I just got back from Africa. It was life changing to see the migration of nearly two million wildebeests and zebra, with a surrounding cast of gazelles, impalas, stenboks, ostriches, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, hippos, rhinos, Cape buffalo, etc., and 530 varieties if migrating birds. All being carefully watched by lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, vultures and others who feast off the old, injured, and newborn.
In the middle of all this, dotting the landscape in their brilliant red robes, are the Maasai herding their flocks from waterhole to waterhole. A nomadic warrior culture, they live in "bomas" - huts of sticks, mud and dung with no power, water or sewer. They claim to be the last remnant of the Roman Empire, living exactly the same as they did then. One of the most primitive cultures, they drink cows' blood along with milk; a food staple is maize. With multiple wives, a man's wealth is measured by the size of their herd - goats, cows, sheep, even camels.
They are everywhere on the endless plains. We would four-wheel for days, encountering them hours from even a dirt road. You'd think they would be in danger, but the lions all know not to mess with the boys in red. Each carries a long spear, with a dagger at his waist - a herdsman, but also a trained warrior. Watching them, you realize that you are looking at man and nature as it was long ago - they call the Serengeti the "Last Eden".
But then the image is shattered as the Maasai herder pulls out the latest smart phone to text in Swahili, "Just lost another goat to cheetah. Damn, they are fast."
The government has not built roads, power, water, sewer - but they do have cell towers piling up charges!