News from Noloholo

Having recently returned from the bush, I am happy to say that it looks like the short rains are actually going to happen this year! This is wonderful news for Tanzania. We are recovering from several consecutive, very dry years and could really use the rain.

The trip to Loibor Serrit was very successful, albeit a typical African adventure plagued with vehicle problems. Our trusty Land Rover “Jezy” (short for Jezebel) was up to her old tricks again. She broke down twice even before getting to the village. Luckily, the first break down happened in town, before departure and delaying us a day. I was not so lucky the second time. I was in the bush on the way to camp, and my three and half hour trip became eight. Fortunately, we were able to find and sort out the cracked fuel line that was sucking air into the system without too much headache.

 

Once mobile again, Saruni Mosses (see “meet the team” on our web site) and I set out to GPS all the recent livestock predation occurrences in the village. I am happy to report that the lion attacks that were plaguing the village in June through August (resulting in the unfortunate spearing of a young male and female lion) had virtually stopped. We only had a couple of minor incidences in September and October. Life in rural Africa always seems to have a twist though. Just as it seemed the lions were taking a break, the elephants moved in and took up residence along the small stream that runs through the village. They could be found all most every evening from 5:30 pm onwards standing around the little hand pump that supplies the local villagers with all their water, obviously making life very difficult for everyone. During the day, they dispersed into the thicker brush up and down the stream to feed mainly on acacia bark. During such times, one always has to be on the lookout when walking around the village. Unfortunately, one poor villager forgot. He came walking around a bush one day to find himself face to face with a lone bull. True to form, it charged and hit him with its trunk, sending him flying 50 feet over a ditch and very luckily into a thicket. This not only broke his fall but allowed him to crawl away without being seen by the angry elephant who stormed off through the bush. Fortunately, the man only sustained minor injuries.

 

I managed to count 35 elephants in the herd when walking back to the village after Jezy decided to blow her clutch approximately 35 km (22 miles) from camp. After getting a tractor to tow us back to camp, all we could do is wait for the mechanic, Zack, to bring spare parts from town and fit a new clutch. This is a procedure complicated enough in town. Out in the field, it requires a tricky combination of jacks and several people working together in order to remove and replace the entire gearbox and clutch housing. I’d like to thank Charlie for all the help he provided – not only in the use of his vehicle to get the mechanics out there but also the diesel and time that helped make all this possible.

 

Not having a vehicle did provide lots of time to design our new field camp. If all goes to plan, we will be breaking ground on the JBB memorial field camp in December. During the time in the bush, Helena Grant (see “Interns, Research Students and Volunteers” on our web site) and I also held meetings with the teachers of the local school to go over and get feedback on our new conservation booklet that will be launched at the beginning of the new school year in January.

So despite some technical setbacks, we had a very productive trip that reminded all of us that no matter how hard you try to plan things in Africa, she always has some tricks up her sleeve to throw at you!

-Charles