If they really wanted to go off they should have this taking place in an African kingdom. Pyramids were familiar, hairstyle similar. Warriors going out to kill the largest predators they could find to prove their manhood.
fukk it. Let it be a ritual that every 100 yrs the hunt begins. The strongest bravest warriors try to kill a god (predator). The predators send their young warriors down as a test of worthiness. May the strongest smartest tribe survive. That would be fire. See some Zulu Fulani or mandika warriors going hard.