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Who hasn't an African safari on the bucket list? Tanzania is world-famous for its precious national parks just like Serengeti and Ngorongoro (Conservation Area), but there are more national parks in Tanzania too, actually sixteen, which are all worthy of visiting. Read more to follow in the footsteps of the Maasai to explore Tanzania deeper.
Walk in the savanna with the Maasai
The Maasai are indigenous people who are pastoralists, and they live from herding cattle goats and sheep. Their original lands include the famous touristic destinations like above mentioned Serengeti and Ngorongoro in northern Tanzania. The Maasai are marginalized people as they face many social-economic and political challenges to maintain their traditional lifestyle and culture in modern times.
In general most of tourism don't benefit the Maasai. But we think that the Maasai are merely the best guides to explore African wildlife and savanna because they live in relative peace with the wildlife. From the child, the Maasai have herd their cattle in the savanna among the wild animals, and they respect nature in a way that we all can learn something. In the past, every Maasai warrior was supposed to kill a lion as it was symbolically a rite of passage. The Maasai have deep knowledge of the wild animals' behavior and how animals interact with each other, and with other living beings.
Within our unique safaris, the Maasai open their land and home for travelers, introduce them to wild African nature, animals and their unique and rich Maasai culture. In every safari guests always sleep either in a Maasai kraal (boma) or in the wild bush in tents with the Maasai warriors who watch the camp all night from the wild animals. With the Maasai warriors, it's possible to make bush walks and see some wild game on foot too!
Besides making your dream safari, spotting the big five and enjoying game drives and bush walks, you can find where the Maasai warriors hang out in the bush and learn how Maasai use the traditional plants for medicine and much more. For those who want to make the trip even more special, it's possible to get married or renew wedding vows in a traditional Maasai ceremony and spend a honeymoon or a romantic getaway in the most beautiful African bush overlooking to the Serengeti plains. Every night the bush dinner is served in the African wild nature under the sky full of stars. Here you can literally feel and hear the spirit of Africa. Be aware, many have left their heart there.
A perfect safari creates memories that last for a lifetime - and which support Maasai families and the broader Maasai community to ensure their traditional lifestyle and indigenous culture. Going on safari means that you can tick a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity off your bucket list and feel good doing it. Travelers can observe and participate in real traditions and rituals and feel generously welcome, as the Maasai love to share their culture. With the Maasai, travelers can see and go to the places that are secluded and unique which they couldn't explore on a regular safari. Beyond the "northern circuit"
To be honest there is hardly anything that can beat the beauty of the Serengeti plains or the density of wildlife and the breathtaking view of the Volcanic craters of Ngorongoro, but there are other National Parks which have different wildlife and landscapes where you can experience and observe the beauty of African nature and wild game too. The most famous national parks in Northern Tanzania called as "northern circuit" are also the most expensive ones, so if you have a low budget and want to avoid loads of other tourists, then it's an excellent option to look further and plan a safari to these lesser known National Park. And this is also one more reason to plan an other safari trip to Tanzania. We have a unique safari which includes the lesser known safari destinations in the rural parts of Tanzania. One of these is Mkomazi National Park, 3,500 square kilometer game reserve, which is situated in northeastern Tanzania on the Kenyan border, near the small city of Same. The National Park was established in 1951, so it is one of the oldest National parks in Tanzania. The Mkomazi is a relatively unknown area in Tanzania, but it is a spectacular wilderness. Mkomazi is home for Giraffe, oryx, gerenuk, hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, impala, and Grant's gazelle share the reserve with an elephant, buffalo, and numerous predators, including lion, leopard, and cheetah. If the sky is clear, you can have a view of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Pare, and Usumbara Mountains. And you can see except much less crowded safari than in the northern circuit.
On this out-of-the-beaten-path safari, we stay and visit local Maasai villages in a remote location where travelers can see the rural and real Africa. These visits are vital for the local Maasai because in these areas there aren't any tourism which can give them much needed additional income. The highlights are amazing African bush and nightly stars. It's hard to get bored watching either of them. You can discover the Maasai culture deeper by learning traditional Maasai bush medicine or trying your skills in herding the cattle in the savanna. One thing is sure; you'll have the time of your life.
Every trip we take matters
Ngorongoro is hitting records along the other National Parks and game reserves in Tanzania. Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world, and Tanzania’s tourism industry is expected to be among one of the world’s fastest growing over the next decade. We all want to feel excluded, intimate and pampered on our once-in-a-life safari, without feeling overcrowded and fuss.
Sustainable travel is a great opportunity to discover the destination deeper and visit the places less known. Travelers get new experiences and adventures that are unique and authentic. We think that tourism is a solution, not a problem. Each time you book a trip you choose whether to support individuals, small business, or large corporations. We can make a positive change in the world also when we travel. And that makes it thrilling for us because with every trip we can do good, and improve the life of the Maasai. Our next safari to the Mkomazi National park together with immersive stay with the Maasai departures 2nd June until 9th June 2019. We travel always in a small group (that can be split in the Maasai village) On this trip we only take 6 persons, and we have one spot left. This 7 day, 6 nights trip including Mkomazi safari in Tanzania costs € 1299 / $1499. You can read more and book your safari with the Maasai here
