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Maasai steps at Monduli juu
The Maasai is one the most fa6mous and interesting tribes in Africa.
The Maasai are mostly found in Tanzania and Kenya. Although, can be found in
other parts of the southern Sahara as well.
Maasai are not from the Bantu speaking group of people, but rather they
originate from the Nilotic people of the northern Sahara (Ethiopia).
The Maasai are very rich in culture. They have been
practising
their style of life for hundreds of generations. The Maasai are
traditionally nomadic meaning they are animal keepers and have been moving
from one place to the other with their animals in search of green pastures
and water. The Maasai have not established a “King leadership” in their
society. Instead the Maasai society has been able to encourage and establish
a system called “the age set system”. In this system, age is what will
determine the position and the responsibility of a Maasai in their society.
Monduli Juu is situated 50km from Arusha town. It
is one of the homelands of the Maasai where visitors can observe them in
their natural day-to-day lives. This area does not see as much tourism
compared to Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. If you decide to visit,
you will be considered a guest by the Maasai. With that, you can also invite
the Maasai to your campsite “the
Norcumat
camp site” which in the Great Rift Valley escapement. They will entertain
you with local dance performances. From the
Norcumat
camp, there is a beautiful view of Mt, Meru, Kilimanjaro and the
Ol Doinyo Lengai “Mountain of God” in the Maasai
language which, by the way, is means an active volcano.
If you have time to walk down the escapement and hike on the floor of the
Great Rift Valley, you may see zebras, giraffe, ostriches and antelopes.
Usambara mountains
These are a range of Mountains laying about 300km in the north east of
Tanzania near the Ocean and Tanga region.
These mountains reach a height of 2700m. The
Shambaa
is the tribe found on these mountains and the
Shambaa
people have been farmers for many generations observing many traditions and
values in their culture.
Lushoto town is the Main town on the Usambara Mountains. The town rests at
an altitude of 1500m. The walk from
Mombo
town, which is right at the base of the mountain, to Lushoto will also give
you breathtaking views. The walk is about 25km and along the way you will
enjoy views of the interlocking spurs with the waterfalls, as well as the
Blue Monkeys.
The weather in the Usambara Mountains is cool and temperate all year around.
The climate helped the Germans to make Lushoto their capital during the
colonial time. They called Lushoto
‘Wilhemstal’
(after the German Kaiser). |
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