This was the most intense travel experience of my life! Bull jumping is a centuries-old coming of age ceremony that only happens a few times per year. It not only symbolizes the transition from boyhood to manhood, but more importantly, signifies becoming a committed member of the family and their society. By jumping over the backs of cattle, the boy’s bravery and courage are put to the test. If he is successful, he has proven that he is ready to build his own family. Conquering fear is a valuable lesson that the Hamer tribe believes every man must do in order to be trusted to protect his family, their land and their traditions.
One of the main purposes of travel is to experience the lives of people with different viewpoints from your own in order to gain new perspectives of how fellow humans do this thing we call life. These experiences may either challenge or reinforce your existing viewpoint and what I can say for certain is that I will never forget what I experienced living with the Hamer tribe for 24 hours.