Who are the Maasai?

The Maasai (or Masai, Maassai) are nomadic herders who migrated from northern Africa to East Africa around the middle of the 16th century. This most well-known ethnic group in East Africa is now located in the Kilimanjaro region, both in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Currently, there are about 1,000,000 Maasai, equally divided between the two countries.

Originally, the Maasai were known primarily as warriors and shepherds; their culture is mainly based on cattle. According to their faith, the rain god Ngai, perched on the summit of Mount Kenya, left them all the cattle on earth. The Maasai believe this and, until very recently, would forcibly expropriate cattle from others. Even today, cattle are the most important part of their diet.

They feed primarily on the meat, milk, and blood from cattle to meet their protein and caloric needs. The milk-blood mixture is a traditional Maasai specialty. Vegetable dishes are typically not eaten by Maasai. However, those who live outside the protected areas often resort to agriculture for their income, growing wheat, corn, beans, tea, and potatoes. The traditional Maasai, however, do not cultivate these but buy them from other tribes.

There are no chiefs or leaders for the Maasai; they are organized by the age group of males. The transitions from one age group to the next are crucial moments in the life of a Maasai man, and his reputation is very dependent on the number of cattle and wives he has. It is not uncommon for a Maasai to have 50 cattle and five wives. Numerous ceremonies, including the much-criticized female circumcision, mark the life of the Maasai.

The Maasai speak their own language, Maa, which belongs to the group of Nilotic languages. However, most can also communicate in Swahili, which they have learned in schools since the 1960s.

In addition to language and food, many other aspects of "modern" life have found their way into the everyday lives of the Maasai. It is not uncommon to see Maasai who go to university, communicate via WhatsApp, drive cars, and play billiards and dance hip-hop in the city. They do not abandon their traditions but blend them with other ways of life.

Especially for longer stays, it is definitely advisable to read enough about the culture of the Maasai. We can provide a list of references available.

Live like a Maasai - without a tourist program

World Unite! offers the chance to live like the Maasai and with the Maasai. The Maasai village where this is possible is only about 5 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport, as well as about 50 km from Moshi and 70 km from Arusha. You live in a typical Maasai house and take part in the daily life of the Maasai.

Laizer and Leronjo, two Maasai from the village who started this initiative and received approval in April 2009 from the Tanzania Cultural Tourism Program to host foreign guests, are now more than familiar with the needs and customs of foreign visitors and can cater to them if desired.

We want to emphasize that this is not a tourist-staged or softened program, but "the true Maasai life." As a guest, you participate in food production and enjoy dishes like fermented milk.

You live in a typical Maasai house. Traditional Maasai houses are round or rectangular, built from a mixture of mud and dung applied around a wooden skeleton structure, similar to a half-timbered house. During heavy rains, such as during the rainy season, the walls can soften and rainwater can leak through the roof. A fire for cooking, heating, and drying the mud structure is inside the Maasai house without a chimney. There are neither windows nor doors. The bed is made of wood and branches, covered with Maasai blankets called "Shuka." Small crawling creatures can freely enter the house.

You have the option to stay in a camping tent, provided by us along with a sleeping bag and mattress, for the entire duration of your stay or just for certain nights.