The Explorer Newsletter March 2011

Migration location:Green season

As I write this on the verandah of my tent on the edge of the Ndutu woodlands, I can hear the nervous bleating of several hundred thousand wildebeest moving through the woodland towards the shimmering waters below camp.

Its not been as wet this year in comparison with last year abundance, resulting in many fatalities of wildebeest and zebra young as the herds, out of necessity, constantly move in search of greener grass.

In spite of this, all of my safaris have spent days in amongst the teaming herds of game with the mottled back drop constantly changing as predator meets prey on the short grass plains.

Behaviour and our ability to unfold the tales of the wilderness is what defines a safari with Wildlife Explorer. Text book information is one thing but first hand experience with predator and prey expands our knowledge ten fold.

During my 5 nights at the Mobile camp with Lynn and Sharon Bockemohle and their group of 15, we witnessed a Hyena hunt and kill of a full grown wildebeest that was simply spellbinding in its brutality, yet packed with primordial excitement. The dispatch of an animal is never easy to watch regardless of how simplistic the reasons are for the ending of one life in order to further the life of another animal, however, this morning will stay in my mind for a very long time.

Being able to witness the millions of wild animals surrounding camp really is a privilege that I take not for granted!

Migration Location-Wildlife Explorer Mobile Tented Camp, edge of Serengeti!

Please click on this link for more information on the Luxury Mobile Tented Camps Exclusive to Wildlife Explorer:
http://www.wildlife-explorer.com/pages/camps/mobile.php

Oldoinyo Lengai

Perhaps I should refer to the Masai Mountain of God in terms that sum up my experience climbing with Shawn and Antoinette? ‘Gary’s Mountain of Doom??’ ‘Hell in the shape of a volcano’? ‘Misery at the weekend’? etc etc-get the picture?

I mentioned in my previous newsletter that Shawn and Antoinette gave me carte blanche to take them on an adventure of my choosing and being fitness freaks they seldom baulk at any challenge let alone a relatively small blip on the Tanzania landscape called Lengai. So I really only have myself to blame although we tried very hard to make it Marianne’s fault at the time!

Unlike many of the Rift Valley Volcanoes, Lengai is still very much active and continues to rumble and send spumes of ash and smoke into the atmosphere at regular intervals. So with some trepidation we set off at a horribly early hour of the day to conquer this mountain.

Having circled the summit of Lengai in my plane countless times, I thought I had a good picture of what the climb was going to be like-WRONG! Nothing prepared me for the sheerness of the ascent and the ruggedness of the terrain.

Bringing up the rear is where I like to walk, usually in my own little world enjoying the beauty and splendor of my surroundings. Not this time. Dark as coal and a promise of rain, I spent most of the 5 hours it took us to reach the summit either looking at Shawn’s butt or dodging boulders that dislodged at the slightest touch. I hasten to add that the rear view of Shawn was due entirely to how steep the track was to reach the summit!

5 hours of vertical clambering, pulling ourselves over huge boulders wondering where it all went wrong!

Summit almost reached; we had made such good time we had to hole up in the lee of a volcanic cliff until sunrise so that we could see the final metres climb to the actual rim of Lengai.

Once perched on the scant edge of the volcano, Lengai growled deeply as though in discontent that anyone would have the audacity to breech its craggy ramparts. Looking down into the depths of this volcano-still very much alive and kicking, I also had a feeling of trespass and wonder at just how magnificent and solitary this magnificent mountain is.

Of course the feeling of magnitude and magnificence soon turned into pain and loathing as my 52-year-old knees screamed for respite during the grueling descent back to our vehicle!

Funny how an ice-cold beer and Godfrey driving us to our comfortable lodge can cure almost any ailment! Shawn and Antoinette-thank you for the poles and Ibuprofen-thank you for easing my pain!

Lengai-Tick it off-bought the tee shirt!

Happy to arrange Lengai climbs for anyone interested though-I sadly am unavailable to guide such climbs as copious amounts of office work beckon!!

