KENYA - Back to Naivasha

We did a morning bush drive today near our lodge and saw a herd of about 8 giraffe, one with the umbilical cord still attached, but up and running.  We then had breakfast and were on the road by 11:30 for the 4 hour drive back to Naivasha.  Part of our safari included a trip to a Maasai village where the warriors did their jumping dance and then the women sing.  The village is inside a stick fence which keeps out predators (like lions) at night.  They are herders and legend says all cattle in the world belong to them.  Inside the circle fence are about 10 huts made of sticks and dried cow dung which stands up even in the rainy season.  The village has about 60 or 70 people and the houses make a circle inside the fence.  The houses have a walled off area where the young calves and milk cows stay so they can have fresh milk every day.  They have large horns that they collect the milk in, mix it with blood, etc and drink it.  They also let it ferment to yogurt.  After the dance and singing they took us in groups of 4-6 into the huts for a tour.  The chairs were about 8" off the ground and you could only stand up straight in the middle of the room.  They sleep 8-10 per hut.  There are 2 bedrooms.  The total house including the cow room is quite small.  I'll put in a picture since I'm not good at estimating the size.  I know it's not as big as the smallest house in Columbus.

Maasai guides with our driver, Patrick

Maasai warrior jumping dance

The guides all said they were in their thirties thereabout when asked how old they were, but said they don't really count their age in years.  They count by seasons, so really if you ask when their birthday is they can only tell you it was in the rainy season when they were born and they don't know the date or year.

Megan joining the jump

Maasai home

The women all lined up and sang about mama and rain.

Maasai women singing

Inside entrance/seating area

Left side is father's bedroom.

Cooking, to Rt is women's bedroom

 The guy in red is the chief's son.  His father has several wives and they each have their own hut.  You really had to duck and squeeze to get inside.

Inside cooking, eating area