Ruaha National Park

After three wonderful days in Ruaha National Park, we are heading out tomorrow. Today at a lunchtime picnic on the banks of the Mwagusi Sand River, students gave their behavioral ecology presentations where each student becomes an expert on one particular animal: giraffe, kudu, impala, hyena, lion, wild dog, etc.

After lunch we loaded back into our vehicles and were almost immediately rewarded by a large pride of lions resting in the shade. Additionally we've found ourselves in the midst of matriarchal groups of elephants, seen bachelor herds of impala, harems of zebra, crèches of young giraffes, huge migrations of vultures, troops of baboons, and watching hippos honk in the river from the verandahs of our cottages. We've really had an incredibly special time here at Ruaha.

Tomorrow we head out of the park to meet some of the people who live on the periphery of this cast protected space. We will talk with them about the challenges of living adjacent to the park, and learn about a few of the projects that have developed in these areas to help mitigate some of the conflicts.

Will write more the day after tomorrow when we are back in Iringa town with better connectivity.