Maralal Off The Beaten Path

Mama, the 70 years old lady of the compound, was very friendly and eager to show and tell us a lot. We were lucky to be in her compound with Idi, our Samburu guide, translating and explaining everything in English.

On the picture she is showing us how to wear a long metal ''earring'', though we didn't understand the purpose of it very well, if there is any ....

The huts in the traditional Samburu villages and compounds around Maralal are made of wood and earth, the natural materials from the area.

To keep the wild animals out and the own cattle in you see wooden fences in the villages. In the village of the blacksmith we saw this traditional wooden fence with parts of modern ''catchrails'' like you see along the highroads. Very peculiar to see it here, a place which you can only reach by narrow walking paths. It's a nice example of re-using everything possible, like making sandals of used tyres.

In the village of the blacksmith mama invited us to have a look in her hut. We had to bow to enter the door. The interior was very small and basic. There was also a cooking place inside, so it was rather smoky.

From my first visit to Africa in 1980 the smell of this smoke is for me the smell of Africa. When I'm back home and open my travelbag, I feel the temptation to wait a while to wash my clothes and sleepingbag, to keep the African flavour and feeling for a while.

Now I have the solution by having a little wooden chest for teaglasses at home, still having that smoky smell.

After entering the compound of the blacksmith, Idi our Samburu guide introduced us to mama, the 70 years old lady of the compound. We were friendly welcomed by her and the other Samburu women around.

They were all wearing colourful clothes and necklaces, especially in the bright red and blue colours. Some of the women were wearing very long earrings, much longer than the long ones I'm used to wear.