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4 days - Maasai wedding and Tarangire

A Maasai wedding, the Maasai dance and Tarangire’s elephants

Four days for two built around a traditional Maasai wedding, with pre-wedding traditions, a wedding day with the Maasai community and a safari in Tarangire before the flight back to Zanzibar.

1 Country
2 Stops
3 Nights
Luxury Service level
  • The storyThe headline tells the journey in a few lines, one after another.
  • At a glanceThe figures beneath it are the essential facts of the trip.
  • The legsRead the images left to right: each panel is one leg, in the order you travel it, and each is set out in full below.

The journey

When to go

Maasai wedding, Arusha
Tarangire game viewing
Maasai wedding, Arusha Tarangire game viewing Avoid
February Primary window

One of the driest, warmest months of the year around Arusha, with clear mornings for the early start on the wedding day. Tarangire is green, and game is spread out.

Warm and dry

The route

Arusha Tarangire
01

Arusha and the Maasai wedding

A flight from Zanzibar, the pre-wedding traditions and the ceremony with the Maasai community.

Flight from ZNZ to ARK: 08:00 – 09:15. You are met at Arusha Airport and driven to Africa Amini Maasai Lodge, where the celebrations begin as soon as you arrive.

The day before the wedding. Maasai tradition keeps the couple apart on the day before the ceremony, so each of you has your own part to play.

  • The bride’s day. Maasai women escort the bride to a nearby village, where she stays in her own boma. They teach her the customs of married life and guide her through the rites of womanhood at the Maasai Kitchen Party, preparing her for her new role as a wife and mother.
  • The groom’s day. The groom spends the day with Maasai warriors and talks with an elder, who shares his wisdom on family life. Later there is a short ceremony at the Maasai home, and he rests for the night before the wedding. In the morning he returns to his own house to prepare for the big day.

The ceremony begins at 6:00 am. The groom and several Maasai men make their way to the bride’s house in a lively procession that lasts for hours, singing traditional songs as other members of the community join to greet him.

When the groom reaches the bride’s house he presents her with a wedding gift, and the celebration begins with traditional dances. The morning closes with a small tea party for family and friends.

Before you are married, the Maasai elders bless you in a sacred ritual. The groom calls out his bride’s name, a mark of respect for life and of her passage into wifehood. From then on she is addressed by her first name only.

In the afternoon the newlyweds take part in a spear-throwing competition, and as the sun sets you join the Maasai wedding dance.

The day ends with a bush barbecue dinner at 7:00 pm, shared with family and close friends from the Maasai community. The parents of the bride and groom bless the couple and wrap them in Maasai blankets for good luck, and the ceremony comes to a close.

02

Tarangire National Park

A night at Nyikani Tarangire Camp, a safari among the elephants and the flight back to Zanzibar.

After breakfast you set out for Tarangire National Park, passing Maasai settlements on the way and seeing everyday life in the villages.

The winding Tarangire River draws a wide variety of wildlife, including large herds of elephants. You drive through the park’s varied landscapes, with the chance to find predators at the watering holes.

At the end of the safari you return to camp for a restful evening.

Overnight: Nyikani Tarangire Camp, full board.

Spend another half day in Tarangire National Park. After an early lunch your safari guide drives you to Arusha Airport (ARK) for your flight to Zanzibar.

Flight from ARK to ZNZ: 16:45 – 18:00.

The detail

About this trip

A traditional Maasai wedding for two, held with the Maasai community near Arusha. You prepare apart on the day before, as Maasai custom asks, and on the wedding day you take part in the processions, blessings, songs and dances that carry the ceremony from the first light of morning to the bush barbecue at night.

Mount Kilimanjaro forms the backdrop. Afterwards you spend a night at Nyikani Tarangire Camp and a morning in Tarangire National Park, known for its elephants, before the flight back to Zanzibar.

