Masai Boma

The Masai Bomas are located near the Southern Serengeti (Ngorongoro Conservation Area) / Olduvai Gorge. They are located just a few minutes off the main road that links the Serengeti with the Ngorongoro Crater and a visit can easily be included into any safari itinerary. You can easily choose to visit the village on the way from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater.

Background: Few places in the world can match the Serengeti's long human history. There are records from our early hominid ancestors that date back several million years ago. At Olduvai Gorge, several skulls and related fossils of early hominids were found in the ancient walls of the gorge. Some were more recent and some dated back to 1.75 million years ago. About 10 miles from Olduvai Gorge on the plains of the Southern Serengeti at a place called Laetoli, three tracks of volcanic ash preserved footprints from our earliest forebears were discovered. These footprints were dated at 3.6 million years old and represent the earliest direct traces of our ancestors ever found.
Waves of people have moved through the Serengeti over the last several million years. Recently, about 150 years ago, the Masai people came to the Serengeti. They ousted the Datoga people who undoubtedly pushed earlier people off the plains. This optional excursion gives you a chance to meet these latest inhabitants of the Serengeti Plains. This is a great opportunity to learn, first-hand, about the proud Masai culture.

The vast majority of the tourists visit the Masai boma by the Ngorongoro Crater and far less people ever visit this small boma in between Olduvai Camp and Olduvai Gorge. The popular boma by the Crater called the 'tourist boma' is certainly nicer. However, a visit to this far less visited boma at Olduvai will provide for a much more real and untainted experience. Therefore mentioned village and its people have certainly been influenced by tourism but to a much lesser extent than the tourist village and a visit here will provide for a much more meaningful experience.

Itinerary: The below itinerary is based upon an overnight at Olduvai Camp and a departure the following day to the Ngorongoro Crater after the aasai Boma visit. It includes a walking safari from Olduvai Camp to the Masai Boma. This is a very convenient itinerary and is a popular choice for many people wishing to visit the village. However, you can easily choose to visit the village on the way from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater without an overnight at Olduvai Camp and without the short walking safari. The village is only a few minutes off the main road and can make for a convenient and rewarding stop.

After breakfast at Olduvai Camp, you will be venturing out on foot into the Serengeti Plains and visiting a Masai Boma. Your driver will meet you at the village with your luggage so you may depart for the Ngorongoro Crater immediately afterwards for an afternoon game-drive.
Walk through the plains in the company of just a Masai warrior to a local Masai Boma. It should take about 1 hour from Olduvai Camp to reach the Masai Boma. Take your time on the walk tracking footprints and enjoying the scenery and wildlife. Your Masai guide will explain many interesting things about the 'bush' and his culture. Upon arrival at the village, you will be met by the village chief who will provide a tour and you can watch or take part in a traditional dance.
The Masai are pastoralists and they live off their herds of cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys. Traditionally, they moved widely with their herds to find pasture and water, but in recent years some of them have made more permanent settlements. Increasingly, they are supplementing their diet of milk, blood and meat with grain. The Masai typically do not hunt or eat wildlife.