Experiencing Masai Land

16 July 2018, 18:52

Dahav

Bama:

Its hard to generalize in Masailand as different conditions occur in different parts of the region. Some villages are small with just 3 or 4 huts and some are larger and bustling with all kinds of behaviors and things going on i. e. Mto Wa Mbu.

Cattle follow the water and while you do see them while hunting their presence is usually not an issue. The game is used to the cattle and also used to the Masai people. Many hunters wear red sashes to approach plains game.

Yes, you can hear lion, but in my experience that happens nearer to Tarangire NP, although lion do exist throughout Masailand. Bad news with lion is that they are sometimes poisoned by the Masais.

I would say as a tourist hunter the Masais generally add to the experience. Your PH will know how to arrange for photos or curio shopping or visits to your camp, etc.

Hope that helps...

16 July 2018, 19:36

mbogobutch

To me Masai Land is a mystical place. Been on several safaris there.I would go as soon as possible, as every year there are more Masai, cattle, motorcycles and cellphones. There is something about that country that draws me back, it's East Africa at it's finest. For he most part the Masai aren't any problem, and when willing can be a big help.If your in the right area, fantastic hunting, and viewing. It's a area you won't forget for the rest of your days on this earth.

16 July 2018, 19:47

Dahav

Also, if you want buffalo, strongly consider the hunts at the beginning of the year (July) or at the end of the season. If you catch it right at the end of the year, you won't believe what you'll see in the blocks adjacent to Tarangire NP. Its all about water and grass with the buffalo.

Also, keep in mind the mountain hunts for buffalo with Rainer Josch and Robin Hurt and with other operators who have access to the mountains in Masailand that hold resident buffalo populations. Lots of walking and exciting encounters with Mr. Mbogo.

16 July 2018, 20:09

MARK H. YOUNG

Randy,

Masailand is magic and for me the only real reason to hunt Tanzania as opposed to other African countries. A hunt there for all the specialty E.A. species is a unique experience that should be had by all. Down side is that it is very expensive but then again it can't be duplicated anywhere else.

Mark

16 July 2018, 20:25

reddy375

I just got back from there and will be posting my report shortly, as well as some hunt offers. I managed to beat them with a stick to get us all some great prices too!

Stay Tuned!

Thanks,

Arjun Reddy
www.huntersnetworks.com
30 Ivy Hill Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Tel: +1 845 259 3628
2019, DSC booth #
2019, SCI booth # 4209

16 July 2018, 23:02

bwanajay

An experience that you will never forget!

17 July 2018, 01:35

shakari

You either love Masailand or you hate it.............. Personally I love it but it does have additional challenges.

17 July 2018, 01:47

Bama15

Thanks for the input. Seems like the Masai adds to the over all experience, seeing them in their natural world and not a tourist attraction.

17 July 2018, 01:56

AnotherAZWriter

I actually much prefer an area like the Selous or Kigosi; too many people.

17 July 2018, 02:30

AB109

Next year I am planning Masailand. Mark Young has been a great help with lots of good info.

17 July 2018, 03:51

crbutler

While the Masai culture is interesting and seeing folks is fun, I do feel there are too many cattle around for wildlife’s sake.

That being said, it is by no means an issue with the hunting.

17 July 2018, 06:46

lavaca

The "culture" is changing. The first adjustment to Masailand is the number of people, cattle, goats and sheep you'll encounter as opposed to hunting in a fly area. But that's been true for a long time. I've worn a shuka and stalked game literally through herds of cattle. Seen the bomas, gone to the "market" (and what passes for a hospital). It's an experience you shouldn't miss and you should do it now, because it's changing fast and not for the better. It will never be the same.

Agree with the comment about the area outside Tarangire. Shame you can't hunt there in March at the beginning of the rains anymore. It was simply magical. Huge numbers of buffalo and lion. Heard lion every night, some practically in camp. Got stuck a lot. Saw lots of cows, sheep, goats and Masai.

Fast forward. Hunted Masailand last year. Still great hunting, but ...

