Baraza

Category: Mara Triangle, Podcasts | Date: Apr 04 2008 | By: admin

While in the Mara I enjoyed how quiet it was, the absence of noisy irritating tourists, there were virtually no other cars around, the wildlife was having a great time. But the people and the Mara are suffering. This post was recorded while I was visting Kimojino a few weeks ago. I posted stories, podcasts and photos earlier about the tourism collapse here and the killing of a lion by a warthog here. This post is about a conversation I had with Kipas, the village chief.

This is Kipas, the chief of Enkereri Masai village. I think that what he has to say about the effect of the tourism collapse on his community is one of the most touching conversations I’ve had in a long time. Another person has written about his wisdom, charm and wit here.

The photos help to illustrate the scenes

The village is perched on the escarpment. The community and their goats have a view to kill for!

I don’t think these are all his wives, but he is chief of all these women, 18 families in all.

The women are among the most beautiful creatures on earth!

In the village, work is segregated, men carve weapons and talking sticks using only a machete

Women adorn the talking sticks - listen to the podcast to learn more about the Masai talking stick

All the women are involved in the beautiful art of beading, including Kipas’s mother here.

And apart from beauty, and crafts, the women are sensational singers.

The men are responsible for bringing the cows home at the end of the day.

I’d really appreciate feedback. Did you like this podcast? Shall I keep them coming?

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12 responses so far

Category: Mara Triangle | Date: Mar 02 2008 | By: admin

On arrival in the Mara one often sees bones on the ground all over the place and sometimes they get collected and left at key spots. I love studying bones so took these photographs and wondered if you could identify them…

Easy? Try these then…..

Sorry about the missing teeth….

How many could you identify?

Our trip to Mara was punctuated with some really fun and interesting adventures. Tomorrow I will upload another podcast about an amazing incident that I and many others, still find hard to believe. It involves a fight between a lion and a warthog.

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Category: Mara Triangle, Podcasts | Date: Feb 28 2008 | By: admin

Friends,

Today I’m going to try a much awaited experiment and upload a podcast -

I recorded this in the Mara Conservancy last week where I spent three days finding out more about the effects of the collapse of tourism on this world renowned conservation area.

I hope you enjoy sound trip which hopefully will give the visually impaired a feel for the Mara which is among my most favourite places in the world.

I’m attaching photographs to help you visualise the patrol. These 5 minutes reflect what happened during the 4 hours anti-poaching patrol in which we were searching for 7 hippo killing poachers. Kimujino has more on the arrest of these poachers on his

This is the sign between the Mara Reserve and Transmara Reserve which together make up the Masai Mara

A hippo slide

On patrol looking for footprints on the soft earth

Hippo in the Mara river

Can you see the new born hippo by his mothers legs?

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7 responses so far