Activities
Your stay includes several unique and memorable activities:
Experience the Maasai’s unique dance with their amazing high jumps and songs
Adumu, also known as the Maasai jumping dance, is a type of dance that the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania practice. Maasai history claims that the dance was initially performed by young warriors as a method to hone their leaping and jumping abilities, which were necessary for both hunting and combat. Maasai warriors generally perform the energetic and acrobatic dance at ceremonial occasions including weddings, religious rites, and other significant cultural events.
Bush walk with the Maasai
Learn how the Maasai use herbs and plants in their daily life – hopefully you will meet some wild animals during your walk as well.
Spear-throwing competition
Discover the tradition behind the Maasai’s practise of carrying spears and join them in an exciting spear-throwing competition.
Sundowner with traditional Maasai song and dance
A sundowner is a well-known concept on safari and it means a nice refreshing drink around sunset. After a safari game drive or a full day of impressive activities, you usually return to the lodge around 5.00-6.00 PM. The magical hour, when the African sun drops behind the horizon. Enjoy these last minutes of daylight accompanied by colourful Maasai men and women, performing their dance and songs.
Maasai storytelling by the bonfire (MTV)
The Maasai preserve their history and cultural heritage through storytelling. Elders pass down knowledge, legends, and traditions orally, ensuring the continuity of their unique way of life. Sit down and relax at the bonfire, and listen to their vibrant stories, their discussion and their laughter. Of course you have the opportunity to ask them all your questions; they gladly tell you about their culture and traditions.
Visit our school, which is supported by the proceeds from our visitors
Pay a visit to the main project, the English Medium pre- and primary school with around 500 pupils. Meet the head teacher who will explain you all about the functioning of the school, visit the nursery and primary classrooms and be amazed how even the youngest children speak, read and write English.
Learn about the social projects we are undertaking to empower the Maasai community
Take a drive through the TingaTinga village and meet the people who are assisted by the projects of the NGO. Sit down under the shade of an acacia tree with the women and see how they bead the most beautiful and colourful jewellery and other decorative items. Why not try it yourself?
Please note:
While many tour companies express a desire for a swimming pool, our lodge stands apart for several reasons. Firstly, our dedication to the welfare of the TingaTinga villagers, who often face water shortages for weeks on end, makes it ethically untenable to prioritize a pool for tourists. Additionally, the presence of numerous elephants in the area necessitates a focus on wildlife conservation over recreational amenities. Most importantly, our lodge aims to provide visitors with a cultural experience that immerses them in the local way of life. We hope you understand.
Optional activities*:
Visiting a local boma
You will be warmly welcomed by a Maasai family in their “boma”. A boma consists of several huts made of mud and wood, grouped around the kraal for the cattle. Here you can discover how the Maasai really live, their customs and traditions. You can see how the women cook in the boma and how the men are busy with the cattle; the children proudly show you their little goats.
Daytrip to Sinya / Enduimet
Go of the beaten track and watch a herd of elephants while a few 100 meters further you see a Maasai in red shuka (cloth) herding his cattle. West Kilimanjaro, or more specific, the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area is the place to be. This area is protected, but not a national park, so human beings may reside here.
Here, Maasai and wildlife live in peace with each other. It is truly a hidden gem as it is still undiscovered, you don’t have to follow the roads and the traditional life of Maasai makes this your real African experience. Elephants are a come sight here as it is a corridor between Amboseli NP in Kenya and Arusha NP in Tanzania. Furthermore, you will find giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, kudu and gerenuk. The views on the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro are amazing from this area.
Daytrip to Arusha National Park to explore the wildlife
Arusha National Park is located at the base of Mount Meru, whose rivers ensure that the park is evergreen. Savannah animals such as giraffes, zebras, gazelles, antelopes and elephants live here. Sometimes you will also find traces of leopards. The view of Mount Kilimanjaro is majestic and the Momella lakes are home to large flamingo colonies all year round. A unique resident of this park is the exotic black and white Colobus monkey that swirles high in the trees. The park may even look familiar to you, because the movie Hatari! was once here recorded with John Wayne as Hardy Krüger, who had his farm here.
Visit the local market in TingaTinga (Fridays only)
The weekly market in TingaTinga, held every Friday, is a vibrant gathering where Maasai from Tinga and nearby villages converge. It’s the highlight of the week, where villagers come together to socialize, chat, and engage in trade. You’ll see a lively exchange of goats, sheep, and cattle, alongside women selling fresh vegetables and fruits. Additionally, there’s a variety of goods available for purchase, including beads, blankets, clothing, and traditional Maasai shoes. On Tuesdays, a larger market takes place in Sinya, which is also worth exploring for its diverse offerings.
Visit the local Maasai church (Sundays only)
The Maasai still worship their own gods in a traditional way. However, their beliefs have mixed with those of others, e.g. with the elements of Christianity. Visiting a Maasai church is a unique experience.