What is included

  • Traditional Maasai wedding – marry in a traditional Maasai ritual.
  • Cultural experience – join in the pre-wedding rites and local customs.
  • Traditional attire – wear authentic Maasai dress and jewellery.
  • Kilimanjaro views – a mountain backdrop for your vows.
  • Boma setting – celebrate in a traditional Maasai homestead.
  • Festive dances – enjoy local songs, dances and community celebration.
  • Wedding gifts – receive Maasai keepsakes and sparkling wine.

What is not included

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for a Maasai wedding?
February and June to October score highest for the wedding day, with dry weather and cool mornings for the 6:00 am start. June to October is also best for Tarangire’s elephants along the river. April is the wettest month, with wet ground at the boma, and May still has cloud and showers.
What happens on the day before the wedding?
Maasai tradition keeps the couple apart. The bride is escorted by Maasai women to a nearby village, where she stays in her own boma and learns the customs of married life. The groom spends the day with Maasai warriors and talks with an elder, then rests for the night before the wedding.
What should we wear and expect on the wedding day?
You are dressed in traditional Maasai attire for the ceremony. Bring comfortable clothes and closed shoes for rough ground, a layer for the cool early morning and a hat for the afternoon sun. The day starts at 6:00 am and runs into the evening, ending with a bush barbecue dinner.
Can the Maasai wedding trip be built around our date?
It is a starting point that we tailor. The ceremony runs over two days with the Maasai community, so we settle your wedding date first and build the flights and the rest of the trip around it. Flight times are confirmed in your proposal.
Can you combine more than one country in a single trip?
Yes. Many of our journeys cross borders, for example Botswana with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or Cape Town with a safari and the Falls. Tell us the places you have in mind through the enquiry form and we will plan the route and transfers as one itinerary.
What meals are included on safari?
Meals depend on the camp or lodge and are set out in your itinerary. On safari they are usually taken at camp, with a picnic or packed meal on some days. Tell us about any dietary needs when you enquire.
Do I need vaccinations or medication before an African safari?
Health requirements depend on where you are travelling from and where you are going, and they change. Check your country's official travel health advice or TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk), and see a travel clinic well before you depart. Ask about malaria prevention early.
What should I pack for an African safari?
Lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your arms and legs helps against sun and insects, in neutral colours. Bring comfortable closed shoes (boots if you will walk), a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Your itinerary lists any luggage limits for charter flights.
How do I stay safe on safari?
Your guides brief you on how to behave around wildlife. Follow their instructions, stay in the vehicle or camp area as told, and never approach or disturb animals. Conditions differ by country and change over time, so check your government's current travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
What is a typical day on safari?
A safari day usually has an early game drive, time to rest at camp in the heat of the day, and an afternoon activity before sundowners and dinner. Some camps add walks, boat trips or cultural visits. Your itinerary sets out the plan for each day.

On this trip

Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.

Bride and groom walking between lines of Maasai men in red robes and beaded collars
traditional Maasai wedding
traditional Maasai wedding
traditional Maasai wedding
traditional Maasai wedding
traditional Maasai wedding
traditional Maasai wedding

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Field notes

The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.

A ceremony led by the community

The wedding follows Maasai custom and your hosts set the pace. The day starts at 6:00 am and runs into the evening, so expect a long, lively day on your feet.

Apart on the eve

Maasai tradition keeps the couple apart on the day before the wedding. You will not spend that day together, so plan any private moments for the days after.

What to wear

You are dressed in traditional Maasai attire for the ceremony. Underneath, bring comfortable clothes and closed shoes for walking on rough ground, a layer for the cool early morning and a hat for the afternoon sun.

Photography and people

Always ask before photographing individuals, and respect any request not to be photographed. Your guide will tell you what suits at each stage of the ceremony.

Tarangire in the morning

Your safari guide sets the pace in Tarangire. Bring binoculars, neutral-coloured clothing, sunscreen and a scarf for the dust, and remember that some sightings cannot be promised.

Tipping

Tipping is customary for guides and lodge staff. Ask us for current guidance before you travel, and carry small notes.

Plan this journey

Make this trip your own

Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.

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