In October-November-December 2008, I had a great 55-day tour of Africa.
Part of this trip was a 46-day IntrepidTravel truck camping trek from Nairobi in Kenya through Kenya, Uganda,
Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.
For a donation to their nearby school we were able to visit a Masaai village in Kenya and to take photos.
Their village was just outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Firstly we had the welcoming dance of the men
The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa,
they are among the most internationally well-known African ethnic groups.
The Maasai speak the Maa language.
Is is estimated that there is a total Maasai population approaching 900,000.
On our drive to the Maasai Mara we passed many Maasai in their colourful clothing.
Although the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments have instituted programs to encourage the Maasai
to abandon their traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, the people have continued their age-old customs.
Next we had the welcoming dance of the women
Some of my new friends
The Maasai houses are constructed by women.
The structural framework is formed of timber poles fixed directly into the ground and interwoven with
a lattice of smaller branches, which is then plastered with a mix of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung and urine, and ash.
Starting a fire without matches. Not unlike the way Australian Aborigines start fires.
Villages are enclosed in a circular fence (Enkang) built by the men, usually of thorned acacia.
At night all cows, goats and sheep are placed in an enclosure in the center, safe from wild animals.
African acacias
Although young boys are sent out with the calves and lambs as soon as they can toddle,
childhood for boys is mostly playtime. Girls are responsible for chores such as cooking and milking.
A few days later we were in Tanzania
A Maasai village near Arusha in Tanzania
This was a more permanent village than the one that we visited in Kenya.
While we were pleased to play with the children, they wanted to cling to us.
Sandals, made from old car tyres, were common
A new friend
Kate made many friends
The children loved attention
The nearby school
One of the teachers at the school. I apologise for not writing down her name.
