Maasai tribes in Tanzania
We have just returned from a fabulous cultural experience in Tanzania, and our first stop was Olpopongi Maasai Village. WOW, what an opportunity and definitely a bucket list item that everyone should add to their African itinerary!
3 hours after landing into Kilimanjaro Airport, we arrived at our destination with much anticipation, to be welcomed by the local Maasai tribe and invited to partake in their welcome dance. A quick orientation around the village, and checking in to our Boma's (dung huts), we enjoyed a local lunch and then set off for an afternoon of learning... learning all things Maasai.
First classroom style, from the history of how they came to Tanzania, to daily life, roles of women and men, polygamy and also the ongoing tradition of circumcision to turn from boyhood to warrior, still practiced today. A visit to Koko's Boma (grandmother's dung hut) and a cup of traditionally brewed Maasai tea, left us ready to check out some of the local jewellery made by the women (and a few purchases made)!
We set off on our walk around the village, to learn more about bush medicine and how to throw a spear (although not quite mastering the correct landing of the spear). With golden hour upon us, it was a great time to snap some beautiful shots of the surrounding landscape.
Dinner served, a few stories by the camp fire and watching the full moon rise, it was time to head to our cow hide beds for the night. We woke to a lovely camping style breakfast, followed by a chance to spend a little time with the Maasai children and learning how to make fire with the root of a wait-a-bit tree, elephant dung and the art of rubbing the stick between your palms!
Think we are ready to enrol in the next series of Survivor now!