Northern Tanzania - Tanzania - page 336

can be had for US$600 per week and about 100km free per day. Drivers are included in the
price. Book as early as possible because demand is high.
Reliable companies:
Arusha Naaz ( 027-250 2087; www.arushanaaz.net ; Sokoine St)
Fortes ( 027-250-6094; www.fortescarhire.com ; Nairobi-Moshi Rd) Allows self-drive.
Rainbow ( 0754-204025; www.rainbowcarhire.com ; India St)
Local Transport
Dalla-dallas (Tsh300) run along major roads from early until late. There are taxi stands all
around the city centre and some park in front of most hotels, even many budget ones. A ride
across town, from the Clock Tower to Makao Mapya bus station, for example, shouldn't
cost more than Tsh3000. Motorcycle taxi drivers will almost always tell you Tsh2000 for a
ride in the city centre, but will go for Tsh1000 if you insist.
THE MAASAI
Travelling in northern Tanzania, you're certain to meet some Maasai, one of the
region's most famous tribes. The Maasai are pastoral nomads who have actively
resisted change, and many still follow the same lifestyle they have for centuries.
Their traditional culture centres on their cattle, which along with their land, are
considered sacred. Cows provide many of their needs: milk, blood and meat for
their diet, and hides and skins for clothing, although sheep and goats also play
an important dietary role, especially during the dry season.
Maasai society is patriarchal and highly decentralised. Elders meet to decide
on general issues but ultimately it's the wellbeing of the cattle that determines a
course of action. Maasai boys pass through a number of transitions during their
life, the first of which is marked by the circumcision rite. Successive stages in-
clude junior warriors, senior warriors, junior elders and senior elders; each level
is distinguished by its own unique rights, responsibilities and dress. Junior eld-
ers, for example, are expected to marry and settle down; somewhere between
ages 30 and 40. Senior elders assume the responsibility of making wise and
moderate decisions for the community. The most important group is that of the
newly initiated warriors, moran, who are charged with defending the cattle
herds.
Maasai women play a markedly subservient role and have no inheritance
rights. Polygyny is widespread and marriages are arranged by the elders,
without consulting the bride or her mother. Since most women are significantly
younger than men at the time of marriage, they often become widows; remar-
riage is rare.