[Friday, August 4, 2023]
This morning started out like many of the others. We awoke at shortly after 5:15 AM so that we could both shower and pack our newly cleaned laundry into our suitcases along with our recent purchases. Why is it that clothing seems to get larger as you travel? Hamisi had pre-arranged for the front desk to have someone come and get our luggage and hold it for us there while we ate breakfast. We were just finishing up when we noticed them, so Laureen wheeled out our suitcases while I made a quick pitstop. They still just waited for us to get there before they headed to the front desk. Given that we are in the Maasai Mara, and there are wild animals here, we get an escort as we walk from place to place. This has been in the briefing we get as we check into the hotels each day. We are warned not to walk alone after 7:00 PM and before 6:00 AM.
Breakfast was the usual buffet style with on-demand omelettes and an assortment of local fresh fruits. The food has been incredible thus far with us having the ability to try all kinds of the local cuisine. With breakfast complete, we each identified our bag and then each piece of luggage is taken by an individual from the hotel to the vehicle. Next is watching them attempt to piece them into the back so that they all fit. It's a suitcase version of Tetris every morning.
Our first stop was less than 5 minutes from the hotel; and what an interesting stop it was. We were taken to a Maasai village where we were able to interact with traditional Maasai people. We were met by whom we believe to be a representative of the elders of the village. His name was Simon, and he was the one that talked and described all the different things we were going to see that day. This village was a total of 76 people, and they all were dressed in their traditional clothing. We were each given a sort of “carved club” (each of the Maasai participants had one) and then treated to a traditional welcome dance. We were offered the ability to purchase the carved club, so Laureen and I bought one. The photo below is the Maasai man who carved the club. Simon had indicated we could pay this same man for the club – noting that he was the tallest. I went over and compared heights with him, and I was actually taller. Unfortunately, they did not pay me.
The young boys would jump (and they had quite the standing vertical) almost as though they were on springs. The higher they jump, the more attractive they are to the females of the tribe. The Maasai can have multiple wives. This seemed like it was determined by whether or not the male could afford the dowery to the parents of the girl. If you can afford it, you could have more than one wife. In Canada, the law protects those that could not protect themselves in this regard. ;-)
We were also invited into one of the traditional homes of the Maasai which was an intricate weaving of branches of local trees covered in a dried mud. We were told that it was the women who build the houses in this culture. Inside was like two rooms. The entrance with a storage area, and then the main room which was divided into three sections: the sitting area and then flanking both side of the sitting area were rooms. One for the kids, and the other for the parents. There was a fire in the middle of the sitting area and the hut itself was quite smoky as a result. Only a couple of us were able to be inside due to the smoke.
Next, they did a demonstration of how they could start a fire without a match. Two Maasai boys would kneel across from each other as to be able to take turns with the process. They would use a piece of cedar and a thin stick of a harder wood. Putting the stick between their hands they would move their hands back-and-forth as to create friction on the piece of cedar. When the first got a little tired, he would trade off with the other. In no time smoke appeared and an ember was created out of the cedar. They took the ember and placed it inside some very dry dung and then they would gently blow on it until a flame appeared. I had heard of doing this before, but never actually seen it in practice. They were very proud of this accomplishment – and not having to buy a book of matches.
Later, we took a tour around a little market they had set up for us, so that we could purchase some items from them. Some of the items we had seen in other shops in other places, but some of the things looked like they were one-of-a-kind items that they themselves had created. Simon, walked around with us and hung on to the items that we chose so we could negotiate the price later. We chose a few things and went through the negotiation process, finally settling on a dollar amount that was likely too high but knowing that it went directly to this Maasai tribe made it a little easier to pay.
I should also mention that our original tour had us going to a children’s orphanage to spend some time with the kids and see how the place was run. Just prior to our tour, this itinerary item was removed as they had received several complaints about the endeavour. Laureen had brought some pencils and small Canada items that we were going to give out at the orphanage, that we now gave out to the children here at the Maasai village. Later they came up to me and wanted to wave and say hi. Man, these little ones are happy and CUTE as a button.
NOTE: It was interesting to see the shoes that the Maasai boys wore which were made from old car tires. Maybe that’s how they run so fast – radial shoes. 😊
We said goodbye to the Maasai village and began our morning game drive.
We stopped at a dazzle of zebras which now have become commonplace for us; but it was what came next that was amazing – a small pride of lions feasting on a kill (and a hoard of vehicles surrounding it). It is fascinating to me how the lions just act as if those trucks are not there.
I also took a few more landscape photos. I just can’t believe that I’m actually here, breathing the Maasai Mara air.
After a short drive we can across a group of hippo’s that were sleeping in the river. Not far down stream was a Nile Crocodile. Wow – those things just look mean.
On our drive to our new hotel for lunch (the one we were supposed to have two nights at – but they were overbooked so we stayed at the one last night instead) and a short break before heading out on a second game drive for the day, we ran across a small group of hyenas and then a small herd of elephants.
We arrived at this new hotel and found it to be very nice. We attended to lunch first as our rooms were not quite ready and then were escorted to our accommodation for tonight where we unpacked and just rested before our 4:00 PM game drive (our second of the day).
The second game drive was just as eventful as the first. Spotted our first cheetah that was close enough to take photos of. We had seen one earlier that was a very long ways away and we could only see its back as it lay in the tall grass. This was much closer. Hamisi indicated that they had likely just finished eating and were now all tired and full. Yup, looks just like me after a big Christmas dinner. We also came across what we think was the dinner location for the cheetah’s where a series of vultures had gathered, waiting for their turn at the carcass. A small jackal was working on it as the vultures waited patiently.
We also stopped at a large heard of wildebeest that would be part of the great migration from the south to the north. There are so many of these things roaming around, that you start to not even notice them.
Lastly, as another great surprise, we came across a single lioness just wandering through the Maasai. She was just casually walking around and gave us plenty of opportunity to take photos of her. At one point, we were the only vehicle near her.
A short ride back to the hotel and some time to clean-up before dinner. Tonight would be our last night with Hamisi as he would be taking us to the Tanzania border where he would had us off to another guide. Just before we headed into dinner, we ran into Hamisi, and we were able to hand him our tip for his time with us. He was a fantastic guide. Laureen had attached a Canadian flag keychain to the envelope which he said would be used for his small car at home. He gave us both a hug and thanked us. We had a fantastic dinner together where he asked us what we liked best about the trip. It was hard to come up with one item, but I noted that it was the first time we saw an animal in the wild (which was a giraffe). It was at that moment that this all became real to me. Laureen said she most enjoyed the people interactions (the farm and the Maasai village). Hamisi had a gift for us as a thank you and as an extension of their culture where they always send-off visitors with food. This was not food but rather we each got a different type of hat. What a fantastic reminder of our time with him.
Tomorrow is an early start as we need to leave at 7:00 AM so we can get to the border at a decent hour.
G’night all.
Curt & Laureen
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