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Published: February 16th 2009
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Young Massai Warrior
He suddenly appeared in front of the Baobab tree as if by magic. Squealing Fun
Known as the place where man was born I approached a huge Baobab tree in Tarangire National Park. Lying just southeast of Lake Manyara this part of the Serengeti ecosystem includes the vast game reserve savannas of Mkungunero and Lolkisale.
I walked across a grassy field to get in better range to photograph what appeared to be an uprooted tree turned upside down and replanted with its roots sticking out of the ground.
No one was around. I finished a roll of film and knelt down to get into my camera bag. A few seconds later I stood to recompose the scene. A young Massai boy, perhaps 12, now appeared before me in front of the towering mythical tree.
Dressed in a traditional red suka with a wood staff taller than he was, he called out. “This is mine. You pay,” referring to the tree.
He had to have come from the bush but the nearest shrubs were at least forty yards away. Or was he hiding on the other side of tree just waiting for someone to come along?
As I approached triggering several photos he again said, “You pay.”
We spoke
Elephant Brothers
They were squealing, throwing red dirt and acting like children. a bit but I never could understand his name. His bright red suka was in stark contrast to the surrounding greenery. With his permission I shot several more images. My camera now at my side we were face to face. He was grinning with yellow bits of maze coating his teeth holding out his hand for payment.
I gave him 10,000 shillings, about ten American dollars. He immediately reached for my arm and pulled off his beaded wristband clamping it on my wrist. “This is for you.”
It was a nice trade for me, a true souvenir of blue beads and wood tubes on a single strand of wire. It was better than anything I could have purchased in a store. I was proud to wear it.
“You go down there, Tembo.” He pointed toward the river just down the hillside.
Thanking him I turned and headed for the Land Cruiser putting my camera back into its case. Maybe twenty-five feet away I glanced back to say goodbye but he was gone. He disappeared back into the bush without a trace, like magic.
Back in the Land Cruiser we headed toward the Tarangire River. This Tanzanian National Park has a high density of wildlife during the dry season from August through October. But even now in May large herds of elephants seek out this grassland habitat.
Once driving along the river we viewed both elephants and giraffe seeking it refreshing cool waters. A few bull elephants grabbed at the waters with their sensitive trunks while others grazed on the tender grasses along the bank.
Elegant long necked giraffe stood and stared, each with their own brown and yellow patterns, unique like fingerprints. Curious, they made me feel like an interloper in this exotic land.
Further down the dirt road we flushed thousands of Yellow-bellied Bulbuls. The tiny birds surged like a great school of fish shifting on the oceans current. They flowed on the wind, chirping all the way, circling and settling exactly where they started from.
Driving deeper into the thickening forest a small herd of elephants emerged onto the red muddy road. I singled out a young pair to photograph. They were playing, pushing and shoving at each other, full of youth.
I stood in the open topped Cruiser the motor drive of my camera whirring away. Squeals and grunts emanated from the pair as they wrestled, the larger one pinning the youngster in the red dirt. Their trunks intertwined and I was wide eyed and thrilled.
A bold trumpeting sound blared from across the road. I turned in time to see a large bull, ears flared, dust spraying from its trunk. He charged the Cruiser, stomping at the ground.
In barely a few seconds he was so close I couldn’t focus my lens. Dirt thrown at my face I felt the splatter. He made it known I was to leave the young ones alone. Just as fast he backed away and the threat was gone.
All the elephants retreated together into the bush with the adults forming a circle around the young. My driver and I hooped and hollered thrilled by what just happened. We too pulled away our adrenalin pumping.
My thoughts as we rounded the bend? I just got this on film.
Did that Massai boy know this was going to happen? It was all magic as we continued down the safari road.
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