Bush Camp: Part 2

A definite upgrade from camp. We changed locations and arrived at this lodge which is owned by the same company that employs the guides for our bush camp trip. It is undergoing renovations so it's not open to the public yet. I had my own cabin which overlooked Lake Manyara. Every morning I awoke to the sound of cow bells as the local Maasai led their herds down to graze and drink fresh water. The stars were amazing here and the cabin was rustic and had that "I'm in Africa on safari" feel to it. At night you could hear LOTS of animals as we were situated directly above the valley that leads to Lake Manyara, which many a wild animal call home. Of course the only real disturbance I encountered was the bat that snuck into my cabin through some unidentifiable hole and squeaked and swooped from the main room to the bathroom (probably terrified of me.) Just imagine me trying to communicate to the Maasai guard, "There's a bat in my cabin... a bat (me making flapping motions and squeaking)... but don't kill it ok?... don't (me making the motion of breaking it's neck) kill it." He went to my guide to ask what the crazy white girl was babbling about and when he heard the problem he laughed so hard and then of course went to my room and couldn't find it and laughed even harder. Yeah.... really funny.

So we were in this area of Maasailand for a number of days and we spent everyday with different Maasai families. On this morning we woke up early and helped these local boys herd their cattle. These boys range in age from 5-9 years old and they are out all day with their herd completely responsible for what happens to each animal. It has been so different in Tanzania to see children 4 and 5 years of age walking along by themselves or in a small group of young children. And then here these boys are with this huge responsibility of the family cattle (The life-force of the Maasai. Their cattle are their life, their wealth, their source of milk, skins, blood which they drink mixed with milk for protein and nourishment). To lose one cow is a HUGE mistake. Then I think back to America and how we would never let a child this age out by themselves let alone to have to be responsible for anything. It's incredible also how many young girls 8 or 9 years of age walk around carrying their baby sisters all day long.

This is the actual inside of one of the Maasai huts in a Boma (collection of huts) that we visited. The only reason you can see anything is because of the flash of my camera it was actually pitch black inside. The husband and wife sleep in different beds made from the stretched out hide of a cow and the children share the bed with their mom. There is a small fire in the center over which the mother will heat milk each morning for the children and to cook porridge also. There was no ventilation so you can actually see the ash covering everything and floating in the air. I actually preferred being in here because the smoke kept out the flies which were swarming around everywhere outside (covering children's heads and faces in a way you can not imagine).




This is a picture from another day when we helped to open a new 2 room school built for the local Maasai community. These are Maasai children but dressed in modern clothes instead of the more traditional shuka (red and purple cloth). They each walk miles each morning depending where their boma is located to get to the school. We taught two classes here and then played a game of football (soccer) during which we were absolutely out-run and out-played. Those Maasai kids
have skills!











Here I am in the rice fields outside of Mto Wa Mbo. I toured the fields, learned how to cut and beat the rice from the grass, and then saw how it was dried and milled. Mmmmm rice.









The famous Baobab tree which can be found all across the Tanzanian plains. The story goes "One day God got very angry with the people so he grabbed the Baobab out of the earth and shoved it back in upside down to show the people he meant business." I can't look at one of these trees now without thinking... it's upside down.