Visiting with the Maasai People
I recently traveled to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with some friends. After an 8-day trek up the mountain, via the Lemosho Route, we opted for a Safari to allow for recovery. As we drove towards Serengeti National Park, I noticed a change in the scenery as well as the dress of the people along our route.
As we were driving towards a more remote area, I noticed that the typical pants and shirts that African people were wearing had been replaced with ‘robes’. Men were wearing robes, carrying staffs and herding sheep while young men were wearing robes and women were carrying wood. I became curious and asked my driver about it. He explained, “Those are Maasai people.”
All I saw was red.
The shuka is a thick, woven cotton blanket that is often red with black stripes or a checkboard pattern in blue or black. The shuka is worn wrapped around their body and is durable and strong, which helps to protect the Maasai from the harsh weather and terrain of the savannah.
As we got closer to the Serengeti, we passed several Maasai villages and observed many young Maasai boys herding cattle, other younger children laughing and playing, and Maasai women returning to their village with piles of wood. They were living a simple life. This piqued my interest.
Welcome to our Village
Our driver supplied us with facts & information about the Maasai people, but it wouldn’t be until after our safari that we would have the opportunity to stop and meet the Maasai people in person. Following two days of safari, we drove to a Maasai village and were greeted with a ceremonial dance.
They invited us to dance and clothed us in shuka and their ornate jewelry.
He showed us the school where the children learn English. They were eagerly waiting for our arrival, and we saw them learning. He also took us to see their homes. The women build the circular shelters with cow dung. Last but not least, before we left, we had the opportunity to purchase various items that were made by the women, such as ornate necklaces, jewelry, carved wood pieces, bowls, and plates.
After leaving the small school, we were taken to one of the shelters. The inside of the hut felt so cramped that I began to feel claustrophobic. Additionally, there was a persistent smell of smoke from the fire pit, which was also used for cooking. Although there was a separate room with a bed for sleeping, the overall space was quite limited.
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