Tanzanian people
Masai mother and child
The friendliness of the people we met in Tanzania transcended language barriers and cultural differences. Admittedly, we were sheltered from meeting people on the street, due to the fact that we were part of a large tour group, and most of our interactions were with hotel employees and villagers who’d been paid to receive us and show us around. But the people we met smiled sincerely and talked proudly about their country or their tribe, and children we passed on the roadside waved and shouted to us.
Masai woman
We learned from our guides that Tanzania is home to dozens of different tribes, each with their own language, but the people are “Tanzanians first” and share a common language, Swahili. One of the most famous tribal groups is the Masai people. The Tanzanian government, we learned, is trying to settle these nomadic people and send their children to school. Many Masai resist in an attempt to preserve their unique way of life: nomadically roaming with their prime source of wealth, cattle, and living off the blood and milk of those cows. They used to be a fierce people, attacking other tribes for their cattle and hunting lions as a rite of passage, but over the decades the government has regulated that out of them.
A Masai warrior
We visited a Masai village between Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge. It was an eye-opening experience to see how people can live so resourcefully in such primitive conditions in a fairly hostile landscape of sharp-thorned trees, drought, large predatory animals, and poverty. They choose this lifestyle—or at least the men do (the women are, we learned, valued lower than cattle); some of them spoke English, had attended school in Arusha, and had chosen to return to this way of life.
Masai women and child
The young men held a jumping ceremony for us, where each jumped to astonishing heights without even unwrapping themselves from the plaid shukas they wore.
In a large village near Lake Manyara, called Mto wa Mbu, we saw these women selling bananas along the main street. People of all different tribes live here, we were told, in a kind of melting pot of cultures and languages.
A beautiful young woman in Mto wa Mbu agreed to pose for me, but she preferred to look away in a dignified manner, as most of the people did when photographed.
A prosperous (by local standards) homeowner graciously opened her home to us and proudly showed us her cows, which are kept in the home all the time.
On the way to Lake Manyara, we stopped at a school near Mto wa Mbu. The children are nomaic Masai who have been convinced to attend, at least until their parents move to new grazing grounds. Some of them walk many miles (and several hours) to and from school in order to attend.
Schoolchildren
This is how we did our game drives: standing on the seats, popping up through the open roof, and getting an eyeful of Tanzania’s incredible wildlife.
One morning we took a hot-air balloon ride over the Serengeti. It was one of the most amazing experiences of the entire trip. After a dramatic lift-off, the ride was gentle and smooth, even to someone with a slight fear of heights like myself. The view was unforgettable. We floated low over the savannah and spotted lions, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, hippos, and many more animals from a bird’s-eye view.
Sunrise on the Serengeti as seen from the balloon
After touching down, our pilots treated us to champagne, right out there on the savannah. No lions disturbed our little party, thank goodness. This is a photo of me and my dad with our favorite threesome from California: a grandmother, granddaughter, and aunt who were fellow travelers on our tour. From left to right: Caroline, me, Richard (Dad), Alison, and Karen.
We really were spoiled rotten. After champagne, we were driven a short distance to this flat-topped acacia tree and a linen-and-china-set table, for a champagne breakfast in the bush.
Thanks, Dad, for an amazing adventure and great memories of the time we shared together.
Click here for posts about the animals we saw on safari and the Tanzanian plants.
These pictures really capture the grace and and style of the people and their village life. Did you get any of the textiles? I bought tons of beautiful batik cotton in Ghana from a fabric designer and even had a couple suits custom made there. People everywhere love them when I wear them, and are struck by the use of traditional African fabric in a very modern, western design!
Hi, Nicole. No, I passed on the textiles, though I did admire them. Some fellow travelers bought them to make into tablecloths and napkins. Your suits sound like a great way to remember your travel to Ghana. —Pam
I haven’t visited in a while, but it’s wonderful to have you back and sharing your amazing adventures.
Thanks for dropping by! —Pam
Dear Pam,
What a trip! thank you so much for posting these pictures of some of the Masai people you met in Tanzania. I’m reading Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa, a chapter now about the Masai and their customs circa 1910.
All good wishes,
Julie
Isn’t that a lovely book? I read it while I was there, as well as Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, another nonfictional portrayal of East Africa with a small scene about the Masai. —Pam
Incredible shots of the people, Pam! The acacia tree looks like a fabric that Nate Berkus is fond of. Aren’t you forever changed from such an adventure? Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thank you, GardenMomma. It was definitely a trip I’ll never forget. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. —Pam
Wow, what a wonderful experience, and we get to hear all about it and see the amazing photos. What company did you go with?
It was a Tauck tour. I’d definitely recommend it. —Pam
Hi Pam!
I’m so far behind in reading blogs, but wanted to say I absolutely love the photos from your trip. And my goodness, you look FABULOUS! Not sure what you’re doing, but it must be right. If you could bottle your beauty secrets you could make a fortune. Okay, now I’m going to enjoy reading the rest of your wonderful blog; especially about your exciting adventure!
Fondly,
Dawn
Well, thanks, Dawn! The “beauty” secret must be happiness—I was having a great time. Thanks for your comments. 🙂 Pam
I was browsing your blog looking for information on the camera you use (I just ordered a new camera for myself) and I came across your trip photos. I had seen a few just after you came back, but the rest are really amazing. I just love Amsterdam and Africa is a dream of mine! One day….
Hi, Chandra, fellow world traveler. I remember reading on your blog that you’d loved Amsterdam. It really was a lovely city. And yes, this East Africa safari was a dream come true for me too. I hope you get there soon, before the glacier melts on Mt. Kilimanjaro. —Pam
Pam, what a wonderful trip you must have had. I just last night decided to sponsor a 12 yr old boy from Tanzania. One of his interests is gardening, so I was googling gardening and tanzania and found your site. If I wanted to send seeds to him, what would be good? We are limited to a thin envelope. We can even send money, a limited amount. Since you are a gardening expert and have been there, what do you think? We are sponsoring through Compassion International. I don’t know the exact area he is from yet, but do know he attends IEC Amani Student Center, wherever that is.
Thank you,
Carla Woods
Hi, Carla. What a great idea to encourage him to garden. Sending seeds overseas can be a tricky business, however. There are often import rules against it, so you should look into that first. In lieu of seeds, maybe plant labels would be useful? A slim children’s book about gardening? A pair of gardening gloves? —Pam
As someone who was born and rise in mto wa mbu, I’m very delightful to see the pictures & smile from people I know. I miss living simple life.
Leominster MA
Thanks for your comment! I have wonderful memories of my time in your homeland. I’d love to go back one day. —Pam