Moyo Hill Camp – Day 32 – 3/8/11
Breakfast at usual time and then into the cruisers for traveling lecture part three. This time we were headed to a WMA (wildlife management area) on the edge of Tarangire NP. First we drove to a local management office and listened to the chair and secretaries speak about their conservation efforts and some of the problems they have been having. Poaching of course was one of the main issues and they admitted to having 10 elephants poached within the WMA in the last nine months. The WMA has very little income and therefore cannot hire their own game scouts and must make do with community game scouts on bicycles. These three guys patrol the area on rickety bikes wearing old green uniforms against heavily armed and well organized poachers. Its not surprising that they are not successful. Despite their lack of equipment they have kept all the livestock out of the area. This is very noticeable when you cross the line from common grazing land into the WMA. The bushland is suddenly very thick and dense providing numerous sites for bird nesting and shelter for small wildlife that is slowly entering the area. This WMA has only been inexistence for less than ten years so the population of larger animals is small right now but should increase if the area remains protected. We hiked up a small hill to get a great view of Lake Burunge and across to Tarangire NP. From that hill we saw several herds of antelope (we think they were gazelle but we were not clear on which type) and many, many types of birds. Climbing down and getting back in the cruisers we headed to one of the lodges within the WMA. I had ended up in the front of Kioko’s (WE prof) cruiser so I was jammed between him and the WMA guide we had picked up in town. On our way to the lodge our guide and Kioko were talking a lot in Swahili (I understood the random word but mostly had Kioko translate) when suddenly we pulled to a stop and the guide jumped out. He walked over to a bush and picked a handful of the red golf ball (a bit smaller in size-like a large marble) looking fruits before getting back in the car. He passed them out to everyone and Kioko assured us they were ok to eat. Taking him at his word most people popped the whole thing in their mouths and bit down. Kioko had failed to mention (and judging by the grin on his face it was intentional) that you don’t eat the skin (which is really bitter and nasty), just the inside of the fruit. The entire back of the car was retching and making lots of noise while trying to spit the fruit out the window. I was lucky being in the front. Both the guide and Kioko ate the fruit correctly so I was spared the experience. The inside of the fruit tasted like those sour cherry candies. My taste buds were pretty surprised but the change in taste, but it quickly grew on me. I also was determined not to give Kioko the satisfaction of thinking it was gross like everyone else. At the next bush only Kioko, the guide and I ate the fruit and we each ended up with a good handful.
Reaching the lodge most people (from other cruises too) made a beeline for the bathroom to rinse out their mouths before going inside and buying a cold soda. I walked out on the observation deck and had our professors name the many birds we were seeing. We stayed at the lodge for nearly an hour before heading out. We dropped our guide in town and began the almost 2hr drive back to camp. The only interest (besides the wonderful scenery) from the drive were the logs suspended from big tree branches by the side of the road. Kioko explained that these are traditional bee hives that the local people construct to get honey. Now back at camp everyone is working on the mammal charts that are due tomorrow at 5pm.
Moyo Hill Camp – Day 33 – 3/9/11
Today we have nothing scheduled except to study for exams which begin tomorrow. I spent the morning checking my mammal charts with people begin sorting through my notes. By lunch time I had finished my charts and decided on a plan of study for the afternoon. The option to go to the Fine Artz Gallery for lunch was offered so most everyone packed up and left camp. I ate lunch here and then situated myself under my tree and began rereading my notes on wildlife ecology. I only left this spot once to get a snack and even managed to organize a study group under my tree later in the afternoon. To break up the day I went for a run with a few others before dinner and then right back into studying some more. Fingers crossed for tomorrow
No comments:
Post a Comment