The iconic Masai, robed in vermilion and indigo woollen blankets, are an ancient Nilotic tribe of warriors. They have survived here since the 17th century, leading a pastoral existence cultivating huge herds of cattle. They subsist on their goats and cattle, keeping to a diet of milk, blood and meat. The Masai rarely hunt game, although they will eat buffalo or eland occasionally. Lions are their nemesis as valuable cattle often fall prey to these predators. However, the Masai have co-existed with wildlife for centuries and they are acutely aware of the delicate balance between livestock and indigenous creatures. Although the Masai are often wealthy in land and cattle, they choose a simple existence in manyattas or enkangs (traditional villages) built by hand using local materials and protected by a boma (ring of thorns). Traditional skills are still used such as weaving, beading and carving, and these handicrafts generate further income when sold in curio markets to tourists.
