Loading
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Facebook
  • English Website english
  • Deutschsprachige Website deutsch
safari@tanzania-experts.com +49 176 669 969 41
Tanzania Experts
  • Safariin Tanzania
    • The 3 Safari Circuits
    • 5 Days Safari Express
    • 9 Days Safari Classic
    • 12 Days Northern Circuit Safari
    • 14 Days Southern Circuit Safari
    • 16 Days Safari and Zanzibar
    • Day Trips in Tanzania →
      • Arusha Waterfalls Day Trip
      • Kilimanjaro National Park Hike
      • Marangu Village Kilimanjaro Cultural Tour
      • Maji Moto Chemka Hot Springs
      • Jozani Forest Day Trip
      • Zanzibar Stone Town Tour
      • Zanzibar Spice Tour
  • BeachZanzibar Holiday
    • Zanzibar Archipelago
    • Mafia Island
    • Tanzania Mainland Coast
  • MountainKilimanjaro & Meru
    • Mount Kilimanjaro Routes
    • Kilimanjaro Travel Guide
    • 6 Days Kilimanjaro Machame
    • 5 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu
    • 6 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho
    • 6 Days Kilimanjaro Rongai
    • 6 Days Kilimanjaro Shira
    • 5 Days Kilimanjaro Umbwe
    • 4 Days Mount Meru
  • TravelInformation
    • National Parks and Conservation Areas →
      • Arusha National Park
      • Kilimanjaro National Park
      • Lake Eyasi
      • Lake Manyara National Park
      • Lake Natron
      • Mikumi National Park
      • Ngorongoro Conservation Area
      • Ruaha National Park
      • Selous Game Reserve
      • Serengeti National Park
      • Tarangire National Park
      • Udzungwa Mountains National Park
    • Hotels and Lodges →
      • Accommodations Arusha
      • Bagamoyo
      • Dar es Salaam
      • Lake Eyasi
      • Lake Manyara
      • Lake Natron
      • Mafia Island
      • Ngorongoro
      • Pangani
      • Pemba Island
      • Zanzibar North
      • Zanzibar North-East
      • Zanzibar South-East
      • Zanzibar West
      • Serengeti
      • Tarangire
    • Information about Tanzania
    • The Great Migration in Tanzania
    • The Big Five in Tanzania
    • Travel Preparation Tanzania
  • F.A.Q.frequently asked
  • AboutTanzania Experts
    • Why travel with us?
    • Tanzania Experts Blog
    • Reviews on Tripadvisor
    • Reviews on Holidaycheck
    • Terms and Conditions
  • contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
  • contact
  • Safari
    in Tanzania
    • The 3 Safari Circuits
    • 5 Days Safari Express
    • 9 Days Safari Classic
    • 12 Days Northern Circuit Safari
    • 14 Days Southern Circuit Safari
    • 16 Days Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar
    • Day Trips in Tanzania
  • Beach
    Zanzibar Holiday
    • Zanzibar Archipelago
    • Mafia Island
    • Tanzania Mainland Coast
  • Mountain
    Kilimanjaro & Meru
    • Mount Kilimanjaro Routes
    • Kilimanjaro Travel Guide
    • 6 Days Trekking Tour Kilimanjaro Machame Route
    • 5 Days Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route
    • 6 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Tour Lemosho
    • 6 Days Trekking Tour Mount Kilimanjaro Rongai Route
    • 6 Days Kilimanjaro Tour Shira Route
    • 5 Days Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route
    • 4 Days Mount Meru Trekking Tour
  • Travel
    Information
    • Tanzania National Parks and Conservation Areas
    • Hotels and Lodges in Tanzania
    • Information about Tanzania
    • The Great Migration in Tanzania
    • The Big Five in Tanzania
    • Travel Preparation Tanzania
  • F.A.Q.
    frequently asked
  • About
    Tanzania Experts
    • Why Travel with us?
    • Tanzania Experts Blog
    • Reviews on Holidaycheck
    • Reviews on Tripadvisor
    • Terms and Conditions
  • contact
You are here: Home1 / Tanzania Experts Blog2 / Safari Blog3 / The Calabash – a very versatile plant
  • A decorated Maasai calabash with leather lid

The Calabash – a very versatile plant

An exceptionally beautiful calabash with traditional motifs from the city of Loliondo
A man from Congo drinks water from a traditional calabash
A collection of large calabash fruits from Tanzania
A selection of smaller calabash fruits
Bowls and spoons made from calabash fruit

The calabash plant (Lagenaria siceraria) is a fruit-bearing bottle gourd that is common in the Americas, Asia and Africa. The plant is known for its distinctive, large, gourd-like fruits that can grow up to 3 feet long. The fruit has a hard, durable skin that can be used for a variety of purposes, making the calabash plant a versatile and valuable resource.

Uses

One of the most common uses of the calabash fruit is as a container. The husk is naturally waterproof, allowing it to hold liquids without leaking. Humans cultivated the fruit as a drinking vessel for centuries, especially in rural areas where other bottles were not readily available. The calabash can be found in kitchens as well, as a cooking pot or as a storage location for crops and herbs.

In addition to its practical advantages, some tribes use the calabash for ornamental purposes. The large, showy fruit can be used as a decorative element in homes, gardens and other public spaces. The skin of the fruit can also be carved and painted to create intricate patterns and in the manufacture of traditional musical instruments such as maracas.

The calabash plant is also known for its medicinal properties. In traditional medicine, the seeds are used to treat a number of ailments, including headaches, fever, and digestive problems. The plant is also believed to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it a handy tool in the treatment of various ailments.

