Today was a very special day. JI and I got the opportunity to visit a local Masai boma near Tarangire Treetops and what made this experience so wonderful was that this was not your typical commercial boma with tons of tourists and a 'routine'. It was a small boma with only a few residents. We actually felt a bit awkward for being there for a while, but soon realised that the Masai really didn't mind having us there - looking at their homes and taking photographs of their unique outfits.
What intrigued me most were their shoes. These were made from brand new motorbike tyres! And in this landscape, which is rocky, thorny and sometimes muddy, these all-terrain shoes are ideal.
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| Three Masai worriers with awesome shoes! |
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| A brand new Masai motorbike tyre shoe |
We were invited into their traditional huts, which are extremely small and very hot when a fire is going. In their very limited English they told us about their cattle, their traditions and their families. There was a small herd of goats, a dog and a few calves in the boma, one of which found the video camera's microphone to be extremely amusing.
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| JI makes a new friend |
The visit was short, but special. It left us thinking a lot about the influence the Western world has on these tribes and how our rat race lives in the city are not necessarily "better" than those of the Masai.
Back at Tarangire Treetops the local Masai staff performed for us again, but this time in full sunlight! It was a wonderful opportunity to see and hear them up close when they chant and jump - a spectacle every person should see at least once in their lives! It left us mesmerised. Afterwards we even had a go at the jumping, which is much harder than it looks!
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| This is how you jump! |
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| Spot the outsiders |
We had lunch at the lodge around 12:00 and left shortly after 13:30. Thanks again to Shaun and Elcke, and of course Tarangire Treetops, for spoiling us for two unforgettable nights! We can't wait to see your sister camp in the Serengeti next week...!
Tonight we're sleeping in Tarangire National Park itself. We arrived at the public campsite just before dark and it's by far the wildest place we've set up camp so far! There's no fence and no ranger. The facilities, however, are great - we have a kitchen area, clean flush toilets, a covered dining area and green grass to camp on. There are also no other guests - a real advantage of visiting this part of East Africa in February. When we arrived in camp there were two giraffe and three elephant bulls in camp, so tonight should be an exciting one! This is what we've been waiting for!!!
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| Tarangire National Park is full of massive baobab trees like this one next to a waterbuck |
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| JI meets our new neighbour at Tarangire's public campsite |
I hope you enjoyed today's post.
Regards
Villiers
Highlight of the day:
Villiers: Our wild campsite in Tarangire National Park!
JI: The Masai
Lowlight of the day:
JI and Villiers: Leaving Tarangire Treetops
8 comments:
Beslis vindingryke stam - Villiers ruil jou crocs in vir daai vastrappers!Nou lyk dit na Afrika - kleurryk en slaap saam met die diere in een kamp?! Hoop nie jul kry 'n veeg van 'n olifant slurp in die nag nie. Sien uit na môre se avonture.
klink exciting....ek sou nogal gestress wees om vanaand te slaap met die olifante in die kamp!! ons mis julle an hierdie kant....lekker slaap. p.s love die groot bome.....en n stunning foto by the way.
Tangire klink vir my stunning. Die hele reservaat net vir julself. Post 'n foto van die kampplek asb, ek is so nuuskierig om dit te sien. Lekker reis na Serengeti.
Julle het regtig vandag uiteenlopende ervaringe beleef: van die luukse uit die boomtoppe tot waar die 'tyre'-skoen die grondpad slaan. Julle het sekerlik baie stof tot nadenke gehad...
Dis altyd baie spesiaal om alleen-belewenisse in die bos te hê en dit lykmy julle het dit ekstra lekker getref. Hoop julle het 'n besondere Afrika-bos-nag belewenis gehad. Sien uit om te sien hoe die kamp lyk en wat jul alles vandag gesien het.
Wow, looks like you're living the life my friend, even though you're getting a bit fuzzy ;-)
Enjoying following the blogs and pictures, it looks incredible!
So what is the most surprising experience you've had so far, something you really hadn't seen coming?
Lots of love
-Shellie
Where are the pictures of you two jumping then?? Those really are cool shoes-recycling at its best! They wore the same in the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam during the war - now I think they just sell them to tourists.
Love the idea of a rumbling elephant lullaby but I bet it's not as soothing as it sounds...:) Hope you guys had an uninterrupted night's sleep!
TTFN
PS On the road one month today, right?
Nou het julle by die meesters geleer om te spring...sien uit na nog spring fotos! Het die tyre skoene springs in of wat sit hulle in hulle pap? Jip VilJ, ek dink ook jy moet jou Crocs inruil vir daai vastrappers en n nuwe mode in Pta begin!
Vertel vertel...het julle enige besoekers gehad laasnag??? Is baie nuuskierig!
Ek love daai skoene!
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