More Masai. Too many Masai. More sheep and goats. Longido is horribly overgrazed due to the shift from cattle to sheep and goats. What self-respecting Masai would herd a bunch of sheep and goats? They do now. They are trying to grow maize in Simanjiro -- I've seen the fields. They are lousy farmers and waste a lot of land that will disturb the migrations. The Masai speared two lion the week before I arrived in Longido last year. Didn't hear one the entire safari.

Can't tell you how many empty water bottles I picked up while hunting -- left by the Masai.
In 2012, it was strange seeing a morani in his red shuka and sandals, carrying a spear, and having a cell phone in a leather pouch on his belt. Now they all do. And, most of the bomas have solar panels and those of the chiefs have a pikipiki (motorbike) sitting outside the huts. Even saw one full blown motorcycle inside a boma.

The times, they are a changin'!

Go now! Before it's too late.

18 July 2018, 01:41

Aaron Neilson

quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
The "culture" is changing. The first adjustment to Masailand is the number of people, cattle, goats and sheep you'll encounter as opposed to hunting in a fly area. But that's been true for a long time. I've worn a shuka and stalked game literally through herds of cattle. Seen the bomas, gone to the "market" (and what passes for a hospital). It's an experience you shouldn't miss and you should do it now, because it's changing fast and not for the better. It will never be the same.

Agree with the comment about the area outside Tarangire. Shame you can't hunt there in March at the beginning of the rains anymore. It was simply magical. Huge numbers of buffalo and lion. Heard lion every night, some practically in camp. Got stuck a lot. Saw lots of cows, sheep, goats and Masai.

Fast forward. Hunted Masailand last year. Still great hunting, but ...

More Masai. Too many Masai. More sheep and goats. Longido is horribly overgrazed due to the shift from cattle to sheep and goats. What self-respecting Masai would herd a bunch of sheep and goats? They do now. They are trying to grow maize in Simanjiro -- I've seen the fields. They are lousy farmers and waste a lot of land that will disturb the migrations. The Masai speared two lion the week before I arrived in Longido last year. Didn't hear one the entire safari.

Can't tell you how many empty water bottles I picked up while hunting -- left by the Masai.
In 2012, it was strange seeing a morani in his red shuka and sandals, carrying a spear, and having a cell phone in a leather pouch on his belt. Now they all do. And, most of the bomas have solar panels and those of the chiefs have a pikipiki (motorbike) sitting outside the huts. Even saw one full blown motorcycle inside a boma.

The times, they are a changin'!

Go now! Before it's too late.

What Lavaca said! Its cool, but don't mistake it for really wild places of western / SW Tanzania for example!

18 July 2018, 08:18

fulvio

quote:
What self-respecting Masai would herd a bunch of sheep and goats? They do now. They are trying to grow maize in Simanjiro -- I've seen the fields. They are lousy farmers and waste a lot of land that will disturb the migrations

Refer to my posts on Maasailand of several years ago with regards to over-grazing and the carving up of plots slap-bang in the middle of primary migration corridors; the ecological impact caused by deforestation and the barren areas that followed the farming fiasco.

The Masai have never been farmers and never will be as it involves hard work to be one and they seem to have an allergy to any kind of strenuous task.

Why have they turned to sheep and goats? simple, they are far more resilient, adapt easily to harsh conditions, less prone to disease and do not require the same grazing as cattle so do not have to be moved to new pastures but are destructive as can be and their growing presence will have its negative effects in due course.

Goat and mutton is very marketable and therefore a fast selling commodity within reach of half empty pockets.

Maasailand is on a steady course to self-destruction.

18 July 2018, 15:08

shakari

quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
What self-respecting Masai would herd a bunch of sheep and goats? They do now. They are trying to grow maize in Simanjiro -- I've seen the fields. They are lousy farmers and waste a lot of land that will disturb the migrations

Refer to my posts on Maasailand of several years ago with regards to over-grazing and the carving up of plots slap-bang in the middle of primary migration corridors; the ecological impact caused by deforestation and the barren areas that followed the farming fiasco.

The Masai have never been farmers and never will be as it involves hard work to be one and they seem to have an allergy to any kind of strenuous task.