Calabashes in Maasai culture

The calabash plant holds a special place in the culture of the Maasai, an indigenous tribe from Tanzania and Kenya. For the Maasai, the calabash is more than a fruit-bearing plant – it is a symbol of tradition and cultural heritage.

One of the most important role of the calabash in Maasai culture is as a milk container. The calabash fruit is used to store excess milk from ng’ombe (cattle), which is an integral part of their diet and economy. The use of calabash containers for milk is so important that it is sometimes symbolic of Maasai wealth and prosperity. The plant is considered sacred and is said to have spiritual properties that protect the tribe and bring good luck. In traditional Maasai ceremonies, milk offered to the gods as a sign of respect and gratitude is kept in calabash vessels.

The calabash plant is also used to make traditional Maasai jewelry. The shells of the fruit are carved and decorated to create intricate patterns that are then made into bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry. The calabash is a popular material for jewelry making because of its natural beauty and durability.

Conclusion

The calabash plant is a versatile and valuable resource with different applications ranging from containers to decorative purposes and traditional medicine. Its hardy and long-lasting fruits make it a useful and sustainable tool for many different uses to this day. If you are interested in a calabash as an unusual souvenir, it is recommended to visit a local Maasai market. Please ask your safari guide.

Karibu Tanzania

© Fotos: Tanzania Experts, Nick Hobgood (Wikimedia), Rik Schuiling (Wikimedia), 松岡明芳 (Wikimedia)

An intricately carved and painted calabash fruit from BoliviaAn intricately carved and painted calabash fruit from Bolivia
An intricately carved and painted calabash fruit from Bolivia
An intricately carved and painted calabash fruit from Bolivia
Decorative calabash fruits for sale in China
Decorative calabash fruits for sale in China
This calabash was purchased by one of our safari guests near Klein's Gate (Serengeti National Park).
This calabash was purchased by one of our safari guests near Klein's Gate (Serengeti National Park).
A decorated calabash leather cover
A decorated calabash leather cover
1 reply
  1. veola says:
    July 9, 2023 at 03:40

    I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I
    thought this post was good. I do not know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!

Comments are closed.

  • A man from Congo drinks water from a traditional calabash
    The Calabash – a very versatile plantFebruary 8, 2023 - 12:22
  • A group of elephants in the endless plains of the Serengeti
    An amazing Safari in Tanzania – Safari experience reportOctober 28, 2022 - 10:48
  • Simply the best Pilau in Arusha, served with extra spinach beans potato and chili sauce
    Swahili Food from a local Arusha RestaurantJuly 10, 2022 - 10:13
  • Screenshot Tanzanian Shilling exchange rate xe.com
    The day the value of the Tanzanian Shilling dropped by 10%June 11, 2022 - 09:17
  • The Serengeti Needs You
    Serengeti Safari One Day at a Time – Tanzania Safari Video Youtube seriesMay 30, 2022 - 14:26
  • Safe Travels Tanzania
    Corona Virus (COVID-19) in Tanzania #2March 10, 2022 - 12:28
  • Safari Lager with new and old label design
    A tasting of the most important beers in Tanzania:December 21, 2021 - 14:31
  • Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan
    Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn in as new President of TanzaniaMarch 20, 2021 - 12:45
Search Search

Instagram:

Tanzania Experts

tanzania_experts

#serengeti #endlessplanes #safari #tanzania #Great #serengeti #endlessplanes #safari #tanzania #GreatMigration #africanbuffalo #giraffe #impala #wildebeest
#swahilifood #arusha #pilau #swahilifood #arusha #pilau
#zanzibar #tanzaniasafari #holidayintanzania #holi #zanzibar #tanzaniasafari #holidayintanzania #holiday #africa #sansibar #spiceisland #safari #tanzaniaexperts #urlaub #milelevillas #milelevillaszanzibar
#roadtrip #tanzania #safari #tanzaniaexperts #sa #roadtrip  #tanzania #safari #tanzaniaexperts  #safaritanzania
#zanzibar #safariexperience #safari #safariadventu #zanzibar #safariexperience #safari #safariadventure #tanzaniaexperts #safaritanzania #indianocean #islandlife
#safari #safariadventure #tanzaniaexperts #ngorong #safari #safariadventure #tanzaniaexperts #ngorongoro #safaritanzania #ngorongorocrater #tanzania
#sleepinglion #ngorongorocrater #safari #holidays #sleepinglion #ngorongorocrater #safari #holidays #tanzania
#elephant #serengeti #kopjes #serengeti_national_p #elephant #serengeti #kopjes #serengeti_national_park #kaributanzania🇹🇿 #tanzania
Load More Follow on Instagram
Tanzania Experts on TripAdvisor

+49 (0) 156 783 91 703

+255 (0) 684 440 189

+49 176 669 969 41
(WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram)

safari@tanzania-experts.com

Useful Links

E-Visa Service Tansania

List of diplomatic missions of Tanzania

Travel Advisory U.S. Department of State

Tanzania Tourist Board

Association of Tour Operators

Killimanjaro International Airport

AMREF Flying Doctors

Air Tanzania

Why Tanzania Experts

Excellent Safari and Mountain Guides

Exclusive booking conditions with the best lodges

Specially converted luxury 4×4 Safari vehicles

Private tailor-made Safari itineraries with great value

Expert travel and Safari advice directly from Tanzania

Intimate knowledge of Safari operations in Tanzania

Detailed Safari programs with extensive description

Easy and secure payment to EU-bank account possible

©2024 Tanzania Experts | All Rights Reserved
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Facebook
  • Imprint
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Blog
  • Search
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top