Traditional Maasai Life; cultural safaris
Those wishing to incorporate an insightful cultural element into their safari may
wish to include a day spent with the Maasai people close to Lake Manyara, as well
as a day with the Hadzabe.
Safari Tours | Tanzania has a zero-impact camp site on a hill overlooking Lake Manyara
and within easy reach of several Maasai communities that still observe traditional
subsistence lifestyles. A full day spent with the Maasai will usually involve a walking
safari, beginning from our campsite, into the Losimingur Hills, to the north of Manyara.
The walk will usually be led by a local Maasai guide with translation being assisted
by your safari guide. Where possible, we aim to ensure that the local Maasai guide
is not merely a professional group leader who has migrated away from village life
into town to learn English and commerce, but is actually an active member of one
of the nearby local communities, someone who still supports his community by means
of the techniques that he will be revealing to you.
Walking through the hills with the Maasai is fascinating, particularly if visitors
aim to take full advantage of their local guide’s knowledge and to frequently pause
and question him. A good dialogue will provide some amazing insights as to how the
Maasai derive medicines from the many varied plants; how Maasai social life is ordered
by age and what are the respective duties of each group; how the Maasai hold to the
belief that all cattle are properly theirs by divine right and how the Morani should
be tasked with marauding neighbouring tribes and ‘stealing back’ these cows; how
such missions often sadly cause the death of several participants; and a great deal
more that - if one is prepared to delve deeply - will reveal a worldview and offer
perspectives that contrast very greatly with those of home.
<< Lake Manyara National Park
Visiting Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area >>