Community and Education

Since writing the last newsletter and penning this little essay I am pleased to report that the classroom that was kindly funded by Shawn and Antoinette has been officially opened! This report from our Community ‘Gal’ Lois:

Oldonyawas, located between Arusha and Longido in northern Tanzania, is a small subsistence farming community of about 800 adults and 900 children.  The villagers depend completely on rain for their farming and the soil is not good.  Most of the year the weather is dry, hot windy and dusty.  As a result, the community struggles to survive.  In spite of this struggle, they have managed to maintain a small primary school since the early 1980's.  There are about 750 students who were crammed into six classrooms until Antoinette and Shawn Addison came along.

Last year, the Addisons decided to help Oldonyawas, and together with family and friends, made a generous donation for construction of a new classroom.  The classroom is now finished and in January it was dedicated by the Deputy Minister of Tanzania's Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Ministry, Goodluck Ol  Medeye.  Although Antoinette and Shawn were unable to attend, Godfrey and Marianne from Wildlife EA Ltd, as well as Lois Blalock of Hodari Scholars, joined in the celebration. Plaster, paint, windows and doors are still needed, but the Addisons' donation has enabled students assigned to the school's first classroom--an old tin structure with little light and shared with hay for lifestock--to enjoy an environment deserved by every student.

The Deputy Minister, district school officers and Oldonyawas' headmistress all thanked the Addisons for their contribution and Wildlife-Explorer for its help in coordinating the construction. Lois Blalock spoke on behalf of the Addisons and thanked the community for its participation in the project and its continued interest in and support of its children's education.

Click on the link below to see what Wildlife Explorer, the Hodari Foundation and our guests can achieve, with direct involvement in educational scholarships for communities
http://www.wildlife-explorer.com/pages/wexp/community.php

Osunyai-A new beginning

We are very excited to announce the new location for the Osunyai Wilderness Camp starting Dry Season 2011.

Sited at the lower end of Silale wetland in the heart of Tarangire National Park, Osunyai occupies what is arguably the finest location of any of the special campsites within the national park.

Working closely with the parks service, Wildlife Explorer accepted the invitation to return to being based within Tarangire National Park after an absence of almost 10 years. Part of the attraction with the new location is the ability to Game Walk out of camp in an area that is not only naturally beautiful, but in a corridor for big game, making the walks exciting and wildlife abundant.

Silale is the most frequented wildlife habitat in Tarangire, with huge herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra all visiting the wetland daily. Lions and Leopard are also often sighted along the edge of the acacia studded banks. Vibrantly green in contrast to the dry Tarangire landscape, Silale is like a breath of fresh air on a monochromatic landscape.

As with the Alamana Reserve, Osunyai will retain the wilderness camp treatment with open vehicles stationed for game viewing, plus all the quality and style of our semi-permanent tented camps. Walking and fly camping also available.

Please visit the link below for more information on Osunyai-Tarangire:

http://www.wildlife-explorer.com/pages/destinations/osunyai.php

News from Kellybeare and the bush:

Seems like Kellybeare is a bit of a dream at the moment as I prepare for the last of my pre rainy season safaris with returning good friends. This next safari sees the return of Mike and Patty Hately, Les and Ellen Thomas and Jeff and Susie Nelson plus six of their friends so should be a lively crowd! Susie has been in a wheelchair for a good few years but lets nothing get in the way of her love of Africa! Now about to embark on her third safari, Susie will no doubt bring her usual charm to the camp-fire.

Someone mentioned to me on returning to their place of work after our safari together, that I would gather no sympathy whatsoever for any perceived hardships I may be encountering whilst writing from the stunningly beautiful game rich land of the Serengeti! Guess I had better just suck it up!

It really is a privilege that I have never taken for granted, to be able to split my time in such beautiful and fulfilling locations, and also able to share my love of the bush with new friends and old friends alike-not too many alternative forms of employment can boast such a colourful and exciting lifestyle.

Skype I salute you for lending your technology and retaining my connections with Jo, Hunter and Jamie during this prolonged spate of safaris and time in Arusha. Skiing is almost here! Easter at Kellybeare with Jo, Hannah, Jamie and Hunter-cant wait!

With warm wishes, Gary & Jo and all of us at Wildlife Explorer.