The Maasai, The authentic people of Kenya

Maasai: the authentic people of Kenya - a tourist favorite   We are online-Maasai Men "It takes one day to destroy a house; to build  a new house will take months and perhaps years. If we abandon our way of life to construct a new one, it will take thousands of years", Maasai belief. The Maasai tribe is the most authentic ethnic  tribe of Kenya. The Maasai tribe (or Masai) is a unique and popular tribe due to their long preserved culture. Despite education, civilization and western cultural influences, the Maasai people have clung to their traditional way of life, making them a symbol of Kenyan culture.   Maasai, Kenyan Heritage Maasai's distinctive culture, dress style and strategic territory along the game parks of Kenya and Tanzania have made them one of East Africa's most internationally famous tourist attractions.. Maasais speak Maa, a Nilotic ethnic language from their origin in the Nile region of North Africa. History of the Maasai Tribe It is thought that the Maasai's ancestors originated in North Africa, migrating south along the Nile Valley and arriving in Northern Kenya in the middle of the 15th century. They continued southward, conquering all of the tribes in their path, extending through the Rift Valley and arriving in Tanzania at the end of 19th century. As they migrated, they attacked their neighbors and raided cattle. By the end of their journey, the Maasai had taken over almost all of the land in the Rift Valley as well as the adjacent land from Mount Marsabit to Dodoma, where they settled to graze their cattle.   Maasai Culture The Amboseli National Park, Nairobi National Park, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, and Tsavo National Parks in Kenya and the Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Serengeti parks in Tanzania all stand on what was once the territory of the Maasai tribe. Today, the Maasai people live on a smaller piece of land in the Kajiado and Narok districts, surrounded by these now Kenya's fine game reserves. Many practice nomadic pastoralism, while others have been absorbed into modern day jobs working in tourism where they showcase their culture to visiting tourists. Maasai Women dancing   Maasai Culture The warrior is of great importance as a source of pride in the Maasai culture. To be a Maasai is to be born into one of the world's last great warrior cultures. From boyhood to adulthood, young Maasai boys begin to learn the responsibilities of being a man (helder) and a warrior. The role of a warrior is to protect their animals from human and animal predators, to build kraals (Maasai homes) and to provide security to their families.   Maasai Initiation Through rituals and ceremonies, including circumcision, Maasai boys are guided and mentored by their fathers and other elders on how to become a warrior. Although they still live their carefree lives as boys - raiding cattle, chasing young girls, and game hunting - a Maasai boy must also learn all of the cultural practices, customary laws and responsibilities he'll require as an elder. An elaborate ceremony - Eunoto - is usually performed to "graduate" the young man from their moran and carefree lifestyle to that of a warrior. Beginning life as a warrior means a young man can now settle down and start a family, acquire cattle and become a responsible elder. In his late years, the middle-aged warrior will be elevated to a senior and more responsible elder during the Olng'eshere ceremony. Maasai children enter into a system of "age-sets" with peers where various life stages, such as circumcision, are marked with ritual and ceremonies. At the age of 14, girls are initiated into adulthood through an official circumcision ceremony known as Emorata.   Maasai Initiates Presently, the female circumcision ritual is outlawed in Kenya and its use is diminishing from the Maasai women's culture. Young Maasai girls are still taught other functional roles like how to build houses, make beadwork, and cook and clean their homes, by their mothers and older women. When they come of age, their parents "book" a warrior from a respectable clan as an appropriate husband for their daughter. Maasai Homes Since the Maasai lead a semi-nomadic life, their houses are loosely constructed and semi-permanent. They are usually small, circular houses built by the women using mud, grass, wood and cow-dung. The men build the fences and sheds for the animals.   Maasai Home built by women Maasai and their cattle The Maasai tribe has a deep, almost sacred, relationship with cattle. They are guided by a strong belief that God created cattle especially for them and that they are the sole custodians of all the cattle on earth. This bond has led them into a nomadic way of life following patterns of rainfall over vast land in search of food and water for their large herds of cattle. The Maasai tribe measures wealth by the number of cattle and children one has.   Maasai Worrior grazing Maasai clothes, dressing and beauty Though they traditionally dressed in animal skins, Maasai woman with beaded jewelry - everyday Maasai dresstoday, typical Maasai dress consists of red sheets, (shuka), wrapped around the body and loads of beaded jewelry placed around the neck and arms. These are worn by both men and women and may vary in color depending on the occasion. Ear piercing and the stretching of earlobes are also part of Maasai beauty, and both men and women wear metal hoops on their stretched earlobes. Women shave their heads and remove two middle teeth on the lower jaw (for oral delivery of traditional medicine). The Maasai often walk barefooted or wear simple sandals made of cow hide. Maasai food All of the Maasai's needs for food are met by their cattle. They eat the meat, drink the milk and, on occasion, drink the blood. Bulls, oxen and lambs are slaughtered for meat on special occasions and for ceremonies. The by-products of the animals - skin and hides - are used as bedding while cow dung is used for building (it is smeared on the walls). The Maasai's entire way of life truly revolves around their cattle.   Maasai drinking blood Maasai cultural tours Kenya's safari tours enable both visiting tourists and native Kenyans to enjoy the country's wildlife, while also exploring the Maasai's rich cultural heritage by visiting their homes and attending Maasai cultural shows. These tours are held in Kenya's game reserves, in particular, the Masai Mara National reserve. The tours also provide an ideal opportunity for participants to take part in the Maasai dance and buy traditional Maasai jewelry, art and crafts to take home as souvenirs.   Maasai Cultural tours http://bit.ly/29Nz4R9 http://bit.ly/29zXM7f http://bit.ly/29fNQwI http://bit.ly/29qcw8I To enjoy and experience this Kenyan heritage, Contact us on offers or Connect with us on Social Media for more information. FACEBOOK TWITTER YOU TUBE Call us on +254 720 824 502 / +254 720 823 229  Holiday Packages Visit our WEBSITE  for more offers Top holiday deals in Kenya Best Deals on Major Seasonal Holidays – Valentine, Easter, Madaraka, Mashujaa, Jamhuri & Christmas. Variety of options – Safari adventures, Beach, Getaways & International. Only top-rated destinations & pocket-friendly prices. Weekend Getaway Deals in Kenya Self Drive Holiday Deals in Kenya Outdoor Activities in Kenya Madaraka Express SGR Holiday Deals in Kenya Seasonal holiday Deals in Kenya Top Self Drive Holiday Deals in Kenya If you think you have to travel far to enjoy a nice weekend, you may never get away. Besides, you can enjoy a beautiful weekend right here in Kenya. There are countless wallet-friendly Kenyan self drive getaways that won’t even break your budget. Don’t spend your weekend, doing absolutely nothing at home. Whether you are looking for romantic destinations, pristine beaches, and adventurous outdoor activities, there are plenty wallet-friendly getaways that will satisfy your weekend desires. Malindi & Watamu Self Drive Deals Mombasa South Coast Self Drive Deals Mombasa North Coast Self Drive Deals Masai Mara Self Drive Holiday Packages Lukenya & Machakos Self Drive Meru Holiday Self Drive Deals Mt. Kenya & Aberdare Self Drive Holiday Deals Nyeri Holiday Self Drive Deals Samburu Holiday Self Drive Deals Read the full article

