Airstrip

From midnight I slept more soundly, as until then I was jumpy about prowling creatures and whether I’d stashed the alluring meaty fire griddles far enough away from the pillow that had my head on it. However the campsite was overall a good choice as it was bordered by a dry rocky riverbed that would be unlikely to provide a good route to water for any curious wildlife.

Pre 5am we were on the warm sand with coffee as the Ruvuma River and surrounding ecosystem burst into life. The day was spent in the rocky and remote north section of the Conservancy, in and around a new management block, recently acquired and annexed to the existing area after a lengthy tender process. A new scout outpost is being constructed to better patrol the international border with Tanzania, which creates problems with fishing and mining. This is Wim surveying a new airstrip, which is needed in such a vast area to service remote corners of the Conservancy, both in terms of operations and in case of emergency. Clearing vegetation and levelling the earth is hot work indeed. The ash is where tree stumps have had to be burnt, allowing the fire to course through the roots, to weaken the whole thing to excavate. The airstrip has to be around 800 metres in length and of good enough quality to allow a small plane to land.

The most interesting news of the day is that my niece dislikes banana, based on the picture of her face trying it. We are kindred spirits.