For those of you that have traveled to Masailand in Tanzania. Can you share with me the best curios to look for. Ostrich Eggs, etc.
I do not know, is it possible to buy a genuine Masai Spear, and could you check it as baggage?
What other stuff should I look for?

over the years i've bought a couple of spears. the first one was no problem to bring back, but that was 25 years ago, the second one I brought back in 2000 and had to cut it in half to fit into the guncase. Airlines wouldn't let me bring it back whole. I would imagine in todays world you would have some problems.

I flew Northwest/KLM last year and had no problem bringing back two real Masi Spears. The Spears can be taken apart into three pcs not sure how long the longest pcs is but both fit in my hard gun case just fine.

Hugh,
When are you going to be in Tanzania?

Hugh

When in Arusha get your PH or whoever you are with to take you to African Heritage run by a guy named Saif. He has everything from lifesize carved crocs to Tanzanite. If Saif doesn't have it you don't need it. You can even pick up some safari clothes there.

Regards,

Mark

Spring,

I will be hunting in Loboir Serrit with Brian Van Blerk of Bundu Safaris (Adam Clements) from August 7 -16.

Mark,
Thanks for the heads up abour African Heritage.

Hugh

Hugh,

Regardless of what they tell you at the beginning, the prices are negotiable at the African Heritage Center. Pick out everything you want and then have your personal shopper (they assigned us a guy to go around with us and carry all our selections) go to the owner and get the discount price.

They will ship the stuff back home for you as well. We bought quite a bit of stuff and had it shipped back with no problems, though the shipping wasn't inexpensive.

Regards,

Terry

Hugh

As Terry said you just pickup a pile of stuff and Saif will give you a "Package" price. Also if you buy tanzanite and just buy the cut stones with no settings they are duty free coming into the US.

Mark

Knowing that I may need to ingratiate myself to my wife after coming in from a nearly month-long sequestration in Tanzania, and suspecting that a piece of jewelry emboldened with some tanzanite might shorten my time in the dog house, is African Heritage still the best place to find such an accord so that I might be allowed to return to the plains of Africa at some date in the near future?

Spring,

When will you be in Tanzania and where?

I leave on June 27th for a 21-day hunt beginning July 1. I'll be hunting in two spots; Monduli, which is near Arusha, and Moyowosi, which is in the western part of the country. I'll be hunting with Tanzania Gametracker Safaris. Sounds like I'll be heading home just a bit before you get there...

Here is some of the stuff that was available in one of the Bundu Safari Camps.

I don't know if they are found in Tanzania, but while on a bird shooting trip in the RSA I picked up a knobkerrie. They are a stick with a knob on one end that are used as a clubbing weapon. They come in various lengths, and I purchased one that would fit crosswise in my largest suitcase. Being simply a wooden stick, they can be passed off as a harmless curio.

I regret not buying two as they are often used in pairs.

Hugh,
It may just be me because I respect the opinion of both Mark and Terry but I thought the African Heritage Center was quite abit higher than what you could buy real Masai gear for in the Lobo Camp. The pictures SBT posted are what you can expect to buy from Mama Juma. Actually used to have a little trading center right outside the gate of the Bundu Safari camp SBT has pictured. Just remember to get shillings. Mingi, mingi shillingi!

If you have a chance to buy the stuff shown in SBT's pics then go for it. Much better selection of Masai stuff than is available at the African Heritage Center. The only "local" stuff we saw was a very small open air shop run by a few Masai women next to the road at Longido. They had mostly cheap jewelry and a few spears, nothing like the selection shown in SBT's pictures.

Regards,

Terry

I like the spears and shields.

The bead do-dahs and gourds are cool too.

One thing about tophies and curios -they sure start filling up the house! I´ve been on three trips and only received stuff from the first (next shipment due in a few weeks) and I´ll be going to Namibia in Oct...and I sure want my trophies and there´s a lot of nice things to be had BUT I´m running out of space!

Hugh

Of course Bwanarm is correct. For shields, spears etc. you will do better if you can buy them in the field. The spears do come apart for fitting in your luggage or you might want to just send it all back with your trophies. For artwork of all types and tanzanite you have to visit African Heritage. A pretty bobble for your significant other might get you back to Africa sooner than later. Saif also takes VISA and MASTERCARD.

Mark

To all those visiting Arusha while hunting Tanzania, Seif shop as mentioned above is called Cultural Heritage. He is by far the biggest curio and gemstone dealer in Tanzania. Despite being more expensive than buying from the "mama" on the street, he is a one stop shop. There is nothing he does not have as far as curios and gemstones are concerned.

However, if you are interested in Tanzanite, i can reccommend some cheaper options to shop at with equal or better quality. Please PM me if interested.
Good hunting!