Graduation Picnic at Saanane Island National Park

It has been forever since the last time I posted. The good news is am well and ready to take you through the unforgettable Tanzania. I have gone through the valley of death and the mountains of life metaphoric and literally. I experienced a lot in life during the time I was away from this enjoyable hobby of mine. Lets get started with a graduation picnic that happened at Saanane Island National Park .

My friend had her Masters degree in Education and she had no idea on how to celebrate this amazing milestone. I came up the idea of 'Graduation picnic'. She intended to have few friends and family members to join her. After pitching my idea to her about Saanane Island National Park she agreed right away.  We started planning it and this is how amazingly things turned out

And here is a video when we were having sparkling wine aka champagne in the boat like the rich ones. Best part!

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6 fantastic activities you can do in Selous Game Reserve.

Selous Game Reserve is named after the late Captain Frederick Selous (1851 – 1917) who died in the reserved and buried in it at Beho Beho. He was a professional hunter who managed to shoot a number of animals, especial the dangerous ones such as 31 lions, more than 200 buffalos and elephants. If I were to narrate the story it will take a decade (I exaggerate that, but it will surely take long time). In this case I would recommend a guide book by Olli Marttila “The Great Savanna” The national parks of Tanzania and other key conservation areas. There is a great story about Selous Game Reserve and others.

The welcome comedy

Having said so let see what Selous has to offer. First af all it is one of the largest conservation areas in the in the world covering 50000km2. The environment is both striking and diverse, a mass of labyrinthine watercourse framed by spectacular borassus palms and ever – changing thickets and miombo savanna. Here roams the mightiest population of elephants in East Africa and the biggest population of buffalo to be seen anywhere on the African continent, and the reserve is also the world’s most significant stronghold for highly endangered wild dog. At the same time Selous is one of the last refuges of the browse, or black rhino.

Pick you style!

My current three weeks expedition in the reserve left me in awe; I mean it took my breath away despite the fatigue induced by constant classes we took in the wilderness as students. I learnt the techniques of hunting, preparation of trophies “skinning”, making of biltong and guarding at night to keep hyenas away from the biltong. Quite amusing!

Drying biltong. 

1. Photographic Tourism

The Northern part of the reserve is dedicated to photographic tourism know as tourist blocks. This goes as far as from Mtemere gate to Matambwe gate. Plenty of animals are seen here from greater kudu to the lesser you name them.

National Symbol of Tanzania "a giraffe".

2. Hunting

From the late Frederick Selous to myself and possibly you, there is a good quality quota offered here. All it takes is a license or a permit to hunt in the designated hunting blocks. There a number of hunting operators in the country who will facilitate you to your moment of life changing experience. Although I was in a group of students but it was a magical moment experience. Do you have some guts? “I dare you”. Remember hunting exercise is meant to utilize wildlife sustainably and not the other way round.

Am your professional hunter to be!

3. Camping

It was my first time camping in a large group but still my adrenaline wouldn’t leave me from anxiousness   and little bit of fear. Especially on the first few days, am sure you won’t ask me why on this, will you? Anyway there are lot of camp sites in the reserve to mention a few; Hippos camp, Butembo camp and many others.

 

Game meat barbecue at the camp site. (Linda & Me)

4. Mode of transportation

This is out of ordinary in most cases, especially in Tanzania conservation area. Not only that but some travelers don’t take much notice on the transportation mode they chose for their destination. Well I do and what I find cool here is the variety. In 2008 I came to the reserve by “chemin de fer” (French) meaning the train, and this time by vehicle, other option includes aircraft. And if only Rufiji River had no hippos and crocs I would definitely consider a boat ride.

Am your pilot to be. Inspired by Suzan Mashibe.

5. Walking safari

I had my share when conducting transect walk for animal counting exercise and it surely proved to me that nothing beats the calmness and enchanting wilderness. I encourage you to do this and you can plan it with a tour operator of your choice, simply satisfying.

Walking the transect.

6.  Community services

I know it sounds awkward but impacting positive effect into someone’s life is totally glamorous. It sure is, most especially when it leads to a win - win kind of situation. Poaching is serious and conservation is still mysterious, trying to be helpful by educating the community adjacent to the reserve could reduce the effects. I know there are lodges out there encourage visitors to donate for their outreach programs, but I think it is high time that we should consider community service as tourism activity as well. Setting down and participating in some activities that the local community do is very amusing as you learn new ways of life at the same time impacting knowledge.

Community work by the humanitarian ME with the bucket and other students!

My next safari this weekend is to Tarangire and Manyara National parks stay tune for the sensational report coming afterwards. Thank you and good luck.

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Singita Grumeti Reserve and the case of the X – poacher.

“I will never forget the day I had to cross river Barageti in Serengeti by stepping on hippos back so that I can serve myself from park rangers."

Those are not my words but from an extraordinary x – poacher Mr. Shaban Andrea. He is originally from Mugete village from Bunda district in Mara region of Tanzania. He started poaching in 1980 after completing his primary education the same year. In his own words he claims that he is from a poor family and couldn’t think of anything else to alleviate poverty in the family than poaching.

Mr. Shaban went on by revealing the sad moment of his life during the illegal act of utilizing wildlife resources without permission. He spoke on several times his life was at stake and how he survived. He said sometimes during late 1980’s he went on crossing the border to a national park in Kenya where he nearly got killed for he became a target of bullets for more than two hours nonstop.

From the left Mr. Hans, Centre is Mr. Shaban Andrea and me on the right.

His poaching activities can be categorized into two, where during the 1980s he mainly focused on elephants for ivory and there after changed business to trade other animals like giraffe, Impala and buffaloes  This was due to the rapid diminishing of elephants, he testifies. 

He went on saying that most of time poachers are able to see park rangers earlier than the opposite. He never involved superstition with this illegal act. He used heavy and sophisticated weapons that was supplied by private owners some of them included rifle 458, 375. His place was very popular that his customer had to place order by scrambling. He never mentioned how he managed to get out from various detentions but most of students figured it out, that most probably corruption was behind this.

Class of Wildlife Management in CAWM College 2013/2014

Life after poaching.

After several arrests by park rangers, Mr. Shaban thought of ending his dark business. He was good at what he used to do that he attracted attention of the park rangers. He came across Singita Grumeti Reserve Rangers and he joked on his interest to be employed by them. Well he got a job and you can’t believe what he has turned into. Or let just say the rest is history.

He is now an assistance field researcher, as well as community conservation expert. And today I benefited from him as he paid a visit to our class of wildlife management in MWEKA at College of African Wildlife Management.

He continued by saying that today he is a much better man compared to what he used to be. He has three children in various colleges and he believes on the power of community conservation. He has helped some of other poachers to end the illegal business. He is grateful to Singita Grumeti Reserve and their efforts in conservation.

He explains how TANAPA and other stake holders were trying hard to establish community conservation concepts to his village. He said that there are various benefit sharing projects that are conducted in this village like schools and dispensary. 

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