Ground-Breaking

Well, I guess the bottom line of this message is twofold:  Nature rules and Noloholo is true to its name!

I recently arrived in Tanzania for the ground-breaking of PPF’s new field base camp, Noloholo. Getting out there from Arusha was quite an experience as well as a challenge due to the continuing rains. The “short rains” of Nov./Dec. are here in full force for the first time in about 7 years  –  which of course is a superb blessing after a prolonged period of drought. When I visited last year at this time, it was very dry, dusty, not much was in bloom and water was the main focus of daily life. What a change. Everything is exotically lush and blooming, water is abundant, roads and rivers overflowing, the cows and goats are fatter and, most important, people generally seem much happier as the struggle for sufficient water has been alleviated.

However, too much of anything can also create problems.  There is concern that the rains will not end soon and that in fact El Nino conditions may be building. There is much flooding at the moment which makes traveling about, planting crops, etc. very difficult  –  even taking a walk isn’t necessarily an option. Thus, our trip out to the bush was by no means a fait accompli, but Buddy and Laly were certain we would make it  –  eventually! The Simanjiro Plains between Arusha and Noloholo contain ditches, gullies, sudden raw gaping cracks in the land AND extensive patches of “black cotton” soil which oozes and sucks vehicles in up to 3 or 4 feet –  even tractors!  We got stuck about 8 times and only emerged due to Buddy’s very skillful maneuvering and the help of a group of young Maasai. We were lucky to make camp by sundown.

The land donated by the Maasai of Loibor Serrit village for our field base is a superb site  –  a hill rising above acacia woodlands and plains with a 360 degree view. Sunrise and sunset  –  perfect for sundowners as I discovered!  The initial ground plan has been roughly laid out, temporary tents erected for sleeping, eating/meeting and cooking, shower and toilet in place with construction of the kitchen targeted as building #1.  Until a borehole is dug, water is being hauled in a huge drum from a nearby stream. A Chain saw, bags of cement, tools of all types at the ready and everyone eager to start the actual building. But, as I said, Nature rules and the on and off rains meant very slow progress that first week. What was accomplished was the assembling of building supplies between storms  –  large, long  trunks of dead trees (a special type of hardwood) scattered over the plains which had been previously selected, bundles of straight poles for roof frames, masses of grass to dry out (?) for roofs  –  all products of the surrounding environment  –  and free (except for the labor of cutting them and getting them up to camp). Gravel and sand from the streambeds had to be put on temporary hold. All is ready for a break in the weather  –  with that hope, we leave again in a few days.

My first days in Noloholo were very special  –  to be part of  the initial phase of this project which promises to be most impressive and effective down the road, to share Laly’s and Buddy’s vision and ideas on the ground and to actually experience the site’s potential.  That first night, I went to sleep hearing lions in the distance and later the rain on my tent. I chuckled thinking that Noloholo was certainly living up to its name  –  place of water, usually a blessed designation in the African bush!

— Rosalie Ballantine, PPF Board Member