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Published: January 17th 2014
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Maasai warriors dance
Dancers by day guards by night People refer to so many places as 'Gods Country' and that's fine but believe me when I tell you that I have been to Gods' Playground! The Maasai people and their home the Maasai Mara is incredible... The mind boggles!
For now we visit the people ...the Maasai
Later we will visit the Mara or vast plain, in their language. It is 1,5010 sq kilometers
The 4 hour bone shaking drive off the tarmac into the Maasai Mara reserve is described by our intrepid driver Henry, as the worst road in Africa and honestly it could shake the fillings out of your teeth!
Jarred and bounced along for hours on end with only acacia thorn bushes and dust dust dust....clouds of grit...dust...a fine pale brown powder over everything. Every once in a long while the nothingness punctuated by brilliant flashes of red as in the distance a Maasai heardsman tends his cattle. No photos allowed of people we pass along the way...they don't like it and I respect them....Just dust, thorn trees, flat topped cow dung huts surrounded by thorn bush fences and more dust.
Finally we arrive at the camp site deep within Maasai territory
Maasai children with lollipops
Beautiful Maasai girl with brothers and are greeted by Jeffrey (he claims) the son of the local chief, resplendent in red robe, hugely stretched ear lobes and twinkling jewelry of intricate beadwork and small silver discs. He is slim, very dark with a gentle demeanor....right away I am at ease.
Invited for a small fee to visit the village, I leap at the opportunity!
What a treat, both the men and women sing and dance their welcome the children sticky with lollipops we gave them smile shyly from the shade...the flies enjoy their fair share also!
The Maasai approximately 1.5 million strong, are a nomadic people, their huts made to last only 6-9 months before they crumble back into the earth and they move on to build again in another location.
In a typical Maasai hut my eyes slowly become accustomed to the gloom, the entire hut inside and out is made of corklike dried cow dung, the walls smooth, waterproof and gently curving.
Shelter for the young calves and lambs is under the same roof, separated from the family by just a partial wall. The hearth is central and gently curved, the minimal smoke from extremely dry wood escapes
through a nearby small hole in the thick wall. Possessions are minimal if not nonexistent.
In the dry brilliant sunlight these colorful people seem charming, fascinating...at night while 6 or 8 of them watchfully guard our campsite clothed in blankets, spears in hand, it's a whole other story! I barely slept! The warriors crept around the camp all night, silently appearing at the outhouse door just when I thought I was alone, padding about inches from my head as I lay huddled in my tent careful not to breath too noisily lest they come even closer to check on me....
Thank God dawn eventually breaks and they melt away into the vastness much as they had come, silently, stealthily with no warning or signal that I could discern....
Now on to our game drive as the animals yawn and stretch awake...the cycle of life continues...all praises due...I'm privy!
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Lyris
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Thank you for the informative updates