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Mang'ati or Barabaig woman. A sub clan of the larger Masai tribe. Only these spiral-shaped jewels are on display, also around the arms and legs. Notice the exclusive scars around the eyes. Sometimes on elder women, a similar dotted scar will run from the forehead to the chin.
Arusha…officially a city. Go and figure… Local dwellers don’t always have proper sanitations nor running water, roads are in poor conditions nevertheless the IMF gave money for road building years ago. Arusha was rated in the 10 worst cities to visit according to a Lonely Planet survey… a bit harsh I would agree with that.
So here we are alongside the main road. Authorities are not embarrassed by their open laziness and incompetence apparently. Local newspapers are not that keen either, my rant is not just an expatriate’s point of view.
On a Sunday morning, I bet this girl was her way to some church. Africa is certainly not short of churches…
Typical street vendor walking all day long. Sunglasses, shoes, food, household items, dope (though in a bit more discrete manner)…everything made in China or locally is available, you just have to wait for the right guy.
Cop in half complete uniform… no bars, no ID tag.
Did he borrow his kid’s bike?
Various religions and fashions in Arusha.
2 well dressed Tanzanian girls…
Those hand carts are numerous and convenient.
Obama's portrait is to be seen on many t-shirts, woolen hats, caps, stickers… I met once a Kenyan guy who said to be disappointed by Obama because he hadn’t soaked Kenya, and mostly his supposedly tribal area, with billions of $. That tribal instinct is still embedded deeply on the continent, to the detriment of the general countries well being. Tanzania escapes that trend somewhat: the first president had displaced and scattered tribes to fight that nasty habit. Some delicate maneuver but the good results are obvious. Some tribes like Masai managed to gather again and stay themselves since they are stubborn and nomadic.
the main tree in the village, people love to gather there and chat.
A Caravan on take off.
Sunset on Mt Meru.
One of our Flying Medical Service airplanes facing lake Natron. The pinkish line on the horizon is the typical salt crust on that lake.
Another airstrip, Pininyi, on lake Natron. Shombole behind.
While on clinics we attract usually mothers and children and sick people. These Masai warriors are just passing by for me. The word has spread out that I give prints for my models.
contrast between a dry and a wet season. Volcano Lengai in the distance.
A good rain season changes the landscapes quite drastically. There is then a European touch. That is till you spot an elephant or a Masai.
That was a serious puncture,wasn’t it?
I know I’ve been living in Tanzania for 14 years but even to me this looks like a good road, no? Well the rental companies forbid to use non tarmacked roads. And the local Indian tour operators and guides try to rip visitors off, trying to convince them one needs a 4x4 jeep for this! Well f… them all. Here we were on the Monument valley dirt roads.
the army strolls around everyday nowadays…
Did they really have to choose a red color for their double-deckers? London chould sue?
A peace monument nearby the Eiffel tower. There is a controversy to put it down… I’ve seen worse I must say.
On another note, the beautiful place des Vosges. Always crammed too with people as soon as a sunray shows up.
Some friends were band members, with names like Korange or Eclipse.
I thought I’d better experiment before going to Pink Floyd, Brian Ferry…
so my first camera, a Minolta X700, was at use with various films such as the Fujicolor 1600. It looks grainy today but by then it was a great film for low light.
lake Natron, a stunning salt lake that is ever changing
on the shoreline, there are a few deltas or springs. The sceneries then look a bit more normal.
an old pride from 2004, shot on a brand new Leica M6 and Kodak 160 VC.
My early years in photography. Cologne and its lively streets were my playground where I honed some skills.
the Dom, that is the famous cathedral is provided with a large square, which allows many artists to perform. The place was always alive! Here capoeira dancers.
tattoos were still a baddie attitude by then. Good girls didn’t event think of having one.
Lake Natron, salted and usually quite dry most of the year got flooded recently which explains the beautiful cloud reflection. But the river from Kenya just brought a big amount of mud and sediment. Nice colors and contrasts.
The muddy waters in the delta only shows that orange tone.
A rare waterfall, it probably won’t last as it is most likely fed by upper rains.
Flamingoes on flooded plains.
This is near Arusha, an area that can look like a dust bowl at other time of the year. This country can sure show a lot of extreme feats!
Elephants love mud, love to bathe in it and splash all over.
Cheetah waking up.
Part of the famous wildebeest migration, Ndutu.
Spotted hyena. I'm still waiting to see a rarer stripped hyena...
67 elephants are poached everyday in average. Thanks Asia...
Lions...hunted and going closer to the endangered list.
Masai people are the most famous and apparently numerous in northern Tanzanian.
Sonjo people are hardly famous, live in one area off lake Natron, Sonjo Valley. There have been bloody clashes over land issues with the Masai invaders. Lately we have flown a few patients with bullet wounds.
locals and expatriates or even tourists have many grudges against Arusha but I like to grab a camera and keep an eye open. Interesting sceneries happen.
“Boda boda”, the local nickname for motobike taxis. Only for people wish a death wish or a certain level of unconsciousness… These riders seemed to have jumped straight from bicycle riding to these. Here I got spotted by this pretty girl, she just smiled, didn’t ask for money.
Mobile fruit stand. Not so many around are that elaborate with a roof.
On a Sunday, shops are closed usually but other entrepreneurs squat the front pavements for their own business, usually selling crap Chinese goodies. Pleonasm I know and Africans were quick to notice that too after just a coupla years of invasion.
Umbrellas against the fierce sun. Common sighting lately, even in the bush.
flamboyant colors usually I know but once in a while a b/w editing is interesting too.
During the rain season the lake looks normal thanks to some springs and one river flowing in. But even so the salt amount stays important and animals looking for fresh water won’t venture far. This is Shombole, an extinct volcano.
Vertical views are usually spectacular!
A propeller seriously damaged. That was a prop strike with engine running at high speed. Tip: the 3 blades are equally twisted. One blade damaged means the engine was off and the propeller had no inertia. Some pilots have been caught lying...
Facing an active volcano, Lengai. Flying Medical Service has about 30 various airstrips to provide mobile clinics. Here is Monik on lake Natron.
Pilots will appreciate this sloped airstrip, Engoveroni, at 6500 feet, 400 meter long, 170 ft difference between the ends. Our C206's have a normally aspirated engine
Somewhere in the Ngorongoro area, Olbalbal0
Landing with a strong crosswind at Ngaresero, the volcano Lengai lies in the distance.
yes this is an airstrip.
This one is located in the middle of Sengerema village, with houses on each side. Congratulations to the decision makers…
Funny little white flowers during the rain season, Olbalbal.
Another airstrip but of much better quality than it looks like. The Masai ladies are sheltering from the rain.
stormy weather, always lovely to watch and sometimes not so when flying through.
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