Immerse yourself in authentic Maasai culture as you visit a traditional village, accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Find yourself in the midst of the daily hustle and bustle of local life as you witness the daily rituals of the Maasai. Once you have drunk your fill of this authentic cultural experience, you can choose to browse through the Maasai Craft Centre and purchase artefacts made by the people you encountered. All proceeds from this go directly to the community.

Living a semi-nomadic lifestyle, the Maasai tribe has modernised in some ways but still adheres to many aspects of their traditional culture. Established as fierce warriors, their lively cultural dance, vibrant clothing and beautifully crafted handiwork are recognised worldwide. The Maasai used to move nomadically with their herds to abundant lush pastures but these days they have built permanent huts or bomas and prefer to stay in once place. They are pastoralists and cattle is essential to their way of life. A man’s success is measured by the number of cattle and offspring he has. As great a status and show of wealth the cattle are, they are also a vital food source. This glimpse of authentic Maasai culture is a fascinating experience of an ancient way of life that still flourishes today.



You may see them by the roadside during your safari travels in Kenya – tall, lean, and brilliantly adorned in their bright reds and blues. Their cattle are always nearby. These are the Maasai people and the closely related Samburu peoples, the oldest tribes of East Africa. Their cattle and goats are central and sacred to their way of life, economically and spiritually as well. For they believe it is their mission to care for these animals, who in turn supply them with meat, milk, and the means from which to barter.

The men dressed in their brightly colored shukas are trained as warriors, to hunt game and keep their families and livestock safe. Both men and women are always adorned with colorful, hand-made beaded bracelets and necklaces that show off their skills and also their status.



Arriving at the village is a study in contrasts – you’ll take in the muted greys and browns of the bomas, while the bright reds, blues, and purples worn by the villagers show off in stark relief. Their livestock are never far off – you’ll see them in the small corrals made of sharpened poles and branches to fend off predators. While here you may have an opportunity to visit inside one of the bomas, usually constructed by the women from small poles and smaller branches, then covered with a cement of mud, grass, dung, urine, and ash.

Although you’ll have to stoop to fit inside the 1.5M (less than 5 feet) high structure, the family eats, sleeps, and carries on all activities in this modest home. It’s the men’s responsibility to build the corrals and the protective fencing around the village to ward off the big cats and any other predators that are attracted to the livestock.