One of my most unforgettable travel experiences is meeting the Maasai tribe in one of their nomad villages close to the Ngorongoro crater. From being welcomed by the Chief to dancing with the Maasai women, entering one of their huts, watching their cattle, and even going to school with the children – this is an experience not to miss.
Shortly after a warm welcome from the tribe Chief, I was invited to join the women of the tribe for a traditional dance, which involved lifting up the necklace they gave me by shaking my shoulders up and down. Jordi was challenged for a jumping contest with the men of the tribe – apparently, the higher you jump, the more masculine you are.
The Chief then invited us inside one of the huts, which are built by the women of the tribe and made of manure. He explained that the hut houses a family and even a calf, which really surprised us considering the small space. The hut was extremely dark with only a few rays of sunlight coming in from a tiny hole in the ceiling – just enough light to uncover all the insects that were crawling around inside. The Chief was also very open about having multiple wives and getting to choose which hut to sleep in at night.
Cattle are a significant part of the Maasai culture – the bigger the herd, the more status – and it is hidden from the lions and other predators behind a wooden enclosure. As part of their diet, the Maasai drink milk and blood from their cattle.
Our final stop at the village was the primary school, where the young children of the tribe learn maths and English. The children were all super excited to see us, shaking our hands, hugging us and fighting with each other to sit next to us. The boy who sat next to me rushed off to the school board as soon as he got the chance – I guess he was trying to impress us.
The very last moment was a bit awkward, as the Chief explained about the jewellery that was hand made by the tribe, expecting us to buy some. Since we had already paid an entrance fee to visit the village, we didn’t see this one coming, and we didn’t carry a lot of cash with us either. We got away by buying two of the smallest wristbands against a discounted price.
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