Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Departed Mkonge Hotel at about 8 AM and proceeded south of Tanga to Pongwe where we left the hard paved road in the middle of town and turned right through a “farmers market” of produce that was very lively. We then headed into the country where the scene shifted markedly from previous days. Now we are in more “farming country” with sisal plantations (not well tended) and cultivated corn (passed a field of > 4 acres), plus some houses that appear to be more prosperous, of brick construction but far between. Gives the feel of a “plantation.” We get to a dip tank and crush area with several Massai tribesman there, confirmed by our driver from Dar named Menonu. Mama Safe from the Ministry of Agriculture is upset that the “crush” allows the cattle to step outside the foot bath area because the poles are set to the side of the concrete, not in the holes in the pipe that was set in concrete. Nonethless we proceed and eventually work about 500+ animals but at slower pace than previously.

The Massai are good “cowboys” (and “cowgirls” - more than in previous days), but the crush is problematic and only holds about 5-7 animals at a time. By mid afternoon they are gathering individual animals outside of the gathering pen for us to pour on or vaccinate with FMD and inject with ivermectin. This being done by the younger Massai or women while the others still try to work them through the chute. Eventually they weary of it and start picking off individuals in the holding pen and catching with ropes or hand power to manhandle and then we injection and pour on. Many ticks including what appear to be Boophilus and perhaps, what I’m told is the Heartwater Bont tick Amblyoma (another tells me it’s Ripecephalus, the vector of East Coast Fever). Will send pictures to the parasitologists at NCSU for key out. We eventually work 500+. The chief Massai wants CPT Coenen’s phone number, dirty old man that he is despite his robes and dignity. We head back a different way, getting to Pongwe on back roads that get us to the hard ball quicker and more to the north than where we originally turned off. We reach the hotel and some of us meet a travel agent to discuss possible group travel to Zanzibar over the weekend. Then a group, including newly arrived “Combat Camera” specialists (Air Force) go to the “Hippopotomus” restaurant (Kiboko…in Swahili) for a pleasant supper and several beers (I drank Serengeti).