How are the Maasai

• How are the Maasai

Coming to an end our first car running day, with an overnight stay was still uncertainty. We were approached by one of the Masai fans and offered 300 shillings to spend the night in his village. Without thinking twice and get permission to shoot in the village, we agreed. In the continuation of photographs of the village and the starry scenery savannah.

In the pictures input to the countryside. At night it closes a addl "door" of the smaller sticks

In the Masai many similarities with the Himba, inhabiting the north of Namibia. Dwelling as built around a central courtyard, which is put on the night of the cattle

The huts are built of just such sticks and dung

This is a visual aid, if needed :)

The people know that now appear here we are and we will be vparit any souvenirs. Traveler to note: if you want to buy them, it is much cheaper. In the cities the shops, at first, the initial price much higher, and secondly, are not traded or not traded almost

Subjectively, it seemed to me that the Maasai do not look so colorful and primitive as the Himba. They are dressed in modern clothing fabrics, there are many more (almost a million against a maximum of 50 thousand Himba), the bulk of jewelry from beads and so on. More tourist oriented seed (at least looks like this), and this applies even to those families who are clearly outside the usual tourist routes

One of the most interesting, in my view, the characteristics of a tribe that according to the religion they believe that all the animals on the earth belong to them. This is not the time led to serious conflicts with other tribes, when the Masai tried to "reclaim his." Currently, the government recognized them such a right, and communicate to them the function of protection of the animal world. The truth is a little confused by this, because profit-sharing from the main tourist source safari income they do not participate

Those penny that still gets from tourists come from the sale of souvenirs unpretentious, begging. Free pictures of themselves are not allowed at all, just grumble and demand money. Knowing this, we specifically asked about the shooting in advance, and received about the answer: "If you live with us, then you're our friend." Apparently, friends can take photos without asking :) The topic is "other" in general is very popular in this country

Masai, unlike other African tribes, never retreated from his semi-nomadic lifestyle, which may be called into question in the future. The main reason for that - reducing the free area of ​​savanna through the creation of nat. parks and urbanization.

To the boy became a man, he must be in a fairly young age, with his brothers to leave the family, build a house and live there for several years. Then he could return to his family and to get hold of the right and there are some tangible benefits. Masai warrior status after receiving a lion kill. At the moment, this is not officially a tradition longer applies, however, is still alive in some parts of Kenya

Another feature is that the Maasai are known as fierce warriors, but as the war in the modern world, they do not have anyone, then the occupation for men was only grazing, even firewood by women

The men always carry a stick. weapon type

Despite the development of school education in Kenya, the Masai in it do not participate. The few friends who still master the reading and writing, it is used for driving tourists like us in their villages. Such is the fate of

Do not want to write a lot of text, no pictures to illustrate it, but this is nothing more than a village, t. To. We arrived it was too late.

Sleep on the territory of the village we are either ashamed, or afraid. Simply put outside the tent next to the fence and went to bed. Night like pofotat villa with stars, but all the entrances were closed (oh, we had to stay inside!), So that the stars have turned out without houses :)