Dar – dense, yet diverse

Let’s be honest, I (Shannon) am writing this post.  Nathan loves being outside, but he’s not ready to be a nature nerd…yet.

When I tell people we live in Tanzania, there are two common reactions:  either they think I am talking about an island off the coast of Australia or they think I live in ‘the bush.’  Tanzania is actually a large country in East Africa, just south of the Equator with what I consider some of the most beautiful geography on the planet.  The country is blessed with high biodiversity due in part to many types of ecosystems, from rainforest to savanna to coral reefs.  We live in Dar es Salaam, a huge, tropical city on the Indian Ocean and despite poorly planned, rapid development and heavy pollution, there are amazing creatures everywhere.  You just have to be willing to slow down, look around, and listen.

Wildlife at the Children’s Home

Even common critters are amazing in Tanzania!

Hello there sunbird!

There are snails the size of your hand (note my backpack behind)…

…geckos the size of your pinky nail…

…and grasshoppers the size of my phone!

Baobab trees on land…

…and coral reefs just feet away.

We might not live in ‘the bush’ but we live somewhere beautiful and exciting in a different way.  I wake to the sound of doves and kingfishers and fall sleep to the sound of frogs and bats.  Everyday I see a bird, flower, tree, or insect that reminds me how much I love nature and how much I still have to learn.  Unfortunately, printed materials such as guide books are not common in Tanzania so learning new things has not been easy.  For example, after I saw the black and orange frog above I went to several bookstores to see if I could find a book on reptiles and amphibians of East Africa.  Not only did I not find a book in Dar, the only thing I found was a laminated, one-page frog guide for Costa Rica.  As a Biologist, this is frustrating but as an educator it shows me again that there is an important first-step needed in Tanzania – an appreciation for all living things.  This is not the biggest concern of course in a developing country, but I believe that if we can teach children especially to love nature they will be more compassionate and curious, even as adults.

Things are headed in the right direction though, at least for 31 kids I work with.  We are lucky to have many critters at the Children’s Home that help introduce this idea, but the recent rescue of Ducky Lucky by my friend Mari has brought a love for animals to a new level.  Lucky was dropped by a crow into the yard and in the last month many of the children have come to love her/him in a way I hope doesn’t fade with time.  The kids are concerned about its food, pool, poop, the new house being built for it, everything you can imagine.  We are lucky to have Lucky for all the skills he/she will teach!

Ducky Lucky is a great teacher! (Photo Credit to Sophie)

NERD ALERT:  Tanzania has recorded over 1,100 species of birds (residents and migrants).  Compare this to about 900 species found in the USA.  The land area of America is 10 times larger than Tanzania!