Manyara Ranch Post Burn, School, and Boma

From Scott (again, because I can't get anyone else to add to this silly blog): The wildfires have started now that we are mid-way through the dry season. Yesterday we visited Manyara Ranch (owned by Tanzania Land Conservation Trust located between Tarangire and Lake Manayara national parks) to conduct post -fire monitoring on a grassland at the southern end of the ranch that burned this week. We worked with Pastor Pasgamy, who has just been hired to establish a wildlife and habitat monitoring program at the Ranch. Several hundred nearby wildebeest and zebras watched us as we worked while hornbills and lilac-breasted rollers flew among the scattered trees and bushes.


















The burn (started of course by Maasai kids playing with fire) was a few hundred acres. Ranch staff and dozens of people from the adjacent villages suppressed the fire with "natural beaters" made from palm fronds.


After the monitoring was completed, we visited a 900-student boarding school for Maasai kids located in the middle of the ranch. Because of its location in the wildlife and predator corridor (regular encounters by elephants and lions in the schoolyard) and the deplorable building conditions, a new school is being completed by AWF on the edge of the property. Ex-teachers Carol, Wayne, and their cameras were a huge hit. The kid loved seeing their pictures, asking about America, and telling us about Tanzania. It was a very touching afternoon for us and a break from laundry day for them.














Next we visited a boma in adjacent Esilalei village. The women that lived there were arriving with bundles of hay on their heads for the goats in the compound. They showed us their homes and beautiful beadwork. Lots of hand-holding (and petting of Annie's hair) while getting to know each other. Charlie and Annie were more focused on the many baby goats that needed petting. Annie was lobbying heavily to bring one home.






















Like everywhere in Tanzania, Grammy was identified as an easy mark and followed by one girl with beads to sell. Unable to pass up another shopping opportunity she came away with a bracelet and a new friend.