A special visit with the Maasai people

A special visit with the Maasai people : It’s possible that you’ve seen images or videos of the Maasai people wandering the African plains dressed in their vivid shukas, which contrast with the ochres and golds of the savannah.

With their colourful beaded headdress and necklaces, the women look as a separate people, different from most other cultures around the world, while the men stand tall. Because the Maasai are proud exemplars of their pastoral lifestyle, they are an ancient pastoral society that has long inhabited East Africa.

Maasai, who were once nomads who roamed over what is now Kenya and Tanzania, have now established in small communities made of thatched and mud homes, complete with corrals filled with cattle, goats, and other small animals, which are their main source of income.

You can take a break from following wildlife while on safari to visit a local tribe, get to know the people, and gain some insight into their way of life.

Simply Ask Your Guide.
In addition, he will set up a visit to a neighboring village to provide an alternative cultural experience. As previously noted, the Maasai’s brightly colored clothing contrasts with the browns and greens of their surroundings.

You’ll also note their layers of vibrant beads, which are jeweled and serve as a symbol of social position and identity. During your visit, you may support the village and engage in community life by buying some of this handicraft. Your purchases will undoubtedly become narrative mementos of your safari experience.

No Place Like Home.
You will have the chance to tour their dwellings, known as bomas, while you are in the hamlet. Usually constructed by the ladies of the community, these are little mud buildings. They are covered with a cement made of mud, grass, cow dung, urine, and ash, starting with a scaffold made of short poles and branches. The little buildings are only 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall and span about 3 by 5 metres (10 by 16 feet).

The family gathers, cooks, and sleeps in this tiny area. When you walk into the boma, it’s dim and closed. You’ll most likely need to bend over. However, you’ll find separate spaces for resting, cooking, and sleeping.

The animals occasionally share this area as well, but the men have also built additional bomas or tiny corrals to keep their herds. In order to keep predators like lions away from their cattle, the men also build defensive barriers out of wood, sharpened sticks, and thorns around the village.

Join the Dance.
Perhaps you’ve heard or seen the Maasai jumping dance, known as adumu. An individual will jump higher and higher in time with the singers and dancers by putting himself in the centre of a circle of dancers.

If you’re asked to participate in the fun as a “volunteer,” don’t be shocked. Nothing compares to having fun in a Maasai village where the warriors surround you and push you to jump farther and higher. Ensure that your friends are using their cameras!

We’ll Show You the Way.
Your Focus East Africa Tours guide will be happy to arrange your visit to a local Maasai village at Amboseli Park or the Masai Mara Reserve. The village head will receive payment directly from each participant, who will only pay $20.

Take a peek behind the scenes on your African safari and experience life as a Maasai.