Text and photos : Kakuta Ole Maimai
We would like to be agents of our change rather than victims of change. Community based tourism is an alternative income generating activity – a way for us to conserve and celebrate Maasai heritage. – A Maasai community elder.
The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania live along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid land. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people who live in a communal system, where everyone shares the resources of the community. Maasai land is renowned for its magnificent wildlife. The Maasai have a symbiotic relationship with wildlife.
Imagine living and walking across the East African savanna with the Maasai people. The Maasai Warriors Camp in the Merrueshi Community – located between Amboseli and Tsavo West Game reserves – offer you such an opportunity. This is an experience you’ll not forget for many years to come. As summed by Lynn :
The Merrueshi village we stayed in was still in its original, pure form, as were the people. I guess I would say that I feel I’ve taken a journey into timelessness, to the way things have been for thousands of years. “I am forever touched by the apparent purity, hopefulness, discipline, and pride of the Maasai people we shared this time with. At this point, I find myself wanting to preserve the experience such that it is not reduced to a few sound bites and a bag of trinkets. This was the real deal. I hope it stays that way for a long time to come”
Lynn Brinkerhoff, Global Development Partnerships, U.S.A_ This is not a traditional safari. Most of the time is devoted to village life, getting to know nature and the Maasai people of East Africa in the most culturally sensitive approach. This trip is ideal for families with children, school groups, clubs, and business leaders. Visitors would be staying in the Maasai Warriors Camp – historically used by warriors for training – with moderate conveniences such as flash toilets and hot water.
The villagers would offer visitors a range of activities including nature walk, bird watching, animal tracking, story telling, traditional songs and dance, bead-making lessons, among many other activities. The community is home to wildlife such as zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, giraffe, Eland, lions, and 400 species of birds.
Drivers and warriors can accompany guests from Nairobi City to the community, while a visit to other popular destinations such as Maasai Mara, Mombasa, or Serengeti, can be arranged upon request. Advance arrangement is required, as the community is isolated and is not accessible without advance confirmation. See our contact information below on how to book your trip with us.
Location
The Merrueshi community is located 260 km southeast of Nairobi City – 65 kilometers from Amboseli National Park on the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro and 120 kilometers from Tsavo West Game Reserve.
The Merrueshi Community is widely known as a corridor for wildlife migrating from and to Amboseli and Tsavo West Game Reserves. The area is famous for its ancient historical Maasai villages. Above all, the community is known for its evidence of other civilizations such as the ancient Mancala game boards built into the bedrock.
Contact
Maasai Association
Maasai Warriors Camp
Merrueshi Community
P.O. Box 231, Emali, Kenya
email : maasai@maasai-association.org
Reservations : Maasai@maasai-association.org
Internet : www.maasai-association.org
To book a tour or for questions regarding the community, program, or projects, please email us at :
Maasai@maasai-association.org
Guests can also visit our web site to learn more about our organization and work :
www.maasai-association.org
Cultural & background information about the community :
The Maasai people are known for their bright colorful beadwork and red shukas (traditional robe-like clothing). As with many other indigenous communities around the world, the Maasai people started small community based enterprises, such as tourists’ camps, to diversify their traditional pastoral economy within the market economy. This gives them an opportunity to earn income needed to educate their children and improve their standards of living. Maasai Warriors Camp in the Merrueshi community is one example of community-managed enterprises in the Maasai region. The camp is completely owned and managed by the community. All revenues generated from the camp are injected directly into community development projects.
Maasai Warrior Camp in Merrueshi community :
Visitors will be staying at the Maasai Warriors Camp surrounded by several villages. The camp was, until fairly recently, used for warrior training. It was renovated to accommodate participants in the Maasai Cross-Cultural Exchange program.
The camp has a combination of tents and bandas (traditional houses) equipped with beds, mosquito nets, hot showers, and lights powered by solar panels. Each banda and tent is spacious and private. The camp has the capacity to accommodate 16 guests at a time.
Range of activities and services offered :
Activities in the community include : storytelling sessions by elders around the bonfire, bead -making lessons facilitated by Maasai women, visits to the local school, nature walks led by Maasai warriors, and traditional songs and dances.
Lectures : The community offers workshops on various topics such as habitat and wildlife conservation, savanna survival strategies for wildlife and people, techniques for animal tracking, medicinal plants, Maasai community leadership, local methods of conflict resolution, rites of passage, animal husbandry, and the concept of simple living as a Maasai nomad.
Projects : Guests who wish to contribute to the on-going development projects of the community can participate in a wide range of activities based on community needs, which can include making bricks, building school structures, or rehabilitating natural water holes for wildlife.
The camp and programs are organized by the Maasai Association, an all Maasai NGO based in Kenya. The organization is the driving force behind the Merrushi Primary School, the only school managed exclusively by the Maasai people in Kenya. The school was developed with a unique approach to integrate Western and Maasai indigenous learning system.
Transportation : is available to accompany guests from Nairobi to the community. The drive from Nairobi to the community is approximately three (3) hours on Safari mini buses.
This tour is ideal for school groups, business leaders, service learning organizations, and lovers of outdoor recreation. Guests visiting the community will experience the beauty and wisdom of our traditional way of life. Come and experience the savanna and the Maasai world through our own eyes and first-hand knowledge.