Fotograaf Jimmy Nelson met Charlie’s Travels in Kenia

Jimmy Nelson and the Maasai

“It was a dream week, in the Christmas period and we disappeared into the Kenyan landscape with the Maasai in a very unusual way. We walked through different climates over hills, through jungles, across deserts and up mountains and ended with this panoramic epic view of the Magadi desert. The weather was perfect. It was sunny all day. Everything was organized perfectly. The Maasai who we walked with were the kindest, sweetest people you can ever imagine. This was all organized so well by Charlie.”

“There are a fewer people on the planet who are better connected with their environment and culture. Kenya is becoming modern. It’s not hiding from the past at all. The Maasai are one of the few tribes on the planet who are managing to find – I think – quite a beautiful balance with evolving out of their past and moving into our future. They are using modern technology, some have smartphones, some are on motorbikes. Every evening they sit down, they reconnect with the soil, they light fires and they sing and dance under the stars. They tell stories, they hold us, protect us, cook for us they laugh with us. There’s not one element of threat, not one element of intimidation other than kindness. At the end of the day everything is packed and of we go on another modern journey. There is a very beautiful balance of the old and new world.”