Jomo Kenyatta is the father of modern day Kenya, serving as the first President in 1964 when the struggle for independence and self rule meant the end of British East Africa (comprised of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and the beginning of the nation of Kenya. He understood that to unify 42 separate and distinct tribes there needed to be a common language: Swahili. This was necessary because these 42 tribes each have their own language, traditions and customs.

The Maasai tribe is one of the smallest in the Kenya / Tanzania area with a population of about 1.2 million. Many Maasai continue to live the traditional lifestyle of the past generations. Their village is built in a large circle; their cows and goats occupy the center of the village, whilst homes are built on the perimeter of the circle. They have no electricity or running water, share property and assets on a communal basis, practice polygamy subject to each wife receiving her own home, emphasize education, and typically have two meals a day – milk and beef.

Intensely private, they are very averse to having their photo taken as they believe it takes part of their soul. We were fortunate as our guide is a member of the Maasai tribe, and he was able to facilitate an invitation to visit the tribal village located within Amboseli National Park. As a result of being invited guests, we were welcomed with song and dance, visited with many members of the tribe (most Kenyans speak at least three languages: Swahili, English and their tribal language), toured their village, and invited to take as many photos as we wished.

And so I respectfully share these images of an unbelievably memorable morning.