Foto: Masai (bron: Andrea Marangoni)
Kenya - The Maasai live in the semi-arid Rift Valley region of Kenya and Tanzania. They own large herds of cattle, sheep, and goats, which they follow throughout the seasons in search of fresh grazing land and water sources. Traditionally, the Maasai have always been a proud and independent tribe. They do not cultivate the land and depend on a cash-based economy. They lived off the blood, milk, and meat provided by their livestock. Cattle play a central role in the life of the Maasai. Livestock represents food and energy. The more cattle a Maasai owns, the wealthier he is—and with that, the more power and influence he holds within his tribe. Today, the Maasai have a more mixed diet. They are being forced to settle on increasingly smaller plots of land and to adapt to a more sedentary lifestyle. This means that they sometimes need to purchase cultivated food. Traditionally, the Maasai have always looked down on people who work the land, as it makes the land unsuitable for grazing. While the lifestyle of the Maasai has changed over the past three decades in particular, their strong social traditions have remained intact. Maasai men are, above all, warriors. They protect their tribe, their livestock, and their grazing lands. Maasai warriors wear red-checked cloaks and beads in their hair. Maasai boys come of age through a circumcision ceremony at the age of 14. Afterwards, they care for the cattle far from the village for several years. They return to the village as warriors, ready for marriage.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Kenya - Lake Nakuru National Park, located in the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley, is one of the most accessible and iconic nature parks in the country. Just 160 kilometers northwest of Nairobi, this relatively compact park (around 188 km²) is known for its rich ...
The Samburu Reserve
Kenya - We drive the truck back into Samburu Reserve. In the early morning light, the park looks completely different again. Impalas, antelopes, and gazelles graze on the open plains. We also spot a few elephants. One is standing right on the road — we must ...