The European people colonised the world and exploited it to accumulate wealth. However, some Europeans, like Jim Corbett, realised the adverse impact of all the industrialisation on the environment and worked towards undoing the damage. Lest the coming generations get deprived of nature’s bounties, areas were demarcated all over the world where wild animals would be allowed to live in their natural habitat. Kenya was one such British colony, from 1888 to 1962. In 1961, an area of 520 square kilometres was recognised as a wildlife sanctuary. Soon it was extended as a game reserve of 1821 square km, managed by the Narok County Council. Kenya received independence in 1963 and realised that tourism could be a primary source of revenue. Hence, in 1974 Masai Mara was declared a National Game Reserve. However, there were repeated outcries from the displaced tribes and about 320 square kilometres were returned to them in 1976. In 1994, the TransMara County Council took control of the western part of Masai Mara. In 2001, the Mara Conservancy took over the Mara Triangle. In 2011, when a road was getting constructed through the park, there was a global outcry leading to work getting stalled till now.

The Masai people sing songs in a chorus, and the lead singer is called Olaranyani. Their dance involves the participants forming a circle, getting in the centre and then jumping high. The coming of age of a boy is celebrated in the Eunoto ceremony. They pierce and stretch their earlobes with the help of thorns and twigs. They remove deciduous canine tooth buds of small children in the belief that it would protect them from troubles like diarrhoea and vomiting. The locals consume raw milk, meat and blood of cattle. Masai people construct houses with timber poles interwoven with smaller branches and plastered with a mix of mud, cow dung, sticks, ash, grass and human urine. They dispose of their dead bodies by feeding to the vultures. Burying is thought to contaminate the soil. A dead body uneaten by scavengers is considered a bad omen and efforts are made to lure the vultures to eat it by soaking the body with blood and fat from a slaughtered ox.