Emborag Village, lots of animials, Tarangire, and the Hadza

07/19/07
Our guides for the safari are Umtimama’s brother Killerai Munka Killerai (aka Killer) and Alexis (aka Alex). 

Alex & Killer

Killer drove our car. The 4x4s are awesome! The tops come off! So the farther we got out of Arusha the more Maasai it got! We went to Emborag Village (a small maasai village). The chairman of the village rode in our car!
The village as the most Maasai thing I have ever seen in my life. Everyone was wearing the Maasai blankets and colors and the tire sandals like the ones we made. Some had brandings on their faces. When they are about 3 years old they are burnt or tattooed for “decoration”. A lot of them also had huge elaborate earrings in their super stretched out empty/holy ears. This one guy had the bottom of his ear so stretched out he wrapped it around his entire ear!

Village Chairman.

Mother & Baby

Emborag Village

Writing inside the houses

Maasai Children

After playing with the children and exploring their way of life, we drove for a few more hours until we reached our destination. BUT not before spotting our first GIRAFFE! Monica and I tried to get a tan while sitting on top of the 4x4, but that didn't work well because we were constantly dodging African thorn bushes. One of them made Monica bleed.

Ella, Monica, Me and Izzy at camp.

 07/20/07
We had to wake up very early today to go on a hike. We climbed this really big beautiful mountain called Mount Emborag. It was hard core- up and down took about 5 ½ hours. On our mountain climbing expedition we had to like rock climb. The view was amazing.

Maasai man who helped guide us up the mountain.

Admiring the vast African plains

We napped after the climb then took a walk and saw baboons and  this African hamster looking thing, and another giraffe.  We saw a lot of tracks and a lot of animal poop. Then after super we had the Maasai guides do a little "culture night" with us. They told us stories about different hunts they have been on and sang many songs while they showed us how they danced. It was an experience I will never forget.

Maasai men, me, and Monica getting our groove on!

The higher your vertical jump - the better dancer you are.
 

It was dark so its hard to see the Maasai men dance, but their singing is clear and beautiful :)

In order to become a Maasai Warrior, one must hunt a lion (solo) with nothing but a spear and return with his tail. After much encouragement, one man told us the story behind his battered and deformed looking shin. On this mans attempt at becoming a recognized warrior, the lion began to chase him! He was running so quickly that when his foot went into a pot hole his tibia (shin bone) snapped! But he couldnt stop for the lion would have got to him...so he continued to run to safety. Because of the lack of available health care, the bone heeled in a funny way.

07/21/07
Today I learned that my Maasai name Nemburis means "blessing." How fitting :)
Also, Killer told us that if a male ostrich's neck is pink that means it’s horny.

He looks pretty horny if you ask me...

This is not photo shopped!

07/22/07
Today Killerai told us another interesting animal fact. Lions actually have "honeymoons" and during this week long festivity they mate for approximately 15-20 seconds, every 10min, for a week! They only break to eat, hunt, and sleep.

A lion couple on their honeymoon!

Monica & I on top of the car

Below, I am inside of a tree. This is where poachers used to sit and hunt animals out of. There are still poachers around, but authorities have really cracked down, and the fines are outrageous.

Antelope and Zebra!

Beautiful Tanzanian Sunset

07/23/07
Ok have to pack up from Taraginire National Park and head to the Yaida Valley were we are going to be with a tribe that speaks in CLICK CLICK! Can’t wait. So we just left the park and these boys were trying to sell us huge carcus. Then Kathy bought a fish and they tied to the car and it smells and looks discussing! We had 2 random guys jump on our car but I guess Killer knew them so it was ok. 

They just held on for the whole ride!

We are lunch at Magara Waterfall. It was beautiful ...

The ladies after lunch at the waterfall

Today Killer taught us to say Simama Sitalke and Pina hala which respectively means stop, I do not want that and I have no money. It sent beggars away in record time!

We also got to meet the Hadza Tribe briefly today...We went to their village and walked around a bit. They are pretty interesting, I'm looking forward to spending more time with them. 

Hadza Village

Hadza boy