Where the Kids Roam

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Guide to…

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

  • Boys between 12 and 25 who have reached puberty will eventually become junior warriors, which is great. Except that part of the initiation involves a circumcision ceremony, performed without anesthetic. The elders perform the ceremony with a sharpened knife and cattle hide bandages. The boys must endure the ceremony in silence, lest they bring dishonor to their family;
  • Young women undergo circumcision (excision; emorata) as well, and are then ushered into an arranged marriage. Women who aren't circumcised are mostly considered not marriageable;
  • Warriors are not allowed to have sexual relations with circumcised women, though they may have girlfriends who are uncircumcised girls;
  • The Maasai are traditionally polygynous;
  • Conversely, polyandry is also practiced. A woman sorta marries not just her husband, but an entire age group. Men are expected to give up their bed to a visiting age-mate guest. And then the woman decides (strictly on her own) if she will join the visiting male. Any child as a result of the visit is the husband's child; and
  • They pull out baby canine teeth of the children, as those teeth are thought to bring sickness.

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Amboseli National Park

If you go on an African safari, you will see many wonderful parks. This is an overview of just one of those parks.

What is Amboseli and Why Go There?

Amboseli National Park is a 151 square mile reserve in Kajiado County, Kenya. It is the second-most popular park in Kenya (behind Maasai Mara). The park boasts one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world, with approximately 400 species of birds  and 47 types of raptors. But the real reasons to stop here are the elephants – the park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants.

Where to Stay

Invariably, your safari operator or travel agent will determine this. But it doesn’t hurt to know your options. We stayed at the Kibo Safari Camp (Ranked #2 of 19 in Specialty Lodging in Amboseli Eco-system by TripAdvisor) near the park’s entrance. For just under $200/night, you’ll get a “glamping”-style tent, a warm shower, and a pool, all set in front of the mount Kilimanjaro backdrop.

They call this lion-watering hole a pool.
2690188874 79a09610d5 o Nighttime is when the animals attack you on your way to your tent.C525DB6E 4D3C 434B 9C8B 4CECAABB1AFD The lodge has beer. I like beer. Therefore, you will find me in the lodge.

The Elephants

African elephants are a sight to behold. Far more dangerous than asian elephants, these beasts of the savannah are incredible from a distance, unbelievable up close. Elephant connoisseurs come from all over to Amboseli, a place with little vegetation due to long dry months, and therefore little coverage for the elephants. You’ll see them roaming in wide-open spaces – all with Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest free-standing mountain in the world) as a backdrop. Amboseli boasts over 900 free-ranging elephants.

25913280518 0f2145ffa8 o Traffic JamAmboseli elephants I refuse to google what a bunch of elephants are called. Is it troop?Sunset at Amboseli There are elephants somewhere in this picture

Maasai Village

An amazing bonus in Amboseli is the ability to visit a Maasai village. Amboseli was actually set aside as the “Southern Reserve” for the Maasai in 1906, but reverted to a game reserve in 1948. What to tell you about the Maasai that you don’t already know? Well, you know they jump high.

24915326687 81a19a8810 o The myth that white men can’t jump = shattered.

You also know they’re warriors who occasionally kill lions and live primarily off of their cattle’s blood and milk. But, did you know:

 

Ok, so, um…some pictures now.

38886654105 9297792f15 o Eager students ready to learn about female circumcision. Kidding. Maasai warrior Maasai warrior25913412078 1a1605174f o My other, other wifeMaasai kids I’m the one with sunglasses on