Call 01306 744 656 or
Call 01306 744 656 or
As the chief of Olasiti Village, I’ll teach you all about the lives and traditions of the Maasai people …
Visit Olasiti, a Maasai village near Tarangire National Park, for a two-hour cultural experience. As the village chief, I’ll teach you all about the lives and traditions of our people. After a typical Maasai greeting, we’ll start with a tour of the village and demonstration of how we build our circular houses using mortar made from cow dung and soil. I’ll explain the challenges of daily life, which include walking two hours each day to collect water and protecting our crops and cattle from wild animals with help from national park scouts.
The fire-making demonstration is a fun part of the tour. We twist a stick on top of a flat piece of wood until it starts to smoke, then add grass to make a fire. Visitors really enjoy having a go at this themselves. You’ll also get to watch women make colourful beadwork and take part in one of our famous jumping displays. Cows are the backbone of Maasai life – we use them as a source of meat, milk and wealth – you’ll see how they’re kept and taken out to graze.
I’ve been the chief of Olasiti Village for 13 years now. The role was passed down to me by my father, along with my wooden staff, which is a symbol of peace. I too will pass this on to one of my children in the future. My main role is to be a bridge between the local authorities and the 2,500 people in my village and to preserve our Maasai values. My passion is education and with the help of the government and Lemala, I’ve built a school with seven classrooms so far.
I would recommend visiting our village because it’s a chance to meet the real people of Tanzania and learn about the Maasai, a tribe that has preserved its traditions through the generations. Your visit also helps to empower the community by funding our development projects, such as building more classrooms, and creating an income for residents. You’ll never forget the people you meet, the experience of making fire or carrying a water bucket on your head. I look forward to welcoming you to my village – the best part for me is seeing guests leave with smiles on their faces.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Gemma, who's travelled extensively in Tanzania. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it on their own. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - the rangers who'll ensure you'll spot the best wildlife, the village chiefs who'll give you a genuine insight into local life and the camp managers who can recommend the very best spot to enjoy your sundowner.
Freephone an expert 01306 744 656