First Steps for Creating the Perfect Tailor Made Honeymoon

Your honeymoon is supposed to be one of the most romantic and relaxing holidays you’ll ever take, but planning it can be a stressful business. The pressure is on to create an experience that is truly unforgettable, and it can be hard to know where to begin with so many destinations and experiences to choose from. If you are struggling for inspiration, follow these first steps to help you plan the perfect luxury honeymoon... Enlist some help Even if you usually travel independently, it is well worth enlisting the help of a travel company to help you plan a tailor made honeymoon - not only will it save you a lot of hassle, it is best to have the assistance of people who know the luxury destinations inside out. Also worth investigating is a honeymoon gift list service. Honeymoons with Honeymiles is offered by the Western and Oriental collection of specialist tour operators allows you to set up your own personal honeymoon gift list online, share the page with your friends and family and your wedding guests can buy honeymoon activities, experiences and upgrades for you rather than wedding gifts. So if you want a luxury honeymoon more than you want household essentials, ask your wedding guests to contribute to your honeymoon instead! Pick your ideal destination Naturally, the destination is crucial, and will depend entirely on what you and your partner want from a honeymoon - beaches or cities, culture or ultra luxury, or all of the above! Once you know what kind of a honeymoon holiday you want, consult with your travel company - they’ll be able to advise you on the best destinations to choose from. Of course, if you arrange a tailor made honeymoon, you can enjoy the benefits of several different locations within a country, mixing city breaks with beach resorts, fly drive with safaris, and pretty much any other combination of experience or destinations you can imagine. You could even visit two different countries - multi centre luxury honeymoons can contrast the beautiful beaches of Mauritius with the cosmopolitan high life of Dubai, for example. Check the season Before you become too enamoured of a particular location, make sure you can actually go there for your luxury honeymoon! Some destinations can be visited year round, but others are highly seasonal. It isn’t always down to weather, of course - Venice is a perfect luxury honeymoon destination for some parts of the year, but it can be very crowded in July and August; hardly what you want for a romantic holiday experience! If you’ve got your heart set on a destination for your tailor made honeymoon, make sure that you’ve chosen the time to visit where you can enjoy it at its best. Select the perfect hotel Luxury or boutique? At the heart of a city, on the outskirts, or in the middle of nowhere? Your hotel is likely to be the centre of your luxury honeymoon - in many ways, it is the most important element to get right! While a larger hotel can often provide grander facilities, the intimacy of a boutique hotel can be impossibly romantic. A private villa within a five star resort can be a good option, providing the privacy of the villa and the luxury facilities of the resort itself. As with every part of your tailor made honeymoon, there is no right or wrong answer - it all depends on the kind of experience you and your partner want to have. Naturally, there’s much more to a tailor made honeymoon than just getting these elements right, but following steps will give you a solid foundation to relax and enjoy your luxury honeymoon. Article by:  Sally Rushbrooke Read the full article