Ben Wilhelmi

rains in Tanzania, aerial shooting

African skies are always worth watching in the rain seasons, not only for pilots and farmers, but for anybody who can marvel at Nature art.

 

A short lived waterfall…

 

This man-made waterhole will last longer, but unlikely to last a year long.

 

Green hues will last a few months but usually not long enough, either for photography or people’s liking.

 

Flooded area, including our airstrip.

 

Bogged down truck.

 

Another river and little waterfall that won’t last. Too bad as it makes the scenery much more interesting.

 

Even this big fat river will dry out soon.

 

rainy skies, Tanzania

 

while on duty with Flying Medical Service in the rain season.

Needless to say, we don’t always escape the rains or the storms…

aerial photography in Tanzania, rain season

 

Unfazed Masai old man…

 

Come here north of Arusha a few months later and you’ll have dust storms…

 

Active volcano Oldonyo Lengai in the Rift.

 

2 images of lake Natron delta in the north.

 

Happy cows…

and happy villagers, in the middle flows a river.

 

My passengers, that is usually medical workers, are always fascinated by a flowing river, especially when there are little rapids or waterfalls to observe.

Tanzania in the rain season, aerial photography

 

wildebeests (gnous en fr.) running in flooded lake Natron northern delta.

Rare full rivers.

Lake Natron, a heavily salted lake in the Rift Valley is usually red when dry. Here it will briefly look like a normal lake.

Not so old wheel tracks now partially flooded. Anyway a detour is now highly recommended in this delta, north of Natron

rainy season in Tanzania, aerial photography

 

there are some tractors around but cows and plows are still common.

the Arusha Loliondo road track. Many of our airstrips are not even close to this in term of width and quality.

 

Malambo village and airstrip, Gol mountains.

 

Tanzania under the rains, aerials

 

while flying for Flying Medical Service, I get to see incredible places. Places which have changed a great time lately. Green colors showed up in no time, typical tropical feat after some heavy showers. Waterholes, non perennial lakes, rivers have filled up quickly too.

One of our Cessna C206’s on clinics.

this airstrip is normally the driest of all we use. Grass got the upper hand once more, though it won’t last much past December…

wildlife in the rain season, Tanzania

 

Katavi nat’l park, S.W. Tanzania. At some the camps have to closed down because the grass grows high, like 3 meter high. So animal viewing is seriously hampered, and dangerous. Once, though driving slowly across the bush, we nearly touched  an elephant’s bum.

 

all shot on films and Nikon cameras, F3 or FM2 and usually a 300mm 4.5 AIS lens (yes old gear)

short rains in Tanzania, aerial photography

 

Imagine the joy amongst Masai herders and others, when any of  the ponds below finally fills up. They had been dried for 5 months at least…

 

Up to one month ago, this place was just plain brown and dusty.