It has been an interesting journey getting here. It took a total time of about 3 days (almost exactly) to make it here. I was almost a 6 hour drive from Nairobi to Chololo (the name of our camp). I didn’t see one white person the entire way. I sure got a lot of looks from people. The drivers are the worst I have ever seen. There is only 1 rule for driving here: if you get stopped by the police you bribe them. That’s it.
The camp that I am at is very rustic. There are a few solar panels for power, outhouses for toilets, a bucket for a shower and no fridge. It will take a little while to get used to that. There is one good thing though- everyone eats lots of pasta since it is so easy to keep, yum! Within the first 5 days there I have seen: Elephants, Giraffe, Grant’s Gazelles, Dick Dicks, Gerenuks, Baboons, Rock Hyrax, Weavers and countless cattle, goats and sheep.
I have started to work with the local Massai villagers. Yesterday we went to a boarding school and played cricket with all of the kids. It’s a great way to bring the community together. Soon I will start teaching the conservation club. Dr. Strum (the director) wants us to focus on charcoal burning and sand removal from the area.
As for the Baboons themselves, they are very interesting. I never realized how close we would be getting to them. We walk only feet away from them. The little ones are especially curious with us. They like to play peek-a-boo with us. The other day I was sitting down near the group while they were retesting and a large adult male walked right next to me and sat down only about 2 feet away; close enough that I could reach out and touch them. If they are fighting they may be close to us, but make sure to keep several feet of distance. It was a little scary at first but I am getting used to it.
The days are long and tiring. There are two baboon watch shifts, 6:30am to 12:30 and 12:30 to 6:30pm. My group that I will be studying, The Pumphouse Gang, is the furthest away. It takes about 45min by Piki (dirt bike) to reach them. That means I have to leave around 5:45 or 6am to get there. After you get done you then need to come back to the camp and put all of your notes into paperwork and the computer. Lots of work.
As for pictures, there aren’t many yet. It will be hard to upload them as well, but they are coming. I swear!