In Tanzania you will recognize immediately the Maasai dressed in traditional clothing, this is the most well-known African tribe and they still live in a traditional style. You can learn more about their traditions and lifestyle if you visit a Maasai boma, i.e. a Maasai village, with a local Maasai guide. The Maasai guide and the Maasai boma you visit can make the difference, there are boma involved in culture tourism projects, or off the beaten areas where the experience is much better. For this reason I recommend planning this visit in advance with an experienced local tour operator.
What can we see and experience at the Maasai Boma?
Before arriving at the Masai boma is very interesting a beush walk with a Maasai guide (if not too hot) where you can see the plants used in traditional Maasai medicine, maybe some wild animals footprints, the Maasai cattle and more depending where we are and when we experience this visit. Be careful because this bush walk is not always provided but can be requested.
The Maasai Boma is the Maasai village where the head of the family lives with their wives and numerous children and all his cattle. Usually they welcome you with a welcome song and invite you in their traditional dances, we will see the main fence made of thorny acacia branches, fences for animals, their houses and how they cook. You can buy some necklace or souvenir but remember to negotiate a little bit on the price.
Maasai people are usually friendly and playful, you can joke with them, but remember they are proud warriors. Usually you can take pictures, but it is better to ask first. If you bring them a gift, for example, a kilo of sugar, you will be even more welcome.
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Group at Maasai Boma
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Walking with Maasai
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Bush walking with Maasai
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Biking with Maasai guide
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Maasai guide explanations
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Friendly Maasai guide
The Masai and the Modern World
Even if Maasai are attached to their traditions and lifestyle they are influenced by modern lifestily such as internet, mobile phone, wrist watches and scooters. Expect to see a Maasai who lives in a hut but with mobile phone and modern watch, in some cases even a scooter, nowadays this is part a Maasai warrior life.
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