The extended ear lobes, vibrant cloth and extravagantly beaded adornments of the Maasai are one of the quintessential images of the people of Africa.  The tribe has held out impressively well against the slowly creeping influence of urbanization and other trappings of modern life.  They continue to hold cattle in esteem above most other things and observe the age-group ceremonies that mark the changes in their society with each generation.  The women bead beautiful jewelry and the men dance and jump to rhythmic chants. It is a fascinating culture and one that is very familiar to us.

Astonishingly, given how fast our world is changing, there are a few such tribes whose lives are still firmly connected to nature and who dance to a different beat to the rest of the world.

The Omo of Ethiopia, the Himba, Herero and San of Namibia and Botswana, and the Samburu of Kenya all spring to mind.  It would be naïve and romantic to think that their lifestyles are entirely of their choosing, for poverty has much to answer for, but there is much to celebrate about their existence and much that we might learn from them.

A journey through Africa would be incomplete without experiencing the culture of the people.  It is not always easy to do this in a way that is uncontrived and avoids exacerbating the many difficult issues that people face.  However, there are ways to meet people sensitively and learn about their lives in a way that is mutually respectful, interesting and empowering, and it is this path that we always try and follow.