Last weekend my friend and I had a few great opportunities to chat to two Masai guys (Sunguru and Toican) who pick up casual work as guides around Lake Magadi. Our chats took place in the car on drives around the lake and by the camp fire). Once again, I got some fresh insights into this fascinating culture. There are always a few laughs too.

10 Random facts learned from chatting to friendly Masai at Lake Magadi

1. They sleep on cow skins at home but when on a walking journey, they just sleep with a blanket (worn over the shoulder during the day).
2. On a long journey on foot, they carry dry food such as maize flour and beans.
3. They don’t marry for love and are not in the least bit interested in good looks in a wife. Rather, they look out for someone who is hard working and polite. Young girls can be ‘booked’ by a masai who will then wait until she comes of age.
4. A bride costs around 5 cows, but one masai recently offered 1,000 cows for Barack Obama’s daughter (on Facebook).
5. The star constellation we call Orion, is known as ‘The Mother’ by Masai who see a woman whose arms are cradling.
6. Masai navigate their way on foot using points on the landscape (hills etc).
7. Masai have mobile phones
8. A lot of Masai in Magadi have never been to Nairobi, but they often walk to Tanzania.
9. There are ‘plastic’ masai and traditional masai. The ‘plastic’ ones go to school, have a few western belongings and perhaps work part time in town as tour guides, security guards etc.
10. The Magadi Masai cross the border to Tanzania freely without ever bothering with border control.

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