Mara Cultural Tourism

Mara Cultural Tourism
Mara region is occupied by various tribes including the Wajaluo, Wajita, Waruri, Wazanaki, Wakurya, Wakabwa, Wakiroba, Wasimbiti, Wangoreme, Wakwaya, Waikoma, Wanata, Waisenye, Waikizu, Wasizaki, Wasukuma and Wataturu (Watatoga). Enjoy the African culture of various tribes in Mara Tanzania, East Africa.

Ikizu and Zanaki Cultural Tourism
On the western side of Serengeti National Park, from Ikoma gate one will meet great people named Waikizu tribe. Nyamuswa cultural Tourism Program exposes visitors on the way of life of Waikizu people and beautiful landscape with hills, mountains and valleys filled with water where canoeing can perfectly bring you closer to aquatic creature. Get an experience of handcraft making using various indigenous trees. And off course an opportunity to learn about kinship leadership system.
The following are on offer:
• A welcome to Waikizu homestead
• A visit to King homestead/Royal tour
• A visit to Ikizu caves
• A visit to the Mara Art and Handcraft making group
• Wazanaki traditional dancing of your choice
• A visit to a rain maker
• Visit to traditional healer famous for treating carious diseases especially infertility
• Visit to a foot print of our ancestors found at the mid of a big rock
• Visit the ‘O’Mong’we worshiping tree and learn how locals used to conduct their worship
• Trekking up the Chamiriho hill, visit German soldiers hiding caves, graveyards and get a panoramic view of Lake Victoria, Serengeti plains and surrounding human settlement
• Canoeing in safaris in two of the dams found in the area
• Sport fishing in either of the two dams available
• Visit community development projects, local schools and health centers found in the area. See how people are struggling to overcome the big human enemies: Poverty, illiteracy and Disease
• Cotton farm tour: see how people practice cotton farming
• A stay with Wazanaki family to enjoy traditional food and their unique lifestyle

Ikoma Cultural Tourism
Ikoma Cultural Tourism is situated on the western side of Serengeti National Park 90 km from Ikoma gate. Ikoma cultural Tourism exposes visitors the way of life of Ikoma people.
The following are offered to our esteemed visitors;
• Visit to Waikoma bomas
• Visit to Ikoma cultural centre
• Traditional dance of the Ikoma tribe
• Stay with Waikoma family to enjoy traditional food and explore their life style
• Participate in traditional events and ceremonies
• Visit community development project, local schools and health centre’s found in the areas. See how people struggling to overcome the big human enemy disease.
• Farm tour whereby you will see people practicing different forms of agriculture

These are some of the cultural Tourism services offered in Mara, but while you are in Mara you will experience many cultures depending on the area you are!

Kuryas Culture
At western side of Serengeti National Park, 45 km from Ikoma gate, Serengeti cultural tourism exposes visitors to the way of life of the Kurya people. Great landscape with iconic kopjes which are habitat and breeding ground for various mammals species and other wildlife can be explored in different ways that makes you enjoy.
Service Offered
• Visit to wakurya bomas (kuryani culture)
• Biking tour
• Mugumu town tour
• Visit to Manchira marsh
• A visit to Serengeti cultural centre
• Camping at Serengeti cultural centre
• Traditional dancing of your choice among the 4 famous tribal dances around
• Visit traditional healer to learn how people have been treated from memorial times
• Visit community development projects. Local schools and health centers found in area. See how people are struggling to overcome the big human enemies; poverty, illiteracy and diseases
• Farm tour: see how people practice different forms of agriculture
• A stay with wakurya family to enjoy traditional food and unique lifestyle
• Volunteer program

Kurya’s Traditional Courts (Inchama)
Learn how justice is delivered by attending one of the proceedings at a traditional court of Wakurya, the Inchama. Inchama is an elders open air baraza. To date, these baraza are still in practice and they yield much influence to Wakurya communities. Each village will select one of its members to represent them in the Baraza proceedings. Currently the elders would meet once a week, specifically, on Wednesday to discuss issues presented before the baraza and also resolve them in presence of the two or more parties involved. There are lots for the visitors to see at the Inchama.
• Get to learn more about how Wakurya societies handle and solve conflicts.
• Meet Wakurya elders and learn the history and origin of the Wakurya tribe.
• Visit different areas in Tarime and know to get insight of lifestyle of the Wakurya.

Nyamuswa Village
Nyamuswa is located between Bunda and Mugumu and it has an interesting story or myth to tell. It is on the junction of the roads that connect Bunda, Butiama and Mugumu.
In Nyamuswa town there is a carpenters workshop in which batons are made. These batons are similar to that Mwalimu JK Nyerere would almost always carry or stack under his armpit. The carpenters still make these batons in different size and style and they are sold alongside other furniture. Another attraction is about 7 kilometres out of Nyamuswa, there are several things that can be seen and there are a lot of stories and historical attractions. It is best to walk around while visiting the different sites, because they are all in a short walking distance.

One of them is the footprint of Nyawaminza embalmed on a rock known as Ndololezi. The footprint bearer was believed to be the son of Burito, the grandfather of Mwalimu Nyerere. It was said that he was a giant who also possessed magical powers. About 10 feet away from Nyawaminza’s rock there is the Kiasamo seasonal spring. Because of Nyawaminza’s magical powers he was the area traditional healer and the spring was where he would perform cleansing rituals.
It is said that Nyawaminza might have died over a hundred years ago. A short walk from the stone lays his grave, and on top of the grave there is a large grinding stone. Next to the grave there is another stone that he used to carry and he used it as his chair or ekitumbi in Kizanaki. Because of his huge size, Nyawaminza could not fi t in normal chairs available in the village. Walking further, there is another pile of rocks known as Chawamungi. From Chawamungi you can get a clear view of all the villages in the neighbourhood.
During the war, the rock piles were used as an observation point or rather view point The traditional enemies to Waikizu, were the Maasai and the Wakurya, both of them notorious for cattle rustling. The view point is also known as Nyawaminza’s binoculars. The first ruler (chief ) of the area was Nyakinywa who was of the Wasukuma origin from Bariadi. She had also rain making powers.The rain-maker woman, lived alone with her two daughters.
The woman was later married to Mriho, was believed to be a Kisii from Kenya. Chamriho Hill (Mriho’s hill), believed to the highest peak in Mara, is named after the Kenyan man who married the village ruler. Mriho, also posed some magical powers that enabled him to (light) make fire by using two sticks. It is said, however, that during their cohabitation the tricky ruler, managed to learn the science of making fire without the knowledge of her husband. There are also a number of natural herbs available which Mriho and his wife used as medicine, apparently the herbs are still available in Nyamuswa to date. Take a walk in Nyamuswa and feel the insight of the area residents and their living culture.

Serengeti Arts Group
The Serengeti Arts Group is one of the few curio shops available in Mara Region. It is located in the middle of Mugumu town. They are engaged in making beads on fabrics and clothing. They also make necklaces in various styles to suit diversified tastes. Visitors can purchase some of these beads, necklaces, batik and baskets as souvenirs.

Serengeti Cultural Tourism Festival
There is Serengeti Cultural Tourism Enterprise which coordinates the annual event known as Serengeti Cultural Tourism Festival.It is a three days event and the tribes participating include the Wakuria, Wazanaki, Waikizu,Waikoma and Wajita.Some activities at the centre, include:
• Tour in and around the cultural centre.
• Enjoy traditional dances performed by local dancers.
• Undertake some bike tours in and around the centre

At Mara any destination you go, you will witness the culture of native tribe depending on the area you are.
Click here to learn basic tribal words, which you will encounter while in Mara.