Parting thoughts, words and deeds.

4^TH January

After a whirlwind of shopping and site seeing, I’m back in Mareja for the final spell.  The rains have definitely begun to flex their muscles, if the torrential and light obliterating rain storm on the way back was anything to go by.  The coast has been panting in the pressure cooker waiting for it all to break and drench the multitude of shambas, great and small, being prepared.  Speaking of shambas, the National Park aerial guards, posted under the shadow of Nicanue, have taken it upon themselves to cut trees and clear bush around their accommodation.  I consulted Ali, the Chief Ranger, and he said Dominik had told them twice before not to do so.  There may be trouble ahead.

5^th January

I prepared a letter with Ali and Bacari, clearly stating that the guards have been told twice already, not to make a shamba.  Furthermore, if they are caught again, they will have to remove all signs of their presence from the area.  Frankly, and I don’t think I’m alone in this, I hope they do get themselves kicked out.  The Post is in a very valuable wildlife area, frequented by a number of wildlife species including elephant, leopard, lion, bushpig, warthog and several small antelope species, prior to the permanent presence of humans.  The man responsible for the cutting of trees etc. was very reluctant initially, but after we stressed how it would look in the eyes of the Chief Park Warden, if the crops were not removed and destroyed, he agreed and cleared the maize and cassava by the end of the following day.

It is a very tricky situation, and at times an uneasy alliance, between the Mareja Reserve and the surrounding National Park.  The letter was forwarded to the Chief Park Warden and I hope we made our point clearly without sounding militant?  The truth is that if crops had been allowed to stay, elephants would have certainly been attracted.  One then has a potentially lethal human wildlife interaction and many times previously, “problem” animals are destroyed.  This could not be allowed to happen in the heart of one of the last bastions for wildlife in northern Mozambique, because of one man who did not want to abide by rules and common sense.

6^th January

Heavy rain throughout the night had filled the rain gauge with 17 mm.  Me and a small road maintenance crew went down the track towards the Rio Masapelo.  The rain had showed us where the worst areas of erosion were going to be as the volume of water increased.  It felt good to get started on such an essential part of the Reserve infrastructure management.  After a good start in the morning, 2pm saw us trooping off down the track to finish off.  Ominous rumbles from really prominent thunder clouds billowing and swirling off to the south, did not bode well for our chances of staying dry.  Sure enough, without much preamble, the heavy drops began and I jogged home whilst the guys finished clearing the drainage ditches. 

7^th January

The rains came and went and then as night fall approached, struck again to continue through the night.  By this morning, building rooves had experienced their sternest test since being completed, and had passed with but a few leaks.  The trees seem to be breathing and gulping in fresh draughts of moist, rich air and flexing roots grown brittle through the long dry season.  The Jambiri tree saplings, with their golden bark and beautiful big, floppy green leaves, seem to have taken another leap toward the heavens in their bid to secure a patch of light.  I planted another seed in an unoccupied corner of the “badminton court” and left it with healthy thoughts of growth. 

I’ll miss the variety and multi-tiered structure of the vegetation.  My status (self proclaimed) as a tree hugger has been in no doubt for some time; I shameless adore spending time in the forests wherever I'm working, and some trees are simply majestic.  But, Mareja has shown me another side to fauna and flora of this Tanzanian neighbour.  There is a different feel to the place and the people, which is both invigorating and warm.  Whatever the future holds, I may well be back.