Admist the Maasai

For the Maasai, one of the last warrior tribes in the world, cattle are integral to day-to-day life. Besides providing sustenance in the form of milk, and sometimes meat and blood, cows are also currency in the region.

The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known local populations due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress. The Maasai speak the Maa language, a member of the Nilo-Saharan family that is related to Dinka and Nuer. They are also educated in the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania, Swahili and English.

At about 5 am, after early morning snack, start the sunrise game drive till 10 am. Then it is back to the camp for breakfast/lunch. Thereafter continue with the game drive till late noon. Then proceed to Ngorongoro Crater for “Simba Dinner” and overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge.

The tribes move with their livestock across northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, constructing thatched hut villages as they go. The settlements generally consist of a ring fence that encloses a group of families, their herds and a collection of mud and dung houses. Where livestock gathers, so do big cats hunting for meals. Relations between the Maasai and the lions that lure tourists by the truckload are tense but evolving. The Maasai are formidable opponents strengthened by a nearly 100% protein diet. A staple is amasi, a lumpy, yogurt-like drink made from fermented milk.