Bar Mitzvah

For an exhilarating and life-changing Bar Mitzvah why not travel to the Masai Mara and experience something special teaching the young man about the coming of age in the Maasai tradition and what it takes to be a Masai warrior.  

Families staying at Angama Mara celebrate by exposing their children to what young Maasai men and women undertake on their journey into adulthood.  Being in the heart of Maasailand means Angama Mara guests have the opportunity to learn more about how this significant milestone is celebrated in a completely different culture from their own, all the while sharing experiences and learning from one another.

The experiences detailed below can be adapted to specific family requirements.

Starting the morning with an early wilderness walk, the Bar Mitzvah celebrant will be accompanied by a Maasai naturalist who will share his stories about becoming a Maasai warrior. While exploring Maasailand, he will be taught the traditional skills of spear and rungu (wooden club) throwing.

After breakfast, the young man will spend some contemplative time with a Maasai elder in our manyatta (traditional homestead) where they will discuss what it means to come of age in the Maasai culture. 

The day’s events come to celebratory close with the family gathering in the sundowner boma overlooking the Great Rift Valley, where the young man will be taught how to jump like a Maasai warrior. The occasion will be commemorated with a Maasai blessing and the presentation of a yarmulke beaded by local women...