The Dark Continent - Safari Part 3 - Maasai People

East African Safaris continued... the Maasai People & Village

The Zulu peoples may have been the true warriors of Africa, but the Maasai are the ones which now best represent tribal Africa. Although they only account for less than 5% of the population in Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai have a very high visibility with the men wearing their red plaid blankets, carrying a club and spear, and with bright plate like necklaces, and considerable body decorations including burn scars and tattooing, as well as ear lobe cutting, sometimes twisting and contorting them into near knots. Descendents from Nilotic people who 1,000 years ago migrated from the Sudan south to the Serengeti, these tall, slim, striking, nomadic herdsmen, to this day, tenaciously maintain their traditional life style.

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 2 - Kenya

East African Safaris continued... on to Kenya

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 1 - Uganda

Relaxing at Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Park

 Dear Family and Friends,

“Jambo.”

“Jambo, mambo?”

“Hatujambo”.

I’m not sure of the spelling, but that is about how all conversations start in East Africa. “Hello.” (How are you, really.) “I’m fine, how are you?” “I’m fine”.

The Dark Continent - Muzungas in the Mist

Dear family and friends,

Spike Jones:  “Doodles!  Hey Doodles!  Did you hear about the owl that married a goat?”

Doodles Weaver:  “Yeah, they had a hootnanny!”

I know.  It’s not funny.  Not even in the least.  But here in Rwanda, not much is. 

Rwandan Kids at Mt. Bisoke