Ben Wilhelmi

Street photography, Stonetown, Zanzibar

 

As said before fashion has become really interesting over the years.

Western goodies and style creep in slowly for some...

or full blast for others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial photography over the Indian ocean, Tanzania

 

lots of mangroves are to be found around. In combination with the tides the landscape can differ wildly in the same day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial photography of wildlife, Tanzania

 

In this era of drones let me precise that I take these aerials while flying the plane myself. The challenge is quite different.

All the animals below come from the Selous reserve in southern Tanzania along the Luhego (Luwegu) river and the Rufiji river. There are many airstrips in that huge reserve which we have good reasons to fly low and slow, that is while taking off and landing.

Hippos gathering and a fish eagle on take

 

2 ground hornbills (bucorves en français) land near a fish eagle at lunch

 

Egyptian geese.

 

 

Saddle-billed storks (jabiru d'Afrique)

 

Egyptian geese, a few yellow-billed storks and hippos.

 

 

Waterbucks (cobes)

 

Buffaloes.

 

Wildebeests (gnous)

Street photography, Tanzania

 

Fashion varies wildly nowadays, things have changed a lot in 20 years, to the chagrin of some old farts....

Same t-shirts, those girls must have been hired for some event.

 

 

Things that are much slower to change, the attitude to safety on the road...notice the helmet protecting the balls. Sense of priority I guess.

 

Helmets seem to be on the rise but baby steps.

 

 

 

Aeriel view of lions, Tanzania

Somewhere in the southern Selous lies a bush airstrip, Luhanyando 2. Yes there is a Luhanyando 1 across the Luhego river. The location is really stunning, the wide river has crossed some rocky hills and is now running through sandy terrain. Just after take off the stunning vista creates an urge to fly for a few minutes a bit lower than usual for sightseeing and spotting animals. We are bush pilots, well some of us...

Animals we regularly spot are birds of various sizes and the usual mammals, like elephants, gazelles, buffalos, hippos, giraffes, zebras... but felines? About never1 They blend too well and are less numerous. So how did I spot these camouflaged lions on a sand bank, I have no idea. Mind you the aeroplane cruises at about 300km/h.  But I did and that made me happy for the day.

 

The male was unfazed but the female was, surprise, curious.

Scenes in the Masai bush, Tanzania

 

 

Fashion changes slowly even in the remote northern territories of Tanzania. This blue pattern is definitely not included in the traditional Masai clothing.

 

A non-perenial pond becomes the holy place while it lasts.

 

Cows are the main thing regarding status, show off and wealth. But goats are welcome as side dishes.

Donkeys are useful too but not much in term of status.

 

 

Things change...

 

 

Things change!!  "Tout fout le camp" as we say in French...

 

Street photography in Stonetown, Zanzibar

 

 

 

 

Men are at an advantage to drop their traditional outfits quicker than women. Not fair. Nothing new ...

 

 

Forodhani garden...the food place. Sadly the souvenirs sellers have creeped in, not only selling their usual goodies, same as in Stonetown 200m away, but they are blocking the ocean view, a whole corner! They seem to think people travel here from all over the globe to fall in tourist trap shops?

 

The main beach is safe. For now...

 

 

 

No shop but these touts and hawkers...some are like glue. This old man sat there uninvited for 30 min. These girls were too sweet and didn't want to hurt his feelings...

 

 

As said before, men are men everywhere.

 

Aerial photography and wildlife, Tanzania

 

 

Can you spot the crocodile?

 

A hippo, a bird or 2 and another crocodile.

Zebras and elephants

 

Water playing with animal tracks.

More zebras.

Hard to distinguish, the camouflage is quite good. A zebra?

2 crocs.

Street photography, Dodoma, Tanzania

Some more pictures from Dodoma streets, though they could have been taken in many other places in the country. 

School uniforms is still the norm in East Africa.

This type of tricycle is also standard, it allows the beneficiary more autonomy on top of a luggage rack.

 

 

A famous paint brand has decorated many streets in the country. Sadly the colors, especially red turning pink, fades quickly under the intense African sun. Not a good advertisement...

 

Elegant cyclist.

 

And girls are resisting fashion either.

 

Luckily the city center is flat. The hills are far away.

 

 

Should I call Louis Vuitton hot line? A few $ will get you one of those bags. Funny enough this is not for the poor white client market, but rather for African clients but I have noticed many people don't always know about Gucci or Vuitton. Just a fancy design and voilà. They are shocked to hear the costs of the authentic items.

 

This kind of shiny material has recently (?) appeared on Muslim men of any age.

 

Those little motorbikes have been an instant hit when they appeared over 10 years ago. Number of casualties followed suit quickly.

Churches are nearly as numerous, sadly.

Uganda, street photography

 

 

 

 

Sugar cane juice with a drop of lemon on ice is one of my favorite juices out here in East Africa. But it comes out yellowish like lime juice. Maybe that red is just another concoction. I have to ask my fixer.

 

In a school I visited. Interesting choice of toy. Kids love to run behind a wheel or a metal ring, albeit usually smaller, and direct it with a stick. Cardio and coordination. Better than slouching on the coach for sure.

 

 

The businesswoman at work.

 

 

Usually bus stops are...chaotic, colorful, noisy and packed with goodies on stalls or on somebody's head or shoulders. And thus those scenes are very photogenic

In Uganda but on the way to Kenya, an unusual bus stop in stark comparison. One main color and hardly no more? Quite impressive.

 

 

Colors in Africa!