Last Updated - 2 March, 2012 10:00 AM est

SAFARI DAY 7

- Tarangire National Park / Noloholo Environmental Center -

Tarangire Wet Season Nov - Dec March - June	Tarangire Dry Season January-February July-October

Click on Image above for a larger map

Noloholo Environmental Center

The Noloholo Environmental Center is the culmination of a dream born by our director, Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld, in 1996 while working on a Fulbright Scholarship in southern Kenya and an architectural vision made real by our director of programs, Charles Trout.

( Noloholo Educational Facility Main Entrance )

In late 2006, APW made history in Tanzania when it became the first non-profit to receive land donated by a Maasai village in support of the Noloholo Environmental Center. Located within the Maasai Steppe of northern Tanzania, and sharing a boundary with Tarangire National Park, Noloholo acts as APW’s regional headquarters as well as an educational center where rural villagers improve their understanding of the environment and develop hands-on skills in natural resource management. The only one of its kind throughout all of northern Tanzania, the Noloholo Environmental Center is an important resource for local communities, conservation organizations and government authorities throughout the North. Follow this link to learn more about the African people and Wildlife Fund and the Noloholo Environmental Center.

In addition, the organization has created the Massai Steppe Conservation Education Program that reaches more than 100 rural school children annually.  It is the largest program of its kind across the region and promotes instilling the tenants of conservation in Africa’s next generation of leaders. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is pleased to provide funding to these environmental camps and believes in the valuable work being done there.

Kilimanjaro Revisited
Below are some pictures and questions from the climb

( Mike Boos celebrates at Uhuru Peak )

( Paul, a Dublin native, raises the Irish flag on the summit )

( a successful summit! )

( Ada receiving her certificate of accomplishment for reaching Uhuru Peak )

Questions

Laura - Longmont, Colorado
I'm glad to hear that Ngorongoro crater is a success story with ecotourism and community based conservation working together. What do you think makes these aspects successful? It would be great if more places had economic incentive of preserving land and wildlife!
Laura, wonderful question, we believe the key to this success is that it is that it's not just ecotourism, it is a combination of the education of the local population and a buy in of pride in the local environment. This all leads to a zeal of sharing these treasures with the world. There are several areas that have been designated as National Parks in Tanzania and with the introduction of cultural attractions and the cooperation of local tribes such as the Maasai and Iraqwi, it is a win-win situation for the local wildlife, indigenous populations and the people of Tanzania.
The Busch Gardens Xpedition Members & Our Safari Guides

Jerri Sedelmeier (Mike O'Toole's sister) - Nottingham Elementary, Houston, Texas
It was no surprise seeing that you scrambled up Lava Tower. What is the most treacherous part of the climb up Kilimanjaro?
I always love to climb lava tower and play around on the rocks but sitting here with our Mountain Guide, Safi, we both agree that the most difficult part of climbing Kilimanjaro is dealing with altitude issues. You can be in the best shape of your life but if you don't listen to your body and prepare properly by hydrating and taking your time, you will pay the price. This year as in year's past, I climbed an additional 1000 feet to the ash pit after reaching Crater camp, but was aided by some very strong guides and years of experience.
Mike O'Toole—Xpedition Leader

Highland Hills Middle School – Georgetown, Indiana
What has been the most difficult thing so far?
I found that having a positive attitude helped tremendously. Wither it be on the mountain, on Safari or just dealing with the reality of some of the poverty issues associated with visiting Tanzania. As for encouragement, the mountain and animals on safari have been wonderful but how gracious and welcoming our new African friends have been, has been amazing, the true treasure of our journey so far.
Natasha—Xpedition Member

Orange Grove Middle School – Tampa, Florida
Students and others keep asking what you are eating. Please give us a list of the more exotic or unusual things you have had to eat while on your journey.
First of all the food has been fabulous both on the mountain and on Safari. Members of our team are professionally trained chefs and the food each day has been extremely diverse. A typical day starts with a hot bowl of porridge toast and a warm drink. That is usually followed by eggs, sausage and mixed fruit. We have had some wonderful African dishes such as banana stews, barbecue lamb, passion fruit and all types of curries. One of the most amazing things is that after two weeks on our African adventure we have not had the same menu twice. It has always been a pleasure sitting down with our new African friends at dinner to relive the day's highlights.
The Xpedition Team

Jerri Sedelmeier – (Mike O'Toole's sister) - Nottingham Elementary, Houston, Texas
Now that you are on the Safari, what type of lodgings do you have? Do you have to worry about wild animals at night?
The accommodations while on Safari have been in a tented camp. We have a cot, unlike on the mountain but our camps are in the wild. The first night in the Serengeti, we heard lions and hyenas in the distance, so we made sure not to venture out. The second night we had a herd of 100 to 200 wildebeest cross a couple yards from our campsite. The third night we had to leave all food and wrappers in the trucks due to the bush pigs and tonight in Manyara we can hear the monkeys in the surrounding trees. Those sounds along with the hundreds of exotic birds make for a true adventure.
Mike O'Toole—Xpedition Leader

