We’re Not “Lion”… The Maasai Welcomed Us, Taught Us, and Moved Us Deeply

Our last morning in Tanzania included a visit to the Maasai village nearby. TAASA is very involved with the MAASAI people here. We were all very excited for this part of our adventure, especially because we were going to be able to see where our tracker, Boni, lives and meet his family.

From my research:

TAASA Lodge supports the Maasai through local employment, funding community projects in nearby villages, offering authentic cultural experiences to guests, and selling handmade Maasai crafts. This integrated approach aligns with its mission of "Empower, Protect, Explore" to promote sustainable tourism. 

Key ways TAASA Lodge supports the Maasai include:

Employment Opportunities: Approximately 70-75% of the lodge's employees are hired from the local Maasai villages of Ololosokwan and Mairowa, providing direct income and supporting local livelihoods.

Community Project Funding: TAASA Lodge channels support to community projects within the local Maasai Boma villages.

Cultural Exchange Programs: Guests can participate in guided visits to authentic Maasai villages, where they can learn about their traditional way of life, customs, singing, and dancing. A fee is charged for these visits, which goes directly to the community.

Support for Local Artisans: The lodge's gift shop features one-of-a-kind, handmade Maasai souvenirs, such as colorful beaded jewelry and carved decorations. Purchases directly support the local craftsmen and preserve their cultural heritage.

Brand and Cultural Recognition: The very name "TAASA" is a Maasai word meaning "Let's Go" or "Do It," and the brand identity, including its logo and lodge interiors, draws inspiration from traditional Maasai culture and artistry, celebrating their heritage.

Educational Philanthropy: Guests have the opportunity to visit local schools and learn how to contribute to ongoing empowerment projects, fostering a connection between visitors and the community's educational needs. 

After about a 45 minute drive from the lodge, we arrived at the village entrance.

As we drove in, we saw many large groups of goats or cows on the side of the road. Ole explained to us that those herds of animals are taken care of by the boys of the village. 

The young boys, ages 7-9 are in charge of the goats. They have to take them out every day for hours on end and then bring them back into their boma (holding area) later. The goats are then counted by the women and if any are missing, the young Maasai boy is disciplined.

The cows are taken out by the older MAASAI boys, and the same process is followed. The cows and goats are very important to the Maasai people.

From my research:
Cows and goats are crucial to the Maasai people, serving as a source of food (milk, meat, blood), income (trading), and materials for shelter and clothing (skins, rope). Livestock also holds immense cultural and spiritual significance, representing wealth and social status, and playing a central role in traditional ceremonies and rituals.

Food and sustenance:

Dairy and meat: The traditional diet relies on milk, cheese, and other dairy products, as well as the meat of cattle and other livestock.

Cow's blood: The Maasai drink cow's blood, which provides essential salt.

Other products: Goats and sheep also supplement their diet, and they gather wild honey and medicinal plants. 
Economic and material resources:

Income and trade: Livestock is a primary source of income through trade, with milk and other products also sold.

Materials: Skins from cows and goats are used to make clothing, sleeping mats, water skins, ropes, and jewelry. 
Cultural and social significance

Wealth and status: A person's wealth and social standing are measured by the number of cattle they own.

Rituals and ceremonies: Livestock are integral to Maasai life, used in important rituals and ceremonies, including births, initiations, and weddings.

Spiritual beliefs: Cattle are considered a sacred gift from God (Ngai), and their care is a central tenet of Maasai life.

Community and identity: The communal management of herds is a key part of Maasai identity and way of life.

children carrying water and walking along the road as we entered.

When we first arrived inside the village, Ole gathered us and explained that as the children come up to see us, they will bow in front of us and expect us to say hello to them by putting our palm on our head and saying, "Sopa." 

That is exactly what happened. As soon as we arrived, the children circled us. (They are used to having visitors from TAASA and look forward to it as a special event.). Every child that approached us, came to us and bowed their head. It was very emotional to know that they were welcoming us into their home this way.

From my research about the Maasai: The Maasai greeting "sopa" means "hello," and a traditional way to greet a child is to lightly touch their head with an open palm, not to pat it. The specific greeting can vary by village, and for children, the older person initiates the head touch after the child bows. Men often use handshakes, while women may use head bowing or handshakes depending on age and marital status. 

Maasai greetings 

To a child: A child will bow their head, and an adult will gently place their right palm on the child's head once. Do not pat the child's head.

To an adult: For boys, the traditional greeting for those older is to bend their head. Once they become a man, they will typically use a handshake.

For women: Women will often bow their head to greet those older than them, with the practice of handshaking becoming more common after they have one or two children.

Verbal greetings: You can say "sopa" (hello) to greet them, and they may respond with "ipa"

the children weren't shy, as I said earlier, they look at visitors from TAASA as a special event

We met two of the elder women.

As Ole was getting ready to share some of the Maasai history with us, this young girl passed by us with this water container on her back. Part of her daily chores is to bring water back for the family. She was carrying it on her back, and Ole stopped her to explain to us. 

He asked Aunt Rose to carry the water the way she was. It was HEAVY!!! It is so impressive the determination and normal expectations of the children in the Maasai.

Our tracker, Boni is from this village. We got to meet his wife and daughter.

Ole then took us into one of the bomas for the goats and cows. He shared an incredible overview of the Maasai history from their beginning to how they live today. 

