The vast continent was the birthplace of the human species between 8 million and 5 million years ago and has a vast rich culture. Today, the vast majority of its inhabitants are of indigenous origin. They speak a vast number of different languages, live in a variety of types of dwellings (huts and rondavels) practice hundreds of religions and engage in a wide range of economic activities. Much of Africa’s cultural activity centres on the family and the ethnic group. Art, music, and oral literature serve to reinforce existing religious and social patterns. Here are the top 4 tribes you can visit on your African adventure with Acacia Africa.
Maasai – Kenya
Perhaps the most recognisable of East Africa’s tribes, the Maasai (or Masai or Masaai) are a semi-nomadic tribe in southern Kenya & Tanzania. Although they have their own language, Maa, most can speak both English and Swahili as well. With their pierced, stretched earlobes, ornamental bead-work & vivid, brightly coloured attire, the image of the Maasai warrior watching over his herd is a postcard memory of East Africa.
Visit the Maasai tribes in Kenya or Tanzania on one of our Camping or Accommodated Overland adventures
Image by: Michelle Lewis
Himba – Namibia
Inhabiting Namibia’s remote northwestern Kunene Region, the Himba are nomadic hunter-gatherers. Living in this harsh and unforgiving landscape not only dictates their movements from waterhole to water hole but has shaped every aspect of their culture. The men tend to the flocks & are responsible for slaughtering when the times comes while the women tend to do most of the labour intensive work – building houses, milking the goats & cattle, collecting water, raising children. They rub their bodies with red ochre and fat to protect them from the harsh desert climate, creating a beautiful & dramatic change in skin colour. Coupled with their beautiful and intricate jewellery from iron and shell beads, these women, in this landscape, are a photographers dream. Hop on one of our Namibian adventure tours and take a glimpse of this magnificent tribe north of Namibia.
San Bushman – Botswana (Namibia,Angola,Zambia,Zimbabwe )
San, or Bushmen , is really a collective description of various indigenous hunter-gatherer tribes, stretching from the last remaining San in South Africa, throughout Southern Africa to the Okavango Delta. Their language & traditions vary greatly although the similarities in cultural kinship & genetics are striking.
The San are one of fourteen known extant “ancestral population clusters” from which all known modern humans descend & one of the oldest
Colonisation has been the biggest threat to these peoples as land redistribution & restrictions on movement had caused their numbers to dwindle. Today they live in small pockets, mostly around the Mkgadikgadi pans and in areas of western Botswana for centuries. Soak in the beauty of this ancient tribe on our overland tours
Zulu – South Africa (Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique)
The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa & although the modern descendent of the famous Cetshwayo & Shaka Kings now live throughout South Africa, their language – recognised as one of the official languages of the country – culture & traditions are still commonly used & practised.
They have played an important role in South Africa’s history, from the infamous battle won over the British in 1879 to the creation of the African National Congress and Inkatha YeSizwe which were instrumental in ending apartheid. Visit a Zulu village and learn about the culture on one of our South African adventure tours.
Image by: Michelle Lewis