Kenya - Land of the Masaii

The African Safari - July 20-27 2023

After a few days alone, relaxing at the Wildebeest Eco Lodge in Nairobi, it was time to meet "Kifaru" our home for the next 57 days along with 23 other passengers. We came from across the globe, America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom. Strangers with one common goal, experience Africa. Introductions would have to wait, for a short 40 minutes later we arrived at the Nairobi Giraffe Center. Homepage - African Fund for Endangered Wildlife - Giraffe Centre. The Giraffe Centre was founded in 1979, as a breeding program for Rothschild’s giraffes. At that time, it was estimated that there were only 130 Rothschild’s giraffes remaining in the wild. Over the years, the center has successfully reintroduced breeding pairs of Rothschild’s giraffes to several Kenyan national parks, including Lake Nakuru National Park. Since then, the population of wild Rothschild’s giraffe has risen to around 1,500 individuals. Next up was the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Haven for Elephants & Rhinos, which operates the most successful orphan elephant rescue program in the world.

By late afternoon we drove to the first of many overnight campsites, a rustic field with grass and flush toilets. Finally, a chance for introductions at the bar with free wifi, a rarity on the road We learned how to pitch the tents and divided ourselves into teams with rotating responsibilities (cooking, washing dishes, cleaning the truck, and security).

Up early the next morning, we drove through the Rift Valley to our home for the next two nights, Tepesuo Eco Camp a Maasai village. The Maasai are an African indigenous ethnic group of semi-nomadic people who currently inhabit the African countries of Tanzania and Kenya. They are one of the most well-known African tribes, famous for their unique customs, traditions, and fierce and brave Maasai warriors. Over the next two days we participated in several welcoming ceremonies. At the Maasai warrior school, we threw spears and learned about medicinal plants found on their lands. The Maasai's have a patriarchal society wherein elder men of the society decide most matters concerning the tribe. Various types of body mutilation and modifications are practiced by the Maasai. The piercing and stretching of ear lobes is a common practice among these peoples. Men adorn different unique hairstyles, and also scar their bodies and apply ocher to appear attractive. Young girls are subjected to genital mutilation without anesthetics in gala ceremonies. The practice of female genital mutilation is so deeply ingrained in the Maasai way of life that, despite laws prohibiting the practice, it is still widely practiced.