Another shared duty of the young children is to care for the very young. At an early age, the older brothers and sisters are responsible for carrying around the young children.

This elder woman is enjoying relaxing in the village and didn't mind having her picture taken.

We were invited into her house. 

From my research:

Maasai houses in Tanzania, called Enkaji or Manyatta, are traditionally built by women using natural materials like mud, cow dung, sticks, and grass. These simple, circular structures are designed for easy assembly and disassembly to suit a semi-nomadic lifestyle, though some modern versions are made of brick. Inside, they are dark with limited air and light, featuring a central fire for warmth and cooking, and beds made of branches covered with animal skins. 

Construction and design:                                                                                                          

Materials: The primary building materials are local and natural, including mud, cow dung, grass, sticks, and ash. Cow dung is a key element that acts as an insulating and weather-proofing agent once dried.                                                                                                                                       

Construction: Women of the community are responsible for building and maintaining the houses. The structure is made of a wooden framework of poles, often covered with a mixture of mud and dung plaster.                                                                                                                                                 

Shape: The houses are typically small, loaf-shaped, or circular, with a low, hyperboloid roof. A traditional Maasai village, or boma, is a circular configuration of dwellings around a central open space.                                                                                                                                           

Durability: The houses are not permanent; they require constant repair and maintenance due to the decay of natural materials. 

Interior features:

Interior: The inside is often dark with a few small openings for light and air.
Fire: A small fire is kept burning in the center for cooking and warmth.
Furniture: Furniture is minimal and often integrated into the structure. Beds are constructed from a wooden frame covered with animal skins or dried grass.
Art: The exterior walls can be a canvas for artistic expression through the art of plastering

The open fire in the middle, and notice the dishes and cooking utensils against the far wall.

Aunt Rose is sitting on the male's bed

The elder woman is shining a flashlight so that we can see.

After learning about the history of the Maasai, and visiting inside a home...came the fun time. We were able to interact with the children and just play and hang out for a while. They were very excited for us to be there. 

We brought some gifts for the village. We brought some clothes for the ladies and men. Don brought a small soccer ball and I brought some t-shirts from home for the children. 

Walt Disney World in Tanzania

George Mason University

Mary Washington University

Washington Nationals

Don and Aunt Rose played soccer with the kids and Ole and Bony for a bit.

As we prepared to leave, we asked if we could take a group picture. If you look at me, you will see 4 young boys around me. They came over immediately and gathered around me and wouldn't move. 

This was such an emotional experience for many reasons. 

The first was to get a glimpse into Boni's life. Over the past three days, we had gotten to know him very well and we were so grateful that he was able to share his home and family with us. 

The second is to see the pure joy and happiness that the adults and children in this village share. The life they live is simple and full of happiness. It is so different from what we, in the United States, do and feel on a daily basis. 

The chores that they do and the expectations that are placed on the children, at such an early age, are normal to them and part of their lifestyle. They are a community that shares and cares for each other. 

It was beautiful and something I will not forget for a very long time!!

High five for Debbie as we were getting ready to leave.

The two elder ladies enjoying their time.

Boni and his wife and daughter right before we left. She is expecting number 3 in about two weeks. His younger son was out in the field with the goats. His son is not yet 3!!!

As we left, we drove around more of the village and got to see some of the philanthropic projects that TAASA is doing to support the villages. 

One of the projects that TAASA Lodge is doing with this village is providing clean water. This water station provides clean/filtered water to the village. TAASA completed the project with underground pipes and now this village has unlimited access to clean water. 

notice she is drinking from it, and also filling the water buckets to take back.

These kids saw me taking pictures and came over to pose. :) 

They are using the clean water to wash clothes.

a Maasai dryer!

Another project that TAASA did for this village is plant trees and then erected this fence to keep the animals out, so that the trees would grow and provide for the village.

The fence encloses the school area, and this is the teacher's house. She lives there with her family.

Because we visited on a Sunday, we didn't get to see inside the school. Prior to leaving the United States, during our pre-travel call with TAASA, they shared that one of their current projects with the village is building a library for the school. 

With 4 out of the 5 of us being teachers, we jumped on that and asked if we could donate some books. They shared that the English language is very important to the people and YES, they would love more English language books for their library. So...the village kids will soon get to read Diary of A Wimpy Kid, and other more simple stories and picture books.

Don and his Serengeti girlfriend again. LOL

As we left, we drove through the Maasai version of New York City, as Ole explained to us. This is the center with markets, stores and other places for the villagers to enjoy.

further away from the village we visited, we saw another group of ladies/girls washing their clothes in the creek.

Don Rahn photographer at work, found a very colorful lizard.

After a little game drive on the way back to TAASA, we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon packing and relaxing around the lodge.

Our time with the Maasai children and village is a memory that I will cherish forever. They say travel is transformative and I would have to agree! As a travel coach, I encourage families to find their why for travel and to be open to adventures and what travel can provide for them.

I can say that I am living what I am sharing with others. This trip will be a part of my core memories and something that I hold dear to me for the rest of my life. 

I didn't just visit "Africa" and stay at luxury lodges and camps, I got to experience Africa through the people and the culture. I got to get up close to the animals and appreciate the vast, untouched land. 

I didn't want it to end!

Stay tuned for my final reflections on our ten days in Tanzania, including our most interesting animal encounters, some of our favorite people and my biggest takeaways!!

It's always Seldom A Dull Moment with the #retiredrahns!