
A Special Visit with the Maasai
A Special Visit with the Maasai, You may have seen pictures or videos of the Maasai people walking across the fields of Africa while wearing their bright shukas. The ochres and golds of the savannah look beautiful against the bright reds and purples of the shukas.
Men stand tall, and women wear colorful necklaces and hats with beads that make them look like a unique group of people who are not like people from most other countries in the world. Because the Maasai are a traditional pastoral culture that has lived in East Africa for a long time and is proud of the way they live by keeping animals.
The Maasai used to be nomads who lived in what is now Kenya and Tanzania. Now they live in small towns with mud and thatched huts that are their corrals and where they keep their animals, which are their main source of income.
You can take a break from tracking animals on safari to visit a local group, meet the people, and learn about their way of life.
Just Ask Your Guide
He will also set up a trip to a nearby town so that you can learn about another culture. As was already said, the Maasai’s bright clothes stand out against the greens and browns of their settings.
They also wear layers of bright beads that are decorated with jewels. These are a way for them to show who they are and their social standing. You can be a part of the community while you’re here by buying some of this handmade stuff, which helps the village stay open. You can be sure that the things you buy will become keepsakes that remind you of your trip.
There is no place like home.
You will be able to see their homes, which are called bomas, while you are in the town. They are small mud buildings that are usually made by the women in the village. They start with a frame made of small poles and twigs and cover it with a mixture of mud, grass, cow dung, urine, and ash. The small buildings are only 1.5 m (5 ft) tall and cover an area about 3 x 5 m (10 x 16 ft).
The family sleeps, cooks, and hangs out in this small area. When you walk into the boma, it’s dark and closed off… It looks like you’ll have to stoop down. There are, however, separate places for sleeping, cooking, and just relaxing.
Along with the people, the animals sometimes share this place. However, the men have built other bomas, or small corrals, to house their herds. The men also build fences around the town out of wood, sharpened sticks, and thorns to keep animals like lions away from their animals.
Come dance with us!
You may have seen or heard of the Maasai adumu, which means “jumping dance.” Someone will stand in the middle of a group of dancers and jump higher and higher in time with the singers and dancers.
It’s possible that someone will ask you to join in the fun as a “volunteer.” Letting loose in a Maasai town is like nothing else. The warriors all around you will push you to jump higher. Make sure that your friends have their cameras ready!
We’ll show you how to get to Africa. Your Kenya Safaris guide will be happy to set up a trip for you to see a Maasai town in Amboseli Park or the Masai Mara Reserve. It only costs $25 per person, which should be paid to the town chief.
Immerse yourself in the world of the Maasai to get a different view of Africa on your tour.