The Maasi village

 

Maasi leaping ritual, supposedly to attract a mate

     We went to the local Maasi village for the presentation they put on for the tourists.  It actually is authentic, as they try hard to hang onto their unique culture in our interconnected, technology-enabled world. 

      As we arrived, the men and women all came out to greet us, dressed in their brightly-colored traditional attire, singing and chanting.  They put a robe and a necklace on Joan and I, and a scepter in my hand.  Next thing I knew, we were sucked up into their very spirited, rhythmic, intoxicating tribal rituals. 

 

I gave it my best shot.  Joan said she was impressed!

     A big part of the Maasi ritual is a standing high leap, done while all the singing and chanting goes on in the background.  These wiry, agile guys could jump incredibly high!  Supposedly, tradition has it that this is how the men attract a mate.  Naturally, we tourists were urged to give it a try.  I didn't do too bad!  (Joan later said she was impressed.) 

      Next the Maasai men demonstrated how they can start a fire from scratch with just a wooden stick, a wooden base, and a clump of elephant dung.

The Maasi children, beside the hut

      We spent a few minutes with the children.  (Some of them had American-style clothing underneath their Maasi clothes.)  They sing songs for us, and teach us a couple of Swahili words.  Very cute, very adorable!

       The Maasi village consists of a group of huts, about fifteen or so, arranged in a circle with their doorways facing inwards.  We get a tour inside one of the huts.  It's maybe a couple hundred square feet in total area.  It has a stick frame, and the walls and roof are made of mud mixed with cow dung.  When dry, it is nearly as hard as cement.  (I remembered this design from the huts I saw in the village at Naivasha.)  Inside, there is a central room with a fire pit, some food shelves, and two sleeping berths.  There is one small window.  It's dark, but surprisingly cool inside, not stuffy.  No electricity or running water, of course.  But, that is where they live.

Inside a hut

Afternoon animals

      Back at camp, Joan steps out of our tent and sees … a giraffe, eating from a tree, not fifty yards away.  A moment later, a couple others step out from behind bushes.  Talk about wildlife, up close!  Giraffes are one animal that you just don't get tired of seeing.

      On our safari tour later that afternoon, we saw "Joan's" giraffes, not far at all from our tent.  But then a big thunderstorm blew in.  All the animals went to seek shelter, so it was not a good day for animal-watching.  But we did see a hippo out of the water, standing over by a clump of bushes.

Never get tired of seeing giraffes