Oltukai Conservancy

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Aug 15 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

Other than the fact that, the Maasai people are pastoralists, though nowdays beceme Agro-pastoralists, who live in the northern part of Tanzania, although various aspects were studied by a number of Anthropologists. Inhabiting Kiteto, Simanjiro, Hai, Longido, Monduli and Ngorongoro(where Olduvai Gorge is found) Disticts in Arusha and Manyara regions, Tanzania. The  Maasai population  is concentrated primarily in Monduli plateau lying between the Tarangire- Manyara ecosystem and Lake Manyara. The topography of these areas varies between high lands 2000 to the lower -lying Savannah -800 metres.

The rainy season begins in November and continues  through to April. The dry season is from May to the beginningof November. The temperatures average is 20 centigrade. The Maaasai are the largest population group in Manyara and Arusha regions. They are Hamitic(one of the indigenous tribe), who speak MAA- language as mother tongue, with no connection with Bantu”sthe cushitic languages of Ethiopia. The maasai  is from Misri(Isirito/Associatin in maa language) through Sudan( Isidan/good in maa) as their Original land. They depend on pastoralism(livestock products- milk, meat, blood, and maize nad beans as supplementary.They are keeng Catle, sheep, Goats and donkeys. The Donkeys are kept for transportaion purposes. The kind of pastoralism is by extensive system, in which the Integration of Wildlife and Livestock is possible to undertaken.The grazing land is divided into private and public pastures.Livestock are a symbol of a family’s wealth and are one of the principal  investments of the Household. Livestock are soldin the weekly markets to earn the greater for the family.

Gender and age are the basis for the maasai division of labour.On the maasai homesteads/bomas, women and  young girls are responsible for taking care of children, cooking, fetching of water, collection of firewoods, milking the cows and plaster the walls of the houses. The men and boys are responsible for taking care of livestock(treatment), and be leaders and possession of spears, bows, arrows,and shields for security purposes. The maasai men are also responsible in herding and water the livestock.

Thank you for you for your co-operation.

The  team( Patrick, Boniface and Parsanga).