Tanzanian Summer!: Ecology Health vs. Wildlife and Human Activity

The focus of the day was ecology and the environment and how to keep the ecology of certain areas healthy while addressing problems like climate change, population growth, and, of course, human-wildlife interactions. We left bright and early and left for Kilimatembo – “Elephant Hill” – a beautiful mountain area where we had our first traveling field lecture. It was hard to not be distracted by the amazing miles of green fields and blue mountain ranges, but we managed to discuss issues that the mountain had been dealing with. The name of the mountain is descriptive of the species that used to roam there. However, after irrigation and soil exploitation (including mining practices in nearby areas), the mountain became unfit for elephants and other animals to pass through or graze in. They had to resort to areas with human residents, which were of course their original grounds.

After the morning lecture on Kilimatembo, we headed to Mto Wa Mbu – “River of the Mosquito” – to observe and learn about the agricultural practices being done there to produce rice and multiple kinds of beans. The manager of the site told us that buffalo and hippos have frequently come through the rice fields attempting to create their own pathways while migrating. He had been in that area for over 40 years and said that because so many farmers have moved in to the areas near the site that human-wildlife contact has increased dramatically. The famers are encroaching on the natural habitats of these animals and because of that, both sides are suffering from lack of space and ruined crops.

For the rest of the day, we headed to the Amari Orphanage to play with the kids (ages 3 to 12) and spend some time with them. Not a second after the cars pulled into the school did the kids swarm and hug us like they had missed us for years. These kids, about 40 of them, were orphans of parents who were sick or had passed away from HIV/AIDS, or kids whose living situations were very poor. The orphanage is not government funded and relies solely on donations from the community and other outside sources. SFS students have donated money and provided different types of community service to help improve the orphanage over the past 5 years – putting in a tin roof, painting walls and murals, and helping set up the nearby well. Playing with the kids was wonderful and leaving them was very difficult.

But after the orphanage we headed to the monthly market in Karatu, about 15 minutes away by car. It was an open, dusty field filled with common household items, clothes (plenty of American name brands!), food, and tourist trinkets. Bargaining is an art form that I have yet to perfect, but I did my best and, somewhat successfully, held my own! But some of the sellers were nice – pushy, but nice. One was wearing a Mets hat, so I had no choice but to buy from him (shout out to you, Pops!)

Tomorrow is our non-program day, which means we’ll get to decide as a group what we want to do – hikes, bike rides, going into town, etc. We have yet to see the choices, so I guess it’ll have to be a surprise for me and the rest of you!