres from Archer’s Post, on the way to Samburu National Reserve, the cultural centre is a display of tradition of the samburu people of Kenya. The huts, built in traditional samburu hut design, are patterned to form a samburu manyatta that houses part of the 48 members. Visitors to the centre have opportunity to experience firsthand the living styles of the samburu people all in one package. This is done through: - A tour of the huts and the manyatta. Lecture on the samburu traditional way of life. Traditional dances. Display of blacksmith work. Display of traditional way of making fire. Sales of traditional handicraft. Visitors wishing to sample this lifestyle are welcome to stay, eat, and sleep the samburu way in the huts. The village is a model of appropriately packaged culture. It is owned and managed by members of the Umoja Uaso women group. Their mission being to preserve culture, offer environmental education and generate income. The initiative can be described as a community based eco tourism enterprise as it generates the much-needed income to the local community members and is in turn acting as an incentive for the conservation of the samburu ecosystem. Campsite Umoja owns and operates a campsite next to the Uaso Ngiro River. The site offers fabulous views, a cool breeze, and a relaxed atmosphere where campers can enjoy the unique landscape. Since the Buffalo Springs Reserve is located across the river, it is not unusual to see wildlife, such as elephants, in the distance. The campsite is complete with clean latrines, showers, cooking and dining facilities, and a refreshment stand. Arrangements can be made ahead of time for an authentic Samburu dinner, followed by an evening of singing and dancing around a bonfire and stargazing. UMOJA CULTURAL AND SAFARI CAMP Another initiative by the members that received support from Nederrijn Groep Duiven Holland through the East African Support. The camp contains five secure and self contained bandas/ chalets that are serviced by piped water at the banks of Uaso Nyiro river and opposite Buffalo springs national reserve. Camping ground is also available for adventurous visitors. Bar and restaurant facilities are available with cold drinks and ala Carte menu for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Traditional dances are arranged in the evening around a campfire. The facility targets middle level clients and students on exchange or internship programmes. As the facility is within a kilometer from the famous Samburu, Shaba and buffalo springs national reserves and Kalama community wildlife conservancy, game drives can be arranged. The clients, at his or her choice, can either pay for entry fees at the camp or at the entry gate to the relevant reserves/conservancy. Charges: Accommodation: $30 per chalet per day/night Meals- Ala Carte menu- breakfast $5           -Main dishes $10 per plate Game drive: $100 per vehicle Park entry fees: $50 per person per entry Traditional dances: $5 per person per session Camping: $10 per person per night/day Village entry (for camp residents only): $10 Booking: Highly recommended. Cultural Museum Partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service, Samburu County Council, Eco tourism Kenya and individual and private well-wishers have seen Umoja grow from leaps and bounds to become a major cultural tourism stakeholder in Samburu to the extent that it is now supporting, with the assistance of African Conservation Centre (ACC) and Samburu County Council, to scuttle the drivers/guides menace of financial leakages/exploitation to the Samburu community by refusing to give back money charged to the visitors as village entry fees. As a result of hard work, determination and interest in conservation and preservation of culture and its artifacts, USAID through African Wildlife Conservation (AWF) came in handy to construct a modern cultural museum to combat destruction of artifacts by ants. Charges: Village entry fees- $20 per person per entry Accommodation per hut -$20 per person per night Museum entry fees - $5 per person per entry Booking: No need to book. Just drive or find your way to the village between 7.00am – 5.00pm