Into the Countryside

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To this point, things have been pretty tense. Remember, this wasn't a leisure trip, this was a live safari, an expedition to find, trap and return with 10 falcons. There was a very limited window afforded by having to please 3 separate governments as well as all of the international laws involved, and the date to have the birds in Quarantine back in the States was also set and narrow. While it was still quite an adventure, I didn't have the luxury of wasting time. This was business, and had taken many many months of preparation and bureaucracy, years of planning. All culminated in a win or lose trip - this trip. Were we successful? Read along and find out!

Leaving Conakry, I felt better almost immediately, and began to lighten up. Though still very much moving at the whim of a trapper wannabe who thought it was in his best interest to see me fail so that he could try to sell the birds to me (yeah, right!) I was gaining a feel for the people, land, politics, procedures, and all that goes with doing such unusual business in a foreign country.

The drive out and up was beautiful. Even though it was only the first week in April, there were sprinkles for a bit, and the smell of ozone hung thick in the air. The people in Africa rely upon the structure of rules though, so it wasn't going to rain for another month or more. Luckily for me, I put the rainfly on my tent anyway.

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Photos

Into the Countryside
This was the first shot taken, as the city gave way to the countryside.

Into the Mountains
An overcast day, it woudl eventually rain.

Trappng sparrows
They would put a mist net in front of a large clump of bushes, and retrieve whatever birds got caught up in it.

Small termite mounds
They get a lot bigger - some 2-3 stories tall!

Accipiter
Wrong family of raptor, but thanks for showing it to me.

Interesction Town
Shacks form buildings at intersections, til they become a small town.

Mighty Niger
This was my first view of the Niger river. It was stil dry season.

Trappers
In search of finches to use for food and bait for the falcons.

Acre Rice Plots
Many people seem to have been granted one acre out here in the middle of nowhere. THey cultivate rice during the wet months.