Looking for a unique travel idea? Here’s a trip that’s a long way from NYC and will fill you with excitement and wonder. Go get a new suitcase, a vaccination, a reliable camera and head off to Africa to visit the Masai peoples! The who?
The Masai.
This African tribe is famous for being noble and fearless warriors who once dominated the plains of East Africa. The Masai are known for their tall, muscular features and their distinctive dress. Seeing a male tribe member in the flesh is astonishing. Typically they hold fierce-looking spears and are adorned in blood-red shoulder cloaks. The women are beautiful and adorn themselves in intricate jewelry and bangles. Both sexes wear earrings and take pride in stretching long holes in their lobes. The men sometimes wear elaborate headdresses made from lions manes or ostrich feathers. Both men and women shave their heads.
Aside from the many countries that are suffering through political strife, Africa is a beautiful continent to visit. Visiting a Masai village affords you to the opportunity to absorb true-to-life African tribal culture and so much more. However, due to indigenous diseases present on the continent, a travel vaccination is definitely recommended. Especially if the traveler is from NYC and has only built up an immunity to eating dirty water hotdogs!
How do the Masai live?
The Masai are very family oriented and reside in huts that are encircled in enclosures made from sharpened sticks and prickly thorn bushes in order to protect their cattle herds from predators. This enclosure is called an Enkang. Each Enkang includes approximately 10 to 20 small huts made from branches pasted together with fresh cow-dung. (How’s that for an exciting travel experience?!)
The huts are typically small and have holes in the roofs. The holes serve two purposes. The first is to let a little light in, and the second is to allow smoke to escape from the smoldering cow-dung (!) fire kept ablaze for cooking and warmth. For your average resident of NYC a cow-dung fire may not seem like the best place to make smores, but the smoke drives away the insects and for that you will be thankful.
Before heading anywhere in Africa be sure to check the rules and regulations regarding whether a travel vaccination is necessary. For instance, in many countries in Africa proof of a yellow fever vaccination is necessary for entry. This routine travel vaccination can be acquired at any certified travel clinic. NYC has many highly regarded facilities of this type.
A travel clinic can help you prepare for a trip in so many ways. If you are planning an overseas journey, visiting one is a must. For those of us who live in NYC or its surrounding boroughs, think about visiting Travel Clinic New York. Easily accessible by mass transit, this clinic is certified to administer all travel vaccinations—and so much more. Just log onto TravelClinicNY.com or call 1-212-696-5900 to make an appointment. Stay safe and have fun.
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