http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=njSJaUnaNwU

OUT OF COMFORT internet 720p.mov

Africanized

I haven’t written in a while, this is not due to my lack of inspiration but merely the fact that I have been enjoying every aspect of the wild, I like technology hibernation. My laptop is like a reminder of the real world and the fast paced economic and political systems that don’t even stop to think of now. I have been fortunate enough to experience and explore Kenyan lifestyle for the past few months. Our base in the last month was Nairobi. The densely populated capital is grey with matatu fumes and framed by the breathtaking Ngong hills, there is a constant humming from the nonstop movement and a national park in between the chaos. This got me thinking…. I was researching Tanzania for the next episode of Out of Comfort and Into the Wild. I had memories of the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti national park. I am so thankful for the memories I have in the wild, for the turtles I have swam with, the camels I have ridden, the roads less travelled, the cat, the elephants and the people. I was reading reports on the on going debate to build the road through the Serengeti. That’s when it hit me; will my grandchildren or children ever see a rhino? Will the great migration be another folk tale past through the African generations. I just refuse to accept yes to either of those questions. The human race can be a selfish one, we do things selfishly, we arrive on a planet and populate it, we control every accept of the planet for our own enjoyment. The great migration is one of the last migrations of its calibre to exist in the world. To put a road through the Serengeti Nation Park would slowly destroy the migration, the road would intercept the natural migratory route of over two million animals to the plains of the Masai Mara. Whether the road is tarmac or not, it is an open invitation to heaps of traffic. The collisions on the road will be between wildlife and travellers causing friction and thus fences. Fences saw the death of migration of zebra and wildebeest in Botswana. The animals are so intelligent that the migration is not just a magical spectacle but it is an example of an ecosystem that is driven by mammals. Why cant we be this clever, why can’t we migrate across great distances. Why should we make it easier for ourselves by hacking into vast areas of wilderness and creating boarders and blocks for wildlife? The population increases by the second, endangered species from the oceans and the plain grow gradually scares. The decline of wildlife is moving rapidly. Africa is the most beautiful continent, the skies are high and the colours are bright. It is our responsibility to keep the continent alive, not to consume it. So I guess I use technology to vent and the media to entertain and bring awareness but my path of discovery has one intention and that is to try and help save what is so quickly being lost. Take yourself Out of Comfort and into the Wild! 

Day 37: Mainland Lamu

We were taken by boat to the Mainland. As we sailed through the mangroves so many ideas start flowing and Chelsey and I can’t stop talking about Mother Nature and her beauty. The mainland was a surreal experience. There are no cars in Lamu, just donkeys and footsteps. The architecture looks like something out of Disney’s Aladin fairytale. The doors are exquisitely carved with welcoming designs. The energy is alive and the people all stare. We go by foot between the tall buildings in search of Mohammed Ali. He is on the community of the Lamu Conservation Trust and we want to work with him to cover their story. We climb the stairs to his house and in the distance there are the faint sounds of Muslim prayers and screeching donkeys. The sent is spicy and the feeling is safe.  Mohammed and his big belly greet us with a smile, “Karibu” he says, “sit, welcome.” Mohammed is a good man. His ancestors lived off the land he wishes to preserve. At the end of our surprising conversation, Mohammed quotes the Koran by telling us that the best gift to give someone is water. One day we will all fight for water. He explained that as a human race we were given nature. If we don’t respect the land given to us Mother Nature will take its revenge on us all. We must preserve our land.  Within the infinite African landscapes, great regions of wildlife and indigenous forestry grow gradually scarcer. Abundant acres of precious land bordering national parks and reserves are slowly being demolished. It is up to us to make a change!

Day 15: Tambuzi

The name Tambuzi comes from the mixture of two driven, hardworking and unique characters, Maggie and Tim. The word buzi is the Swahili word for “goat.”

From this unique blend stems the magnificent rose farm. On the foot of Mount Kenya Tambuzi- stop and smell the roses. Rose farming in Kenya is notorious for its negative impact on the environment. I decided it was something we had to see for ourselves. We arrived at the farm and on the first tree is a sign saying, “Protect our environment.” This farm is as beautiful as the flowers it produces. At the moment there are 230 employees, this can double according to the seasons. After spending time with some of the staff members, it was clear that the farm has a healthy working relationship, it is not only the fresh smell of roses that puts a smile on everyone’s faces but the directors of the farm care for their staff and their environment and thus listen to the peoples needs. With companies like White Rose Foundation, who give a percentage of each stem bought back to the employee, these needs can be answered.  According to Christine, who runs HR on the farm, when all the percentages were added together, the staff compiled a list of requests for how the funds should be used.  Tambuzi and White Rose foundation joined forces and introduced a solar lighting project that was the most urgent need.  This concept has revolutionized how the staff live. Before people would be forced to use paraffin which is not only eco-destructing but also expensive and not easily accessible. Paraffin burns quickly and thus kids could not do their homework and would spend the night in complete darkness. The solar lamp has four lights with extension cords and can light a small home for seven hours. At the base there is also a connection to charge a mobile phone and play a small radio. The solar light has made such an impact, that families of the staff members are desperate to have them in their homes. Tambuzi arranged a special price to ensure another, approximately, 250 solar lamps. 580 people in Kenya now used solar lighting. Not only is this a huge improvement on the carbon footprint but it also saves people time money and energy.  “I was using three litres of paraffin a month, my children could not do their homework. I had to walk 8km to charge my cell phone. My kids can now do homework up to 11pm at night and I can charge my cell phone. I am so happy for the solar lamp” was the response from Regina (Tambuzi rose picker) when we asked her about the lamp. At the coffee shop today I saw Tambuzi roses; there was a warm feeling in my heart when we purchased a bunch. I have a new appreciation for roses and the people who cultivate them. 

Day 13: Western pollution

So much research and hard work goes into a project like this, because of that also comes disappointments.  By talking to the local people and trying to capture an understanding of the way of life here in Kenya, we learn. Today a local who didn’t understand our concept and took us for tourists misinterpreted us. We only realized this once he took us into a “traditional tribal village.” He was making lots of phone calls in the car on the way to the village and we only realized why when we arrived and were asked to pay a village fee of $60. In the backdrop were exquisitely dressed Borana women ready to sing us a welcoming song and entertain us with dance. It was like theatre in the wild. It made us both feel uncomfortable. Is this what tourism has done to tribal history in Kenya? After deeper conversations and understanding of the people they admitted that this was their only way of survival. They had crossed the border of Ethiopia to settle here in Kenya. Families travelled thousands of kilometers barefoot with herds of camels, cattle and goats to find better pastures and a better way of life. These Borana people lost everything; all they have left now is the memories of their lost tradition that they now put on show for passing tourists.

Samburu: Joseph then took us into real Samburu land. He understood our concept and took us into raw land, virgin territory for Mzungu (white) people The Samburu culture remains extremely traditional and their bonded heritage remains strong. There is more to come on this tribe…

Day 12: Animal Kingdom

A dik dik is possibly the cutest of the antelope. Their tiny bodies have the biggest hearts. The dik dik is only 30-40cm and because of their size are favorites for predators. According to the warden ranger at Samburu the dik dik have one life long partner. If one is killed the other starves itself to the death. Wildlife is so romantic! We spent the rest of the evening fascinated by the lives of the animals we saw that day. The honeymoon of the lion, the wisdom of the elephant, the speed of the cheetah, the mischief of the monkey, the beauty of the grey zebra and the balls of the buffalo. Our philosophical chat then lead us into a conversation about tribal men, pastoralists and the footprints across Kenya. I dreamed wild dreams tonight… Where did it all go wrong?