![\"Yoair](\"https:\/\/www.yoair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/a-maasai-welcome-1-1920x768.jpg\")
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You\u2019ve seen pictures of them \u2013 adorned with the brilliant red, blue and purple patterns of the shukas<\/em>\u00a0they wear. The men with their spears, tall and proud. The women bejeweled with bright beaded earrings and scarves. These are the some of the oldest inhabitants of East Africa, the Maasai people.<\/p>\n They live in small mud-thatched villages, surrounded by their cattle and smaller livestock. For hundreds of years the Masai have roamed these lands of Kenya and Tanzania, living a free, nomadic lifestyle. Their traditional lands now comprise much of Kenya\u2019s national parks.<\/p>\n A highlight of your safari vacation is a visit with these Maasai people. Many of the tribes welcome visitors to their villages to view up close their culture and lifestyle.<\/p>\n The first thing you\u2019ll notice as you enter a village is the many vivid colours of the Masai\u2019s garments. The bright shukas or sheets they wear contrast strongly with the greens and browns of the landscape.<\/p>\n Adding to this display of colour is the brightly beaded jewellery \u2013 necklaces, bracelets and amulets \u2013 worn by the women and men.<\/p>\n This beadwork, while very appealing, has more than just an ornamental value. The women who create it express their identity and social status with these handcrafted pieces.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll see displays of this beaded jewellery for sale, and you can help support the village with a purchase\u2026 as well as bringing home an authentic souvenir from your travels.<\/p>\n You may get to experience the villagers singing and dancing\u2026 and you might even be able to join in! The Maasai are known for their rhythmic call-and-response singing. Perhaps their most widely known dance is the\u00a0adumu\u00a0<\/em>or \u201cjumping dance\u201d.<\/p>\n The warriors form a circle with one person entering the centre. This dancer will jump higher and higher to the rhythms of the singers. As he jumps higher the singers will raise the pitch of their voices.<\/p>\n Sometimes guests are invited into the circle, adding to the dancing fun!<\/p>\n Standing in muted contrast to the colorful villagers, you\u2019ll see the browns and grays of the Maasai\u2019s houses, called bomas<\/em>. Small structures with thatched roofs, it is the job of the Maasai women to build these sturdy dwellings.<\/p>\n The women begin with a framework of timber poles and interweave smaller branches to form a structure. This is then covered with a mixture of mud, grass, cow dung, urine and ash. The entire structure is no more than 3 x 5 m in area and stands only 1.5 m tall.<\/p>\n Yet the family cooks, eats, sleeps and socializes in this modest structure \u2013 even sharing space with small livestock! You may be able to peek inside to experience a very different lifestyle.<\/p>\n The men also participate in constructing this homestead. It is their responsibility to build the protective fencing around the village to keep lions and other predators away from the livestock.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll provide you with opportunities to enjoy a visit to a Masai Village. On your\u00a0Pride Drive Tour Solutions<\/strong><\/a> to the Masai Mara Reserve or Amboseli National Park, you can partake of this optional excursion. The cost is only $20 and payable to the village chief. Just ask your driver\/guide who will make all the arrangements.<\/p>\nArriving at the Village \u2013 An Explosion of Colour<\/h2>\n
Music and Dance<\/h2>\n
![\"2](\"https:\/\/africanbirdingtrips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Maasai-Culture-Experiences.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Boma<\/h2>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/urszihlmann.com\/images\/people-culture\/Maasai-Village-Tanzania.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLet\u2019s Plan Your Maasai Cultural Tour Package<\/h3>\n
![\"Masai](\"https:\/\/www.exploring-africa.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/full_page\/public\/uploads\/article\/72\/cover\/beth-wilson-masai-maasai-tanzania-kenya.jpg?itok=j6WhUt9N\")
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