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 | AFRICA
THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME
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Greetings!
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As you can imagine, there was more to our recent trip to Tanzania than photographing political figures. During our "down time," we also had the opportunity to go on a number of safaris and during the evenings, we were entertained by several heads of state. From safaris to the the Ngorongoro crater to a monumental tent where President Kikwete held a state dinner for us, the trip was truly amazing. In short, it was indeed The Trip Of A Lifetime.
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The Bushmen
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 During an off-day, we traveled with a documentary film crew who were filming the lives of the Bushmen in a remote area of Tanzania.
Long isolated from the effects of civilization, until recently these gentle people lived solely off the land and had no concept of currency. Bartering and sharing provided the necessities of their austere life.
Today, the Bushmen are beginning to manifest the effects of contact with outside cultures. We find them in American shorts and tee shirts. Many would argue that their lifestyle has been "contaminated" by contact with western culture. Whatever the case, these gentle, fascinating, and gracious people provided us a glimpse into their world, and I realized that we as Americans could learn much from their innocent, generous, and accepting nature.
  In spite of the remoteness of their village and the lack of what we see as modern necessities in their lives, it is clear in the faces of these children that kids are kids the world around. While these kids do not have ipods and cell phones, neither do they face the drugs and violence and peer pressure symptomatic of many modern cultures. Yet they laugh and play and sing in just the same way as do children all over the world. Our visit with the Bushmen was a truly eye-opening experience for all of us who were lucky enough to be able to share a few hours of their lives.   This trip to Africa has made me much more appreciative of my life here in America, but it has also made me more aware of how complicated and stressful our lives have become. Modern technology has essentially given us a life of leisure compared to the bushmen, but at what cost? I think a lot these days about these kind, gentle people and how much we could learn from their uncomplicated life. |
SAFARI !
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Tanzania is AMAZING.
Fortunately, we had time in our schedule to do a bit of sightseeing, so we headed out into the countryside to see some of the wildlife. Delegates were given the opportunity to schedule safari tours into a number of the national parks before they left the USA, and trips could also be scheduled in Tanzania after we got there. In the end, however, we realized that there isn't enough time in a lifetime to truly see the wonders of Africa.
Located in the path of the great migration, hundreds of thousands of wild animals pass through the parks and game preserves of Tanzania. Names like Serengeti, Ngogongoro, Manyara, Olduvai, and Rift Valley conjure images of the Africa that we all remember from our childhood Saturday morning movie experiences. Most of us wanted to be Jungle Jim or Tarzan.
 Now, of course, we realize that, sadly, much of this incredibly diverse eco-system is quickly disappearing. Political unrest often leads to illegal activities such as poaching, and the tourist dollars dry up when the tourists are afraid to visit the area. Currently, the political unrest in Kenya is having a devastating effect on the Maasai Mara game preserve. Since tourist dollars generally fund the maintenance of the parks, political instability is devastating to the wildlife populations in Africa. Tanzania's history of political stability helps to ensure the safety of its residents both human and animal, and tourists dollars fund the rangers who patrol and protect the parks and preserves.
It is difficult for us to grasp the concept that these exotic wild animals wander through the fields and villages where the local natives live. Maasai herding their cattle will often be found along side herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, and other wild animals. In fact, the Maasai play an important role in the preservation of these exotic and endangered animals.
 Safari tours allow us to glimpse the raw nature that is Africa from the safety of our vehicles and with an experienced guide thus protecting both us and the animals. This "up close and personal" approach is a rare and exciting experience for any photographer.
If your thinking about going to Africa, DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. DO IT!
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And a great time was had by all.
Jay Fletcher
Fletcher Portrait Artist
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