To consider a safari to Kenya would not be possible without considering the famed Masai, a group of nomadic pastoralists who have long managed the area of the land that stretches across the Kenyan and Tanzanian borders. They are so intertwined with the fabric of the country that the main safari destination is named the “Masai Mara” which, translated from the Maa language, means “spotted land” after the bushes that dominate the topography.
Over the border in Tanzania, the Masai are similarly prevalent as the main tribe in the northern part of the country and, today, their villages and peoples can be seen throughout the northern safari parks. Slightly to the south of this area are a lesser known tribe called the “Hadza”. Where the Masai have taken on many of the aspects of western life, the Hadza have tried to retain their hunter-gatherer way of life and so can still be visited in the regions around Lake Eyasi.
Today Rwanda is one of the shining lights of tourism in Africa and is setting an example for African nations as to how their tourism industry can help to ameliorate the quality of life. This attention to detail and pride in their nation is present throughout the country and so makes Rwanda one of the easiest and well run safaris.
As in Rwanda, Botswana has long been a pioneer of what is now dubbed ”sustainable tourism“ where the government stipulated that local communities must directly benefit from any safari activities in the country. This has meant that many of the local Twsana (and other 9 or so indigenous tribes of Botswana) have been able to work and gain from the influx of wealth that tourism brings.
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Where to go in africa
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