Submitted by Carolyn Anderson on the 2024 Winter ENWC program in Tanzania…
Throughout the night, I heard many hyenas whooping. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience to hear that in all different directions around our campsite. I was hoping I would hear a lion or leopard, but unfortunately all I heard was hyenas. Nevertheless, it was still very fascinating. We started the day with a long hike, or nature walk, with our Maasai guides. It was an amazing feeling to be out in nature on foot, rather than in the trucks. It felt much more real and tangible than it does when we are driving. We saw many birds, as always, but we also saw many other things. We saw hyena, buffalo, lion, and jackal tracks! Although we did not see any live hyena, buffalo, or lion, we did see a buffalo carcass and a live black-backed jackal running through the tall grasses. We also saw a bat-eared fox! It was very apparent where it gets its name from, as its ears were just about all I could see over the top of the grass. Another cool sighting was a large male hartebeest at the top of the hill we were climbing up. It looked so majestic just standing there, watching us as we were watching it. Later in the day, after we had gotten back to camp, we were able to watch the Maasai process a goat for dinner. I was not sure what to expect, but I was really impressed with what I saw. Their carefulness, efficiency, and respect for the animal was amazing. It was such an honor to see a tradition that has undoubtedly been passed down through numerous generations and has persisted for so long. I really appreciated getting to learn more about their culture and my own through the process. At dinner, two men from the Randilen Wildlife Management Area spoke to us. They gave such valuable insight into what community-based conservation can and should look like. Their commitment to conserving wildlife while improving the lives of their community is something that everyone should look up to. (Submitted on January 11, 2024)