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September 2 Our first day of Safari Listen to Audio of Wally's Call (.wav) This dispatch is coming to you from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. I’m looking out at the vast, beautiful, cool expanse of Ngorongoro right now as the sun sets. Today was our first day of Safari. Paul picked us up at We took lunch at our favorite spot on the rim of the Gregory Rift of the Great Rift Valley. And then we proceeded on to our favorite Masai boma, or Masai village. The chief’s son welcomed us and I sat for a long time inside one of those tight, smoky, little Masai homes with Jim, Alex and Julie. We had a very relaxed conversation with the chief’s son about Masai life. Outside Paul the driver, our guide, was in another conversation with some of the Masai about the issue of whether the government will allow the Masai to continue to stay in the Ngorongoro conservation area. And of course their stance, their position, and I agree with, is that the Masai who themselves do not kill wild animals but are essential to help the government keep an eye on poachers. They know everything that goes on in these hills around Ngorongoro and there are no secrets to the Masai. They know the animals and the land and they report quite frequently to the park warden when there is activity that involves poachers. It would be a shame if the government were to take them out. We enjoyed learning about their culture and of course they are such colorful people, we enjoyed photographing watching them dance, especially the very athletic jumps that some of the young men did. Now as I said the sun is setting across Ngorongoro, we’re going to get some showers and relax for the evening. Early tomorrow morning at |
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