The Maasai is one of Africa’s ancient and extraordinary tribes with a rich culture, heritage, and history. They live a unique lifestyle and have been living in Tanzania and Kenya. This iconic tribe has been around for years and has engraved its way of life into Africa’s history. Apart from being one of the most prominent tribes, their methods and intricate ideologies continue to amaze tourists who learn more about the people when they visit the nearby settlements. The Maasai Village, located in southern Kenya, near the Maasai Mara, is one of the many places where you will find this indigenous tribe. The Maasai Village tour will provide you with a unique opportunity to explore this fascinating tribe.
History
The Maasai people have been in the region for hundreds of years. It is understood that the Maasai have traveled from the Nile Valley to settle in the East African region. Their history, heritage, and way of life have traveled with them.
Population
According to published stats, the Maasai population is over 1 million, with nearly 800,000 living in Kenya alone. Regardless of how they live their lives compared to the modernized world, they thrive with an increasing population.
Warriors
The Maasai people are raised to be warriors. The males begin training in their early childhood and are taught the unique ways of the Maasai warrior, also known as morans. The morans live a disciplined life and learn to be fearless when protecting the tribe. It is considered an honor to be part of the tribe’s elite warriors and is something every Maasai boy dreams to become. Their strength and endurance are also incredible, and it can be seen by many in their ritual dance, where the warriors take turns to show off their vertical jumps. The young boys also use this to impress the females of the tribes, who watch the activities.
Maa
Maa is the mother tongue of the Maasai. It is a spoken language; however, Maa has no written form because the tribe has always believed in oral traditions. Families pass down their learnings and traditions from generation to generation, another integral part of their lifestyle. The tribe itself is named after its language. Maasai translates to the ‘people who speak Maa.’ Maa is such an inspiring and powerful language that it has inspired many other tribes to adopt it over their mother tongues.
Lions
Hunting lions is a way of life for the Maasai warriors. Even though this is a dangerous activity, warriors enjoy and have fun on their hunts. Some warriors even go on hunts alone to demonstrate their capabilities.
The Maasai are also respectful of mother nature. Given that the lion population is going down, the Maasai people have abandoned solo hunts and now only allow groups to hunt.
Cows
Cows are the most significant asset that a Maasai can own. Cows are the pride and joy of the people, and the Maasai take very good of their cows. The Maasai, with large herds of cows, is considered the wealthiest in the tribe.
The Maasai tribe is one of the most iconic tribes of the region. Visiting the Maasai village is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity to learn about their rich history and culture while also having an opportunity to interact with the people. It can also be an extraordinary social experience if you are a solo traveler. As a solo traveler, you should also consider visiting Tanzania. It will help if you read Why a Safari in Tanzania is Perfect for Solo Travellers.