Amboseli

June 21

First morning in Amboseli, Glen, Greenie, Barbara and Leslie ready for a new day of discovery! 6:54am

We start today visiting a Masai village.

Jackie, Allen and Linda. Jackie is our local guide. (That's our driver Jenga in the background) 6:58AM

Baboon on the side of the road.

We meet Chief Joseph who has been chief of the village for 15 years. 7:28

Chief Joseph, tells us a bit about the area before we head into the village.

First we visit the area where the goats and sheep are kept. Hard to tell the difference, we're told the goats have 'tails up' while the sheep have 'tails down'. Chief Joseph also tells us about mating and birth control of the animals.

We learn more about breeding seasons of the animals and then meet Chief Joseph's pretty wife. While polygamy is still accepted by Masai, Chief Joseph only has one wife. We note Joseph doesn't hug his wife. Allen tells us that while the Chief would hug a western women, hugging his wife is not a part of the Masai culture.

Joseph, Linda and Josephs' wife. 7:44

A goat milking demonstration. Barbara and Linda D and Debbie take their turns milking. 7:46

Emerson and a Masai from the village. 7:50

Group photo with Chief Joseph. 7:52

We learn about bows and arrows, bleeding cows for their blood to drink, about marriage (women move to their husbands village) and dowrys, training boys how to hunt and also about ceremonies including circumcision. 7:50 - 8am.

We learn more about Joseph - he's 43 and has 7 children and we learn more about how Masai chiefs are appointed by the elders. Elders are men between 65 and 100 years of age. Chiefs are usually older men. However, Joseph knows 3 languages, giving him the advantage of being a good link between the county government and the community, so he was appointed even though he was only in his 20's! Also, another plus - he's the one who initiated the "school under the trees"...we will visit the modern version of school later. 8am-8-2:20

Heading to the inside of a home. 8:33

Inside with Chief Joseph. 8:37

The kitchen area. 8:40

Chief Joseph describes the home interior.

The walls are plastered with non-ruminate dung. 8:37

A sleeping platform covered in a cow skin. Girls sleep in the same house as the parents and boys sleep in a separate house. 8:44

Linda shakes hands with a child. 8:47

The Masai women. 8:48

A Masai dance to enjoy. 8:50am

Joseph asks for volunteers to introduce our group to the village. Linda goes first.

Then Debbie steps forward to tell the village that she was born in Zimbabwe and was happy to be back in Africa.

We get a demonstration of starting a fire.

Jackie talks about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). (part 1).

Jackie talks about FGM (part 2).

Jackie and the Masai women.

Shopping before we walk to the school, Linda finds a pretty beaded necklace and wooden mask.

We were told the proceeds were used for the school and that the women do not compete for sales. Emerson bought a beaded wrist band that fits so snug over his wrist he's yet to take if off (as of this notation on 01/22/24)!

We visit the nearby Primary school, speaking first with the Principal. 10:28

We walk over to the local school. Some of the children board at the school and some walk up to 10km to get there. We each met individually with small groups of the kids. The ones Emerson talked to wanted to continue schooling and enter different professions. They were also interested in how much our trip cost. Grand Circle supports 12 schools in the area, 4 in Amboseli including this one.