Discover the best that nature can produce.
Discover Tanzania.
Welcome to Africa’s masterpiece
Tanzania is among the most unique destinations on earth
Here you will find...
The tallest mountain in Africa.
Kilimanjaro stands at 19,340 feet (5,895 meters). It is the largest free-standing mountain in the world.
The Serengeti National Park.
One of the most famous nature reserves, known for its enormous annual migration of wildebeest and zebra – and the lions, crocodiles, elephants that make a home there.
The Zanzibar archipelago.
Located around 16–31 miles off the coast, two large islands (and many small ones) make up the tourist hotspot of the Zanzibar archipelago.
Who are the Maasai?
The Maasai people are a unique culture that emerged in northern Tanzania and neighboring Kenya, likely migrating through South Sudan generations ago. There are few written records of their origins, but according to oral tradition these migrations began around the 15th century, arriving in Tanzania between the 17th and late 18th century.
Their culture is not homogenous, with over twenty two sub-tribes of the Maasai community in total, referred to as “iloshon” or “nations”. Maasai people speak the Maa language. Maasai who study or work outside their community learn Swahili as a second language. Swahili is the national language of both Kenya and Tanzania, the two countries where the Maasai live. English is learned through higher education or outside work experience.
The importance of cattle
The Maasai are traditionally nomadic pastoralists, relying on cattle herds for their survival. In more recent years, this has put them in opposition to the government over grazing rights in national parks and land for private luxury development.
Clothing and jewelry
The Maasai wear colorful, highly symbolic clothing and jewelry, and have many customs and rituals. One example is the Enkononkoi, a blue, beaded necklace that is made to show that a woman has given birth to many daughters, who would traditionally be circumcised or married. It was also given to men by their fathers as an inheritance.
Ceremonial Maasai homes
While a nomadic people, the Maasai build ceremonial housing complexes for specific cultural ceremonies, particularly the eunoto or circumcision ceremony. The homes are traditionally built by women, who use sticks, grass, and cow-dung to construct the dwellings.
The role of women in Maasai culture
The Maasai is a patriarchal society, with many believing that women are the property of men. Traditionally, a man's wealth is measured in the number of cattle, wives, and children they have.
Both male and female fenital mutilation is an ingrained part of the culture and is seen as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.
For Maasai girls, the ritual mutilation often leads to an early arranged marriage. The stigma of not undergoing the procedure can be great, with women – even those with high levels of education – being seen as immature if not circumcised.
At MATE, we believe in preserving the richness and diversity of Maasai culture, while empowering young girls and teenagers to avoid more harmful traditional practices through education.
The modern history of Tanzania
To understand the challenges the people of Tanzania face, it helps to understand what they have lived through in recent times.
Tanzania has experienced a turbulent history over the last 65 years, which has had a knock-on effect on the country’s infrastructure, access to education, and quality of life.
Independence (1961–1964)
Tanganyika” achieved independence from the UN trusteeship, overseen by the British, becoming a member of the Commonwealth of Nations on December 9, 1961. Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba) was granted self-government in June 1963 and formally achieved independence from Britain on December 10, 1963.
Photo by African Leaders Magazine
Post-colonial transition (1964)
The post-colonial transition was tumultuous, with rival factions vying for power. In January 1964, Zanzibar’s Prime Minister was overthrown, leading to the establishment of a revolutionary council. Continued unrest and the deployment of British and Nigerian troops led to the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, forming Tanzania.
Photo by Maisha Huru Magazine
The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (1964–1995)
Despite being in a “post-crisis phase,” Tanzania and Zanzibar faced decades of unrest and assassinations after forming the United Republic. In 1992, legislation allowed opposition parties, but stability was threatened, especially by ethnic violence in Ngorongoro District in late 1995.
Election fraud (1995-2001)
The end of the 20th century continued to be challenging for Tanzania, with a taut political situation that frequently spilled into violence. Accusations of election fraud led to outside observers overseeing elections, such as the UN or Commonwealth of Nations (CON) in 1995 and the EU in 2000.
The new millennium (2001-present)
Tanzania has faced similar struggles since 2001, often having to contend with political violence and election tampering. Outside organizations frequently send representatives to observe elections and facilitate peaceful political transitions.
What are the effects of prolonged periods of unrest?
For normal people living through these periods of extended political strive, the situation has been complicated. In 1960, the average life expectancy was just 43 years of age – rising to 66 in 2021.
It’s only in recent years that Tanzania has been able to make improvements in infrastructure, formally moving from low-income to lower-middle-income country (LMIC) status in July 2020.
Likewise, education rates are finally getting better. In just a few years – from 2014 to 2021 – literacy rates have risen from 69.8% to 76%.
Signs of hope are evident in the country, but more needs to be done. This is especially true for the country’s minorities, such as the Maasai.
Maasai proverb