Capturing the Moment

  A young Maasai girl, dressed in intricate beadwork.    I firmly believe that you can't come to Africa and not be totally blown away by the kindness of the people. Everyone we have met has been humble, willing to engage in conversation, and so hospitable. You will meet all kinds of local people working the different jobs on safari and in the lodges. But something that is a must-do when on safari, is to go to a local village, and get a better feel for what life is like. Right now we are in Amboseli National Park which is in the middle of Masai land. The Maasai people are part of the Nilotic ethnic group, believed to have migrated from the Nile Valley region in present-day Sudan and South Sudan between the 15th and 17th centuries. As they moved southward, the Maasai settled in what is now Kenya and northern Tanzania, displacing other groups such as the Kikuyu and farming communities, and establishing their territory on the vast savannahs. This migration allowed them to bec...

  Some of the Maasai ladies lining up to sing as we arrive. Nestled just beyond the boundaries of Amboseli National Park, Village Number 3 of the Maasai people welcomed me with open arms in 2021, leaving an indelible mark on my heart. Returning in 2022 and 2023, I witnessed the resilience of this community amidst the challenges of a global pandemic and the harsh reality of a devastating drought. One of the unexpected highlights of our first visit was discovering that one of the Maasai men in the village was a yoga enthusiast and even taught yoga in the nearby school. It was a beautiful fusion of cultures as, with great excitement, my group joined him in a spontaneous yoga session. Sharing this ancient practice across cultural boundaries brought a sense of unity and joy, reminding us of the universality of human experiences. Photo from my 2022 visit. The bond forged through yoga extended beyond that initial meeting. In subsequent visits in 2022 and 2023, our group engaged in a heart...