We’ve met in these most pure and peaceful circumstances in which I was more than curious to the life of the Maasai tribe.

While being a volunteer and tourist for a safari, I got to know the Maasai people whom I only saw in programs on television like National Geographic. My father was always interested in nature and tribes, so I guess I have inherited those genes. And I love them!

So who is writing this introduction?

My name is Yvette Boltze and I am the co-founder and administrative safari manager. I operate from The Netherlands and work together with my friend and companion Wilson Ole Rinka. He is a Maasai and lives in Maasai Mara in Kenya.

Co-founder and administrative safari manager

My journey towards Warrior of Life started when I was volunteering in a children’s home in Thika, about 50 km away from Nairobi. It was November 2009. I went to Maasai Mara as one of the highlights of my travel. Since then I have always been interested in the Maasai life. One of the Maasai warriors, who was working in the camp where I stayed, became my boyfriend from 2011 till 2013. Now we’re still best friends and he has gone through a wonderful personal development. Luckily he still sticks to his culture of which he is very proud. And me too. It is a very precious tribe which should never vanish. But unfortunately, I am afraid it will…

In the meantime I have set up my own charity organization in The Netherlands and Kenya which is supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Thika. Some come out of the slums of Nairobi and some are deserted or abused. I felt the need to do something for them to help them getting a better future. As a result of that feeling, I founded ” Kumbatio” which means ’embrace’. The home where they stay is called Kiota, which means ‘nest’. It symbolizes offering the care for children, the love and (basic) needs together with education to fly out once they’re ready for building their own life on the foundation we gave them. 

When booking a safari through Warrior of Life, you also support these children. 

Co-founder and operational manager

I am Wilson Ole Rinka, a Maasai and met Yvette in 2009. We got together just by our connection of our souls, because we were not able to communicate next to some words. Yvette gave me the opportunity to read and write, learn English and some book keeping. We grew together and were a couple for 2,5 years. We’re still very good friends of which I am very happy! I have lived in Maasai Mara most of my life, but became a housefather for 4 years in Kiota. I’ve learned a lot about modern life in Kenya, but choose to return to Maasai Mara in 2016.

Along the years we came up with the idea of being a (social) entrepeneur. This had to do with Yvette’s love for her organization and Maasai Mara. For me it was the longing to go to the next level in my life and the eagerness of wanting to share my culture with others and hope they see how we are connected to nature. Nature is our life. It offers food, medicines, tools against wild dangerous animals, houses, fire and water. Nature is so important.

After Yvette had been going through quite some difficult times of which loosing her parents had a huge impact on her, she knew she had to follow her heart. This heart is longing for connection with people and nature living in peace. Cherish our planet, our earth. In Maasai Mara she found that connection while I’ve explained and showed her a lot about our culture. In The Netherlands she finds that connection through her ideas of writing, photographing nature and doing family therapy. Amidst the Western rush and stress she tries to get more peace through yoga and withdrawing now and then from that stressful life. That is why we offer yoga and meditation as well if you book a safari. 

The birth of Warrior of Life

The main theme in the last 20 years of Yvette’s life together with the eagerness of Wilson to start something around the things written above, made them see something they love to work on together. For Wilson it is sharing his pride of being a Maasai and being a wonderful guide and manager. For Yvette it is sharing her values of human life and nature with the rest of the world. Wilson was a warrior (moran) when he was young wereby you go through the rituals that lead towards manhood; Yvette knows how to fight for life.

This all came together in the name: WARRIOR OF LIFE! With the slogan: Your journey is worth everything! (Or Life is worth to fight for!)