Africa is a country of many different tribes or micro nations with their own languages, culture, dress, and customs. In the area we worked, the Masai were the prominent group. They are settled in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania and estimated at over 1 million population (difficult to count due to their semi-nomadic and rural lifestyle). They have maintained their culture in spite of colonization and post independence and are easily recognized by their colorful dress and tall stature. The men wear brightly colored shawls so they can be recognized from a distance when traveling over the rural landscape. They will usually live in "kraals" - circular built communities surrounded by a fence of Acacia thorns to keep predators from attacking their livestock. Their homes are called "inkajijik" - loaf-shaped homes made of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung and cow urine. On certain occasions, they drink animal's blood mixed with milk to give them strength.Their primary source of income is raising livestock (goats,cattle,and sheep) as well as making artisan crafts to sell.
On our safari trip we had the chance to visit one of their rural communities and the pictures are from there.....don't worry, we didn't have to drink any blood!!!
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