Just outside the Masai Mara National Reserve is a Maasai community called Mara Rianda. There is a cultural homestead or Manyatta which consists of 48 traditional houses surrounding a cattle enclosure. The Maasai community welcomes guests who would like to visit the manyatta and see a tribal way of life that has remained quite unchanged for centuries. Visitors are always struck by the grace and beauty of the Masai people, and the colourful lifestyle they lead. There is also a bustling curio market where guests can buy Maasai beaded wares.
- Entrance fee
In order to visit the Manyatta guests must pay for an entrance ticket. This money is extremely important to the community as it helps the community members to buy food, pay for secondary school for their children, and pay for cows, the mainstay of the Maasai economy. During times of drought when their cattle suffer, the money earned from tourism helps the community to stay on their feet. Overall this revenue supports 98 different families comprising 300 individuals. If you would like to visit the manyatta, this can be arranged with the camp manager.