Thursday, October 25, 2012

Touring the Masai Village

 
The Masai village we visited was made up of two families with a total number of about 120 individuals. The fact that the Masais are polygamous perhaps explain how there could be such a big number making up just of two families. Their circular huts were made of clay, cow dung and wood branches of trees in the neighbourhood. The huts are normally constructed by the ladies. We were taken into one of the huts - and the young Masai who lived there gave us a good explanation of the Masai customs and culture.
 
We were told about their custom of male circumcision and initiation into adulthood, the polygamous practices and their technique of constructing their huts. The young Masai gentleman had gone to an English medium school and was very fluent in English.
 


 
 the handsome young Masai gentleman above
 took us into his hut and gave us about 30 minutes
of briefing about their life, customs and culture. 
 
 



the kitchen inside the Masai hut
 


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Masai Welcome Dance

 
The whole Masai Village folks came out and lined up to welcome pakdokter and partner with their welcome dance followed by their prayer for our safe journey and holiday.
 












An Afternoon at a Masai Village



After lunch, we were taken back to the Amboseli Sopa Lodge for a short rest. Pakdokter and partner chose to do a visit to a nearby Masai Village. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by the village head. He told us that his village was made up of 2 families with about 110 individuals.
 
Pakdokter later learned that the Masais are polygamous - so pakdokter assumed that the two families were probably made up of  the two heads of households with their wives and children and grandchildren to make up the total of 100 or so individuals living in the compound.
 
Almost everyone from the village came out to welcome us. They all lined up in a row and performed their welcome song and dance and finally offered a prayer for our safe journey and tour of their country.

 Masai beauties
 
 Masai gentlemen
 



Lunch in the Park







We were given the option of either returning to the Amboseli Sopa Lodge for our lunch or to be served lunch in a special camp site within the park. We chose to have the meal in the park and was pleasantly surprised that it was in a large tent with a full buffet spread of international and Indian dishes on the table.
 
In fact most of the lodge residents chose to have their lunch at the camp site in the park.
 
 

Exploring Amboseli Park (4)


As I have reported earlier - the main feature of the Amboseli National Park - apart from the Mount Kilimanjaro as its backdrop - was the abundance of elephants in the park. Occasionally we came across a small flock of ostriches and giraffes.
 







elephants soaking in the swamps
 













Monday, October 1, 2012

Exploring Amboseli Park (3)

different species of antelopes
 







the Secretary Bird
 

wild buffalo