A Night Under The Stars In A Local Maasai Village
Spending a night under the stars in a local Maasai Village was definitely one of the most interesting and memorable things I have ever done. I found the company called Warrior Trails and contacted them regarding a stay at the Maasai Village. They organized everything and when I arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania, they were already waiting for me to take me on a journey I will never forget.
Warrior Trails Safari Company
Warrior Trails Safari company was established with the intention of preserving and celebrating the unique flora, fauna, and cultural heritage of East Africa. Clamian, who is the founder of Warrior Trails, was born and raised in a semi-nomadic Maasai community in the wilds of Northern Tanzania. His heritage instilled in him a deep knowledge, understanding, and love for this amazing land and he is willing to share this with his guests. I have to say that my stay at Maasai Village was one of the most unique experience I have ever participated in. At the same time, this was one of the most memorable experiences because the people I met there will stay in my heart forever.
The Maasai
Possibly Africa’s most famous ethnic group, the Maasai people are semi-nomadic people located primarily in Kenya and Northern Tanzania. There are around 1,2 million Maasai people living in this two parts of East Africa.
Despite, education, civilization, cultural influences and years of geopolitical issues, the Maasai people have clung to their traditional way of life, making them the strong symbol they are today of East African culture.
The Maasai speak the Maasai language and most of them also speak Swahili, the language of East Africa. Their way of life envolves around their community and their animals. The women are responsible for making the house, supplying the water and cooking for the family. The men, on the other hand, have different occupations. Boys are responsible for herding livestock, warriors are in charge of security and elders tend to act as advisors for day-to-day activities.
The Maasai have always been an extravagantly colored and beautifully adorned tribe. Beadwork done by the women has a long history among the Maasai who define their identity and position in society through body ornaments and painting. There are numerous traditions and ceremonies performed by Maasai men and the best known is definitely the ‘warrior’ jumping dance.
The Village
The village usually consists of bomas build close to each other. Boma is a mud hut, made from natural resources such as animal dung and sticks. The boma is built by the woman and it can be bigger or smaller, depends on the family. An interesting fact is also that the Maasai practice polygamy and each wife lives in a separate boma with her children. Traditionally a man’s first wife is found by his parents and after that, he is free to choose his own additional wives.
Fencing around the village is made of acacia thorns. Usually, they put it in a circle around the houses to prevent predators attacking the livestock. Traditionally, all of the Maasai’s needs were satisfied by their cattle, which was also the main source of their income. They ate the meat, drank the milk and sometimes even blood. Animals were slaughtered for ceremonies, and all their clothing, shoes and bedding came from the skin.
The Experience
From the moment I arrived at the village, I was greeted by the smiles of the Maasai women and children. I also received a special welcome from the chief of the village and the whole community performed a welcoming ceremony. It was incredible!
After the welcoming dance, they showed me around the village. I saw the bomas they live, spent time with the women in and I played with the children. In the late afternoon, they started to prepare for the dinner. They showed me how they still make the fire traditional way, however, I did refrain from watching the Maasai men slaughter a goat which later served as a dinner for the village. After the dinner, the party began. People from all over came to dance around the bonfire and it was just amazing to be a part of the community for one night.
The following day, I woke up early to have breakfast and to go out into the African Bush with some of the Maasai Warriors. I learned so much about the everyday life of the Maasai people on this trip. They have a simple philosophy that the earth provides enough to support an individual’s existence and they know how to survive on this land.
On the way to back to the village, we stopped at the Maasai School and visited children in their classroom. They sang a song for us and we chatted for a few minutes with the teacher who told us that they need more notebooks, English books, pencils and also clothes for the children. So, I decided to help in a form of providing books and clothes for the children. I would also like to invite everyone who is willing and able to provide something for the children, to write to me.
Conclusion
As I said a few times before a night under the stars in a local Maasai Village was probably one of the most eye-opening and interesting cultural experiences I’ve ever had. The lessons I learned about their way of life during my very short stay were far greater than any book. They welcomed me with open arms, invited me to their homes and treated me with nothing but kindness. Their life is simple but beautiful and even though our worlds are miles apart, we can learn so much from them. So, I can certainly recommend spending a night at the Maasai Village getting to know these indigenous people, their values and their lives.
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OurWorldTravelSelfies would like to thank Clamian and Warrior Trails for welcoming this review. The opinion is as always, my own. Photos are courtesy of Our World Travel Selfies.
