1.1.2017: A day in the Maasai Lodge.
Today is resting day after the strenuous safari. An unhurried breakfast is followed by a gentle stroll around the lodge, in the afternoon a visit to a biologically cultivated garden.
Cloudy today, after yesterday´s new snow on Kilimandscharo.
Starting the short morning walk.
Bizarre lava rock which seems to have been fallen down from heaven and subsequently weathered from inside.
Staff accomodation
Large pasture close to the lodge.
Houses are contructed according to available money. Takes a bit of time till the next goat or cow can be sold.
Clouds towering up on Kilimandscharo.
Here it stays dry, huge clouds of dust are dispersed when cars pass by.
I cross a light acacia forest.
High grass.
On a hill I enjoy the wonderful round view. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
Rain shower on Kilimandscharo. While I am watching the landscape, a little boy comes close and talks to me in good English, he introduces himself as Paul. He attends the nearby English school, which had been donated by an Austrian sponsor. He tells me that he wants to become a policeman. During our talk, the inevitable question is asked - "do you have a gift for me?" After a short consideration I tell him, that he will receive a gift if he shows me round his school.
So, Paul guides me through the class rooms - deserted due to Christmas holidays.
Paul, 10 years old. Of course he got his gift after the guided tour.
School buildings
This is an elementary and a secondary modern school, where kids are taught til their 14th year - all time in English.
Another bizarre, lava rock, "fallen down from heaven" When the lava is still fluid in the centre but solidified outside, it may happen that content is flowing out leaing this kind of caves.
Diese Akazie wird von einem mir unbekannten pflanzlichen Parasiten befallen, der schöne, orangerote Blüten produziert. Diese Akazie is partly overgrown by a second, parasitic plant producing beautiful, orange flowers.
Paul has pointed out the Zebra´s standing between the acacia.
Not very shy, but you must not come too close.
Paul accompanies me on my way back to the lodge.
The restaurant of the Lodge.
The bar.
Here, the breakfast buffet is prepared. Coffee and tea is served at any time.
This is my hut, where I spent two nights.
Other huts.
My hut and the restaurant.
Watchmen´s hut. The area is watched day and night.
Restaurant, office and kitchen.
There´s also a pool - with a wonderful view to the nearby steppe.
All houses are built in traditional Maasai style.
All huts are oriented such as you have a free view to Kilimandscharo from the door (and the bed).
We drive to a nearby biological garden one of the locals has cultivated.
Here, the nearby beck is used for watering.
Goats are eating nearly everything growing during the dry season. Children are obliged to take care of them, so in many occasions, they cannot attend a school.
Maasai village.
I always thouht, my home coutry, called "Steinfeld" ("Stonefield") is rich in stones, but this country ... although: the soil in between is volcanic thus very rich in nutrients.
Besidees the beck, everything isgreen.
View to Kilimandscharo
This garden, fenced against the goats, is cultivated in permaculture. Many horse radish trees (Moringa oleifera) are grown.
In the african climate, the trees grow up in a few weeks, up to 8 m in a year!
Flowers ...
... and immature fruits - eadable like green beans. The peeled seeds can be pressed to get oil, or, pulverized, to precipitate mud from water thus reducing the bacteria load. Leaves and roots (the latter only after peeling) also can be used.The very slender tree has to be cut back regularly, so vegetables can be planted in between.
Today´s vegetable crop: beetroots.
Kilimandscharo in clouds
Tomatoes are grown in most of the other, "non biological" fields. The tomatoes from this region are very tasty due to the mineral-rich volcanic soil. The numerous fruits that are not perfect and cannot be sold are thrown away.
At times a herd of goats pass by ...
... that would eat some of the tomatoes.
The boxes are loaded on the trucks and carried by night to the capital Dar es Salaam, where they are sold on the market in the morning.
The clouds on Kilimandscharo begin to collapse in the evening.
Back at the Maasai Lodge ...
... I enjoy the evening, with a second perfomance of the Maasai ...
... and go to bed early.