Olchani's story
The birth of the project
Fascinated by these authentic people and their magnificent wilderness, I decided to make a radical change in my life, leaving Reunion Island and moving to the Maasai Mara (Kenya) to live with the Maasai community in the heart of the wilderness in 2017.
Living with the Maasai, I discovered the richness of their culture, the special bond they embody with nature, their ability to live in the moment, and the joy that naturally emanates from them. I became rooted in a world where sharing and mutual aid are the foundations of human exchanges. I created Olchani to share this discovery and help you experience the magic of this other world.
What does Olchani mean ?
Olchani means tree and medicine in the Maasai language. For this people, it provides medicine for body and soul. It is the bridge between heaven and earth, linking the world of humans with that of spirits, ancestors and their God.
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To accompany you on an immersive, respectful and safe journey, we’ve put together a team of Maasai guides and warriors. More than a team, it’s a real family of friends who are as much the driving force behind this fabulous project as I am.
Our mission and vision
Helping root peoples like the Maasai protects our ability to connect respectfully with the planet. They have preserved their ancestral knowledge, maintaining a strong link with nature. Our planet is currently going through a decisive turning point, and it is urgent to protect this knowledge for future generations.
My life among them has shown me the difficulties that their new sedentary lifestyle imposes. The end of nomadism and the fragmentation of land means that they are no longer able to provide for their herds, making it difficult to access the water and grazing land they need to survive.
Alongside my travels, the need to help the community that welcomed me emerged. For this reason, I created the Olchani Maasai Community association, to which I donate part of the cost of the trip.
The following text reflects the spirit in which this association came into being and how I’d like to see it flourish:
We all dream of returning home to a place we’ve never been, a place half-imagined, half-remembered, that eludes us most of the time. This place is the community.
Somewhere, there are people we can talk to without the words choking in our throats. Somewhere, arms reach out to welcome us, eyes light up when they see us, voices celebrate our personal power. Community is a collective force that joins with our own to accomplish what must be accomplished.
Arms that support us when we falter. A circle of friends. A place where we can be free.
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
The organization
