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Masai Mara Game Reserve Local Customs

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Masai Mara Game Reserve Local Customs

Maasai woman with large earlobes - Masai Mara Game Reserve

Maasai woman with large earlobes
by grets

Learn the local customs of Masai Mara Game Reserve. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Masai Mara Game Reserve locals.

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Masai Mara Game Reserve Local Customs

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	Honor the elders and tribal leaders Tip Rating:

Updated By Homanded on November 23, 2006

Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by Homanded

Children eagerly take our
gifts

by Homanded, 3 more photos

We learned this the hard way:

Thinking we were doing a good thing, we arrived at our first (and last) Maasai village laden down with gifts for the children.
To our delight (and theirs) we were instantly mobbed by dozens of kids screaming with anticipation as they grabbed every pen and candy we produced out of our back-packs.

Suddenly, we heard this commotion, followed by yelling and a "swishing" sound!
From out of a nearby hut area, an elder (supposedly the Village chief", appeared, waving a large stick.
The children quickly dropped to the ground, all in single file the candy we held was confiscated from us and the elder, while waving a stick in the air, made the children hold out their hands while HE distributed the "gifts".

To dsitribute needs certain permission from the elder. It then must be given to HIM for distribution and sharing thus ensuring him as the leader!
Major Faux Pas on our part...

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	Siana Springs Camp Ecotourism Tip Rating:

By grets on January 5, 2005

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Our tent

by grets

In keeping with the new ‘green movement’ of Kenyan tourism and a focus on conservation, Siana endeavours to uphold the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility in one of Africa’s most progressive ecological partnerships. The camp enjoys very close ties with its Maasai landlords, who share in the venture and make up more than 60% of its workforce. The vision for the continent is twinned with the economic future of the Maasai’ people’s nomadic existence. The local Nkoilale Primary School was built with support from Siana, which continues to fund the school’s development. The camp is also supporting an initiative to develop a local conservation area, which will protect the area’s rich game and limit degradation by livestock grazing. The camp itself is run on strict eco-principles with water heating fuelled by waste charcoal dust, biodegradable waste composted and all waste water recycled through the camp’s extensive wetland system

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	Choice of safari length Tip Rating:

By grets on January 7, 2005

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Picnic lunch during all day
game drive

by grets

We wre given a choice each day of how we would like to do our safari. Did we want a morning and evening safari, or all day out in the reserve. If we chose a morning safari, did we want to come back for breakfast, or take it as a picnic.

I would recommend spending at least one whole day in the park, as you get the opportunity to travel that much further, and see more areas which you otherwise would have missed.

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	Resident wildlife Tip Rating:

By grets on January 7, 2005

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Bushbuck by the restaurant

by grets

Although Siana Springs Camp is enclosed by an electric fence to keep large predators out, smaller game roam freely inside the compound, such as this bushbuck. They are quite habituated and appear almost tame, but they are not!

Other wild animals found in the grounds include vervet monkeys, bushbabies, mongoose, tree hyrax and lots of birds.

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	Jump to it Tip Rating:

Updated By grets on February 25, 2007

Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets

Maasai jumping

by grets

It is a long tradition with the Maasai warriors to jump. It is said to be a sign of manhood and strength, and is a great competition amongst the young men.

I was absolutely amazed at hoe high they could jump, this guy must be about three feet off the ground from a stand-still position.

We discussed this at length and came to the comclusion that over generation of practicing this art, extra strong muscles must have developed to enable then to carry out such feat!

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	Maasai Manyatta Tip Rating:

By grets on January 7, 2005

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Maasai manyatta from the air

by grets

The Maasai manyatta or village, is built to strict guide lines. Around the outside is a thick fence made from cut branches to keep the wild animals out. The number of openings in the fence corresponds to the number of families living in the manyatta - each family has their own gate. At night, a barrier is put across the gate to prevent predators getting in.

Each family will have their own dwelling around the outside of the circular central area.

The cattle is driven into the centre courtyard each evening, while the smaller livestock such as chickens, have their own little pen.

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	Breakfast in the bush Tip Rating:

Updated By grets on January 7, 2005

Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets

Chef cooking eggs

by grets

Even more incongruous is the fact that you have travelled 20 km in a hot air balloonover the African plains. By the time you have climbed out of the ballon and walked across the grasslands - there is a chef standing there cooking your eggs to order and producing the most delightful and paper thin pancakes!

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	Champagne Tip Rating:

By grets on January 7, 2005

Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets

Captain Peter pouring the
campagne

by grets

After any balloon flight it is customary to toast the captain with champagne, and this flight was no exception. Here is the captain pouring the campagne for us to celebrate a safe landing in the Masai Mara National Reserve!

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	Masai / Maasai spelling Tip Rating:

By grets on January 7, 2005

Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets

Maasai Warrior

by grets

For quite some time I was confused about the two different spellings, until Moses, our safari guide, explained it to us.

Masai is the game reserve

Maasai are the people

It's that simple!

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	Viewing platform Tip Rating:

By grets on January 7, 2005

Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets

Viewing platform

by grets

The camp had built a couple of elevated viewing platforms which look out over the Masai Mara reserve. When we visited both there was no game to be seen, but other reported they'd spotted monkeys and giraffes from the hides.

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More Masai Mara Game Reserve Tips

Overview	Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 49 - Photos: 104
Things To Do Tips: 186 - Photos: 320	Nightlife Tips: 20 - Photos: 22
Transportation Tips: 30 - Photos: 39	Restaurants Tips: 25 - Photos: 29
Shopping Tips: 6 - Photos: 9	Off the Beaten Path Tips: 52 - Photos: 65
Tourist Traps Tips: 11 - Photos: 18	Warnings or Dangers Tips: 38 - Photos: 40
Local Customs Tips: 14 - Photos: 17	Packing Lists Tips: 15 - Photos: 14
Sports Travel Tips: 18 - Photos: 18	General Tips Tips: 56 - Photos: 115

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