Why have they turned to sheep and goats? simple, they are far more resilient, adapt easily to harsh conditions, less prone to disease and do not require the same grazing as cattle so do not have to be moved to new pastures but are destructive as can be and their growing presence will have its negative effects in due course.

Goat and mutton is very marketable and therefore a fast selling commodity within reach of half empty pockets.

Maasailand is on a steady course to self-destruction .

Especially when they're stuffing up so much of their land with illegal, uncontrolled charcoal making.

18 July 2018, 15:28

fulvio

quote:
Especially when they're stuffing up so much of their land with illegal, uncontrolled charcoal making. Frowner

Indeed, though the acacias are far less than the common "mpome" which is too soft for charcoal and forms the main vegetative cover whose roots hold the soil in place and prevents erosion.

Once the land has been voided of the latter for "farmland" the soil erodes and whatever grass was once growing will be gone forever and you are left with tracts of dusty, desolate areas.

The acacia also provides highly nutrient pods which the Maasai harvest and feed to their livestock to fatten them up - they seem quite content to cut off their noses to spite their face.

Its those few bob they get for the charcoal to buy several bottles of grog that seems more important than their future.

We shouldn't really be too concerned as we can always rely on our ever sage and helpful NGOs to take care of things when all has gone to pot.

22 July 2018, 07:29

lavaca

Agree with all the comments here. Michel Mantheakis is cracking down on the charcoal poaching in his areas. Hope the other outfitters are doing the same. Didn't see evidence of recent cairns.

Aaron, you're right. Masailand is unique and I love southwestern Tanzania. Had to cancel my trip to Lukwati this year because I unexpectedly had to move to a new law firm. Hope to do that trip again soon. This time wanted to do pretty much a backpack hunt along the river with a focus on buffalo, roan and then croc, hippo and waterbuck when we got to the lake. Hope to do that trip soon. And hope USF&W gets their act together on lion, because that area is great for lion.

Fulvio and Shakari, I really appreciate your input. Last year was my wife's first trip to Tanzania. She loved it. She was really taken with all the "cute" sheep and goats inside the camp boma. I had to break the news that she shouldn't get attached to them because their name was "bait".

22 July 2018, 08:25

shootaway

I've never been there but I have never seen any nice pictures in hunt reports of the hunting areas.This has lead me to believe that it is not such a nice place compared to other areas.I don't believe those classic, vast grassy plains I've seen in old films exist any more.I am sure if it was a nice place with plenty of game,I would have paid the extra money to hunt there.

22 July 2018, 15:01

fulvio

quote:
Originally posted by shootaway:
I've never been there but I have never seen any nice pictures in hunt reports of the hunting areas.This has lead me to believe that it is not such a nice place compared to other areas.I don't believe those classic, vast grassy plains I've seen in old films exist any more.I am sure if it was a nice place with plenty of game,I would have paid the extra money to hunt there.

What do you mean by "nice pictures" George?

I hope you realize that the landscape and vegetation is the determining factor between Miombo Woodland and the Thorny Savannas of the Masai Steppe.

The grassy plains are still there - the density of wildlife may have lessened due to population growth (human) but there is still plenty of game available making it a very viable and much sought-after hunting destination, especially when it comes to mean Buffalo bulls.

22 July 2018, 16:06

shootaway

quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
Originally posted by shootaway:
I've never been there but I have never seen any nice pictures in hunt reports of the hunting areas.This has lead me to believe that it is not such a nice place compared to other areas.I don't believe those classic, vast grassy plains I've seen in old films exist any more.I am sure if it was a nice place with plenty of game,I would have paid the extra money to hunt there.

What do you mean by "nice pictures" George?

I hope you realize that the landscape and vegetation is the determining factor between Miombo Woodland and the Thorny Savannas of the Masai Steppe.

The grassy plains are still there - the density of wildlife may have lessened due to population growth (human) but there is still plenty of game available making it a very viable and much sought-after hunting destination, especially when it comes to mean Buffalo bulls.

By nice pictures I mean large, wild and attractive landscapes.I know that in Zimbabwe there are river beds,jesse bush,hills and grass, cliffs,pans,Baobabs...Another place which I've seen no evidence of nice land is Zambia.