Masai Mara

I don't have any of my own photos the add here so sorry Americans, it's all text with Ingrid's photos at the bottom.

The Masai Mara is the Kenyan side of the Serengeti and you have to take "the worst road in Africa" to access it. That goes to demonstrate the planning in much of Africa. Capital city - Nairobi, #1 tourist attraction in the country - Masai Mara, Connecting the two - "The worst road in Africa". The road was comical for about 45 minutes, then it became a royal pain. Certain potholes were literally the size of a vehicle and all rules of the road were abandoned here. There was no right side, wrong side, or any sides for that matter. We spent more time driving through the fields adjacent to the road then actually on the road. It was an experience for the ages.

Once you've been to the Serengeti, the Masai Mara is a let down for wildlife. Fortunately, the Masai people are there to make up the difference.

The Masai are a nomadic community that live off their herds of cattle. They eat no game, chicken or fish, taking all their meat strictly from their cattle. Every 7 years, boys ages 15 through 21 are sent out into the bush for months at a time with the goal of surviving in the natural habitat and, if possible, killing a lion. Upon returning to the villiage, the young Masai boys are rewarded for their bravery with circumcision. That's right folks, survive the wild and we reward you with a nip of the tip. The circumcision is performed publicly and if you flinch, cry, or make a sound, they kill you. Our driver was Masai, he went into the bush with 76 young boys. 15 died in the wild (3 killed by a lion) and 1 was killed when he cried during circumcision. I guess this kinda puts the Western ritual of getting your driver's license into perspective.

The Masai determine rank and rights, such as picking the best wife, by the height they can jump. I have yet to determine how jumping ability relates to Darwin's theory, but I'm sure it must be good for something besides simply looking cool. I had a chance to dance and jump with the Masai around the campfire. I did pretty good on my height and reckon I would have been a top 3 selection in the wife draft (The photo doesn't do it justice - I owned those guys).

I learned to make fire by rubbing sticks together, that sucks. Thank heavens for Bic.

We took a walk near Hippos - hence the need for the armed guard. Hippos are the #2 killer in Africa behind........Mosquitoes! Though it sounds terrible, deep down everyone on the hike secretly hoped a hippo would charge us and we could see the guard in action. I was giving 3 - 1 odds that he'd run away.

Masai Mara asub Kenyas, umbes 7h. kaugusel Nairobist. ($1.- = 71.- shillings, mitte sassi ajada Tanzania shillinguga mis on $1.- =1200.-)
Kui ma varem arvasin et teed Eestis on jubedad, siis ma eksisin rangalt, kuna tee Masai Marasse oli nii voimatu, et enamuse aja soitisme tee korval liiva aukudes, kuna pinnatud tee oli ligi 20 a. vana ja sellel siledat pinda oli raske leida. Hea uudis on aga see, et kui kellelgi on huvi sinna minna paari aasta parast, siis ei tohiks seda probleemi enam olla kuna nad plaanivad hakata teed parandama.
Nagu naha ei onnestu koigil turvaliselt jouda oma sihtpunkti.

Meie kallis veoki juht oli ka Masai. Nagu temagi, on masai enamuses pikad ja saledad inimesed(kuigi meie juht oli rase nagu ta ise ytles).

Nad kannavad punase ja puna sinise varviga tekke, mis on nende igapaevane riietus, et siis loomad neid kaugelt markaks ja eemale hoiaks. Nende majad on ehitatud koigastest ja lehma kakast ja katused on tehtud korkjatest. Maja on pohimotteliselt vaike kuubik, kus on 2 voodi kohta erinevates seintes (yks mehele ja teine naisele ja lastele), nende vahel on porandal loke/kook ja ukse juures on vaike ruum, kuhu nad ooseks panevad oma loomad. Yhe maja ehitamine votab ligi 2 kuud, kus nad umbes 9 a. elavad. Parast seda poletatakse kyla maha putukate partast ja siis ehitatakse uus kyla sinna lahedusse.

Esimene naine on tavaliselt valitud mehe vanemate poolt, kuid parast seda voivad masai mehed endale votta nii palju naisi kui soovivad. Pidustuste puhul on Masai meestele iseloomulik tantsida ja laulda. Kuid nende omapara on see mis moodi nad korgele hyppavad. Koige korgemale hyppav mees on naiste (ja meeste) seas korgelt hinnatud.


Meile opetati ka kuidas teha tuld


Siin nagime esimest korda Aafrika lapsi viisil nagu neid tihtipeale on naha meie reklaamides. Tatt nirgub ninast valja ja nad ei lase end hairida karbestest kes mooda nagu ringi ronivad.

Teel tagasi Nairobisse jalutasime joge mooda et tutvuda erinevate joehobu peredega. Seda pidime tegema aga oma relvastatud juhiga kuna vahel hobud arrituvad ja ryndavad inimesi.