👨🏾‍🦲The African Masai tribe is a semi-nomadic people of mainland Kenya and Tanzania. They live at the foot of Kilimanjaro. This is one of the most interesting and original, and perhaps the only tribe that has fully preserved its traditions and rituals, including the most exotic ones.

🇹🇿Speaking specifically about the Masai in Zanzibar, every Masai will tell you that they have lived here since ancient times and this is their homeland. It's all just a ploy. The Maasai have never lived in Zanzibar; their homeland is at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. They started coming to Zanzibar 10-15 years ago, when tourists came here. Their goal is clear: they want to make money from tourists like all the other residents of the archipelago.

🧾You can buy souvenirs of their tribe from the Maasai in Zanzibar: beads, bracelets, figurines made of stone and wood, masks, socket adapters, etc. Our advice is to try not to buy anything from them at all. They are nice guys and make you feel welcome, but the prices they charge are very high. All the same things can be bought in souvenir shops all over the island for much less money.

❗️Remember:

• If you take a photo of a Masai without his permission, he will probably be unhappy, but not a lot of money (1-2 dollars) will immediately resolve the current situation.

• What you definitely don’t need to buy from the Maasai are excursions. They will promise this, but will not keep even half of their promises.

❗️In conclusion, the Maasai came to Zanzibar to earn money. They are quite smiling, open and harmless, and if you haven't bought anything from him, he will wish you a good day and good luck. Yes, some are quite annoying, but not all. And they simply love to communicate endlessly with tourists. If you have time, you can sit and talk with them for three hours. The Masai are an important cultural part of the island, which will help you immerse yourself even more in African flavor.