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The Maasai Culture

Tanzania recognizes over seventy tribes of native people. The Maasai were the dominating tribe at beginning of 20th century. They are one of the very few tribes who have retained most of their traditions, lifestyle and lore.

In common with the wildlife with which they co-exist, the Maasai need a lot of land. The Maasai are semi-nomadic and pastoral: they live by herding cattle and goats.

The Maasai of Tanzania in Zanzibar

Young Maasai warriors are a common sight now on the seashores of Zanzibar where they seasonally migrate during the tourism season to earn an income, selling Maasai handicrafts, beadwork and sandals adorned with beads or made of car tyres.

Traditionally it is expected of the Maasai warriors, young men, to venture out during their warrior status, return to their homeland after passage rituals into manhood and take up the role a respected married adult.

Experience their colourful dress,
traditional jumping dance and bead work

The Maasai beaded jewellery has important and specific cultural significance - the beadwork an individual wears will signify their age and social status. Generally, individuals of high social standing will wear more colourful and intricate jewellery.

Beads also serve as an important source of income for the Maasai, as Maasai beadwork has been in existence for hundreds of years. It became significant and known to the rest of the world in the 19th century after trade with other tribes. The tribe used natural resources around them to create their jewelry - everything from clay, wood and bone to copper and brass. In the late 19th century trade with the Europeans made glass beads available across the trade routes in Africa. The Maasai started using these glass beads to make their necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry. Today glass is still the main material used by the tribe for their beads.

Travel Tips

Zanzibar is located off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, just south of the equator. The archipelago consists of the main island Unguja (often called Zanzibar), Pemba and several smaller islands. Unguja is about 1500 km2 in size, while Pemba measures only about 870 km2. About 1,9 million people live on the islands.

Attention, this information is only non-binding tips based on our personal experiences and estimations. Please inform yourself compre- hensively before you do anything.

The official language in Zanzibar is Kiswahili, but – especially in tourist areas – people speak English as well. Nevertheless it will always help to know some Kiswahili words and phrases.
Islam is widely practiced by over 97% of the population in Zanzibar. Women wear headscarfs in public and even men often wear the kofia – the traditional head covering for Muslim men. Five times a day you will hear the muezzin calling for prayers. Mosques are sacred places. There is generally no entry to mosques for non- Muslims, and photographing the interior from the door- way is not allowed during prayers. In general Zanzibar is well-known for its liberal religious climate. In Stonetown you will also find temples and churches where Hindu or Christian people practice their religion in peace and har- mony. We suggest to meet Zanzibarian people with all the respect that is advisable for travelling in foreign cul- tures. (see Dress Code). If you are visiting Zanzibar during Ramadhan, the holy month in the Islamic tradition, Mus- lims will be fasting from sunrise to sunset. We would strongly recommend not to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours.
For your entry from Europe to Zanzibar a valid passport and a visa are obligatory. You can obtain the visa at the Tanzanian embassy in your home country or directly on site at airport or seaport. The usual cost for a tourist visa is USD 50.
Please consult your doctor, an institute of tropical medicine or a pharmacy in your home country for infor- mation about required and recommended vaccinations, malaria prevention and which drugs to carry. Vaccinations and prophylactic malaria drugs are very personal deci- sions. Concerning malaria prevention it is a good advice to use additional measures for mosquito-bite prevention, like long-sleeved and light-coloured clothing in the evenings and insect repellents. Do not drink water from the tap! Sun protection (sunhat, sun-cremes, sun glasses) is strongly recommended!
The climate on Zanzibar is tropical with warm weather almost year round. Temperatures range between 25 C° in August and 35 C° in February. Most of the time there is a convenient breeze from the sea. There are two periods of rains heaviest in March through June and the lesser rains during October-November season.
The unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TSh). US Dollars and Euros are the most convenient for- eign currencies. Travellers cheques are widely accepted in Zanzibar Town. For safaris in Tanzania you often need US$ in cash. Some (few) restaurants, hotels and shops ac- cept credit cards. You can obtain cash with your Maestro card, and any bank card at ATMs in Stown Town. You should not count on being able to obtain cash on your credit card, the very few places where it’s possible charge a commission up to 15%.
We strongly recommend to book your flight several months before your intended stay in Zanzibar! A few airlines (e.g. KLM) offer direct flights to Zanzibar, sev- eral serve the destination Dar es Salaam where you can take the ferry boat or a flight with one of the local air com- panies (Zanair, Coastal Air, Precision Air u.v.a.). In addition to that you can choose a flight route via Mombasa, Johan- nesburgh, Dubai, Nairobi etc. The ferry boat from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar is only recommendable if you arrive in Dar not later than early afternoon. The last boat to Zanz- ibar departs about 4 p.m. The time schedule of the ferry boat is not very reliable and changes occur very often – please check when you arrive in Dar. Due to business competition and special offers of several local airlines a flight from Dar to Zanzibar is getting more and more a smart alternative to the ferry boat!
At your departure from Zanzibar 10 USD airport tax or 5 USD seaport tax per person are payable. Some tour operators already include this tax in their arrangements.
In general we recommend loose fitting, light-coloured and casual cotton wear for your holiday in Zanzibar. Sunhats and rain jackets are a useful addition. For walks on the beach (especially during low tide) you should wear shoes to avoid injuries by sea urchins or shells. Due to the traditions of Zanzibarian Muslim society you should bear in mind some additional advices. Always wear loose fitting, non-transparent clothing. Shirts should cover the upper arms and shorts should reach to the knees. Do not wear bathing costumes, running shorts, tank tops or other revealing clothing in the villages or Stonetown. Beachwear is for the beach only!
In general the island is considered to be safe. Compared to other African countries crime rate is low. Nevertheless we recommend the usual security mea- sures for travelling in foreign countries, like carrying your money, passport and tickets in an inside pocket or pouch. In Stonetown it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your bags when strolling around.