Avarie - Orange Grove Middle School – Tampa, Florida
The topographic profile from day 4 on the mountain shows you descending. Is this temporary and how deep will you climb next?
On a climb such as the one on Kilimanjaro with a height of 19,340 feet, there must be time to acclimate to the altitude. We do that by hiking high and sleeping low. Day 4 of the climb allowed our team to prepare for higher altitudes. It is very important to prepare the climbers for this environment because above 16,500 feet there is no room for error, everyone must be strong and healthy for the push to the summit.
Safi—Mountain Guide

Mrs. Van Oosten's Gifted Science Students - Walden Lake Elementary, Plant City, FL.
What was it like when the animals were migrating? Could you feel the earth tremble?
Seeing the animals in such huge numbers was incredible and a memory that I will not soon forget. The one surprising thing that I noticed was that many of them were in a single file line and moved slowly across the plain, Poli-Poli, Swahili for slowly, slowly. As far as the earth trembling, I did see a group of 30 or 40 zebras drinking at a small lake and one got startled and caused the entire group to run for cover. It ended up just being a bird that decided to land on one of the zebra, not a crocodile or hippo but the sound and shaking from the heard in motion was felt by all.
Shellie—Expedition Member

Barney Peterson - Xpedition Alum
Wow! It is amazing to see so much snow on the ground at the crater camp! I am particularly interested to note how much new snow is on top of the old ice of the glacier. Small wonder the glaciers are not growing if no more snow than that has accumulated. Can you provide any more information about that?
Barney, I have heard a lot about you, sorry I didn't get to climb with you last year. It is my understanding you visited our country and climbed in September. Now because it is February and at the end of one of the rainy seasons we have more precipitation on the mountain. We receive seasonal snows but unfortunately, they are not enough to have a positive effect on the glaciers due to the hot equatorial sun.
Safi—Mountain Guide

Highland Hills Middle School - Georgetown, Indiana
Would you climb the mountain again?
I am so glad I was able to reach the roof of Africa, it was a very difficult but once I established a routine of one foot in front of the other, the six to eight hour days were not that bad. The time also provided opportunities to reflect on the challenges ahead as well as other aspects of my life. I will always remember this adventure, not sure if I would want to repeat it, but it will be a point of pride for a long time.
Mike Boos—Xpedition Member

Xpedition Member Mike Boos

VP of Zoology at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

VP of Zoo, Mike Boos, talks about Busch Gardens' New Attractions

Vet Careers - Busch Gardens Resident Camp

Aspiring to become a professional in veterinary health care?  Join our staff and experience veterinary medicine firsthand. Shadow staff on rounds, participate in labs and professional development classes, and even observe procedures.  Campers work behind the scenes to explore what being on a veterinary team at a world-class zoo is all about.  After hours, enjoy all that Busch Gardens and SeaWorld have to offer.

 

- Virtual Safari - Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay -

Use the Binoculars above to find a variety of animals that
call the Zoological Park at Busch Gardens Tampa home.
Click on the Image to learn more about each.

All Animals are waiting for you to visit!

 

Creative Conservation:  “Living Walls”

The Maasai Steppe heartland of Tanzania is a breathtaking landscape of woodlands, bush land and open grasslands. Rare animals like African wild dog, the fringe-eared oryx, and the African lion call this vast area of over 10 million acres home – but populations of these species have dwindled in recent years due to conflicts with the Massai people who share 92 percent of this land. 

Problems arise when these animals go in search of prey – and find it in the form of cattle, goats and sheep living on Massai homesteads.  Especially affected are the big cats, with African lion populations in the area estimated to be as low as 450 remaining lions.  In an effort to help promote a peaceful co-existence between humans and animals in the area, the African People & Wildlife Fund has been working overtime to find viable solutions.

One very successful initiative has been the creation of “Living Walls” (also known as a boma) that are now protecting approximately 25,000 head of livestock on a nightly basis and positively impacting nearly 2000 community members.  These predator resistant enclosures consist of rows of planted trees reinforced with wire mesh fencing. The use of live trees as fence posts enhances the long-term sustainability of the enclosure by reducing the need to repetitively cut down thorn trees for “boma” maintenance – which then contributes to further habitat loss.  Living Walls provide a win/win scenario that keeps cattle safe from lions – and lions out of the way of Massai spears.
Recently the organization celebrated the achievement of creating 100 Living Walls in the Massai Steppe area.  With livestock safe at night, reduced lion-livestock conflict means better outcomes for the big cats.

In addition, the organization has created the Massai Steppe Conservation Education Program that reaches more than 100 rural school children annually.  It is the largest program of its kind across the region and promotes instilling the tenants of conservation in Africa’s next generation of leaders. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is pleased to provide funding to these environmental camps and believes in the valuable work being done there.

 

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