Why Kenya’s Maasai and Samburu are gathering in Amboseli

Just a few metres from the Kimana Gate of Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, something extraordinary is unfolding. The air is thick with the rhythm of authentic Maasai and Samburu music, while rows of white exhibition tents glimmer softly against the majestic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Third Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival is underway, hosted this year in Amboseli, Kajiado County, on community land that forms a vital transition zone between the Amboseli National Park conservation area and community conservancies.

These adjoining conservancies serve as essential wildlife and livestock corridors, linking Amboseli to the Chyulu Hills, Tsavo, and neighbouring Tanzania, ensuring the free movement of both wild and domestic animals.

“Unajua wanyama wa pori na wanyama wa nyumbani, wote ni wanyama wetu,” says Margaret Ole Stoni, a resident of Mbirikani in Kajiado County,  “You know, wild animals and domestic animals are all our animals.” Her words reflect the deep sense of kinship the Maa people share with nature.

The Maa Festival has grown into a premier international celebration of cultural tourism, showcasing the resilience, heritage, and artistry of the Maasai and Samburu communities. It began in Narok in 2023, moved to Samburu in 2024, and now, in 2025, finds its home in Amboseli, marking a new chapter in Kenya’s cultural calendar.

“Let me say that as we congregate in Kajiado, Amboseli National Park this time to celebrate the third edition of the Maa culture, we are calling this a double celebration because we are celebrating the return of Amboseli,” said Governor Joseph Ole Lenku of Kajiado County, his voice carrying both pride and emotion.

“ I would want to thank His Excellency the President for really making this decision a reality. Returning the Amboseli National Reserve to Ole Kajiado County Government is a big thing. Welcome all Kenyans to Amboseli National Reserve for the celebration of the Maa culture and the Maa Festival,” added Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu of Narok County.

For Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Lelelit, the moment carried historic weight: “This land left the Maasai people until Ruto was elected. It belonged to the National Government of Kenya; nothing belonged to the people of Amboseli. We got one very courageous man.”

This year’s festival theme,  “Promoting Maa Cultural Expression for Socio-Economic Development” , captures the event’s spirit. It underscores that culture is not merely tradition, but a living force that drives tourism, conservation, and community empowerment.

For generations, the Maa people have demonstrated that when culture thrives, conservation follows. From sustainable grazing practices to the protection of sacred landscapes, their ancestral knowledge continues to shape a future where people and nature coexist in harmony.

As the festival enters its third edition, conversations are expected to centre on the economic and tangible benefits for local communities who have dedicated their land to wildlife conservation. The question of fair returns for those who live alongside wildlife,  and often bear the cost of coexistence,  is likely to dominate discussions throughout the three-day celebration in Amboseli.