The Best $6 I Ever Spent

Maasai Blanket

I’m not a big shopper. Sure, I get into shopping moods where I like to wander around a market or in a mall, but rarely do I go home truly happy with a purchase. Most times I go home and spend the next week regretting purchases and debating about humiliating myself by returning them. Yes, I am one of those annoying shoppers!

During my trip with Intrepid Travel from Kenya to Cape Town, I was eager to buy a couple of souvenirs, so when a few people from our group decided to check out the markets outside our camp in Mto Wu Mbo, I joined. Most of us split up, but my tentie Sarah and I walked along the market together, looking for some fun souvenirs. When we passed some of the others from our group, who were adorned with new Maasai blankets. I knew I wanted one. Tanzania is cold in July. Well, at night is can get kind of cold. I wanted a blanket that I could use in my tent at night, as well as when I was sitting outside eating dinner. So, Sarah and I made our way to the shop where the rest of the group bought their blankets.

The bartering took only a few minutes. We knew the others had paid 10,000 Tanzanian Schillings ($6 USD) for their blankets, and there was no way that we were going to pay more than them. The shop keeper was vigilant, but we eventually wore him down and got the blankets for the price we wanted. Score!

I’ve owned my Maasai blanket for almost 3 months now (wow, was it really almost 3 months ago?!) and I can honestly say, it is the BEST $6 I have ever spent. Seriously.

How I’ve Used My $6 Maasai Blanket

I thought it would be fun to list some of the ways I’ve used this blanket since I bought it. I know it may not be THAT interesting, but I’m honestly amazed with how useful this blanket has been.

• On chilly nights I would spread the blanket over me before getting into my sleeping bag and I’d be super warm -until Hwange. It’s bloody cold there!
• I’ve used it as a pillow on planes.
• I slept with it on the floor of the Toronto airport.
• I kept myself warm on chilly buses.
• I’ve used it as a towel (the blanket dries really fast. It’s quite impressive).
• On warm nights I sleep ontop of the covers with just the blanket and I’m warm enough, but not too hot.
• It’s been a towel at the beach/pool.