Olduvai Gorge | Chief's Tours - Trekking and Safaris in Tanzania Olduvai Gorge Olduvai Gorge Olduvai Gorge (Oldupai Gorge) is named after the wild sisal in the area. It is the site of some of the most important fossil hominid finds of all time by Louis and Mary Leakey - "The Nutcracker Man" or Australopithecus boisei who lived 1.75 million years ago. Leaving the Ngorongoro crater rim to Olduvai Gorge entrance and museum is 30km on the road towards Serengeti. Half way along this stretch, a Maasai show village may be visited at a reasonable fee which permits photography and sees how Maasai live in this area. The museum at Olduvai provides an excellent photographic history of research carried out in the Gorge with a summary of the main archeological findings. The importance of the area relates as much to it's location as the way strata of the ash and other deposits have been layered then conveniently exposed during the formation of the Gorge itself.

Louis Lake was the first of the Leaky family to visit the area in the early 1920s. His trip was funded by the British Museum in which his role was that of research assistant. Subsequently his family have became associated with pre-historic archeological research throughout East Africa. Outstanding discoveries include that the famous footprints of family of hominids dating back 3.5 miliion year by Mary Leaky. A nominal fee is charged to visit the museum and it is possible to hire a guide for another nominal fee to take you into a Gorge for a walking tour. The gorge is fairly extensive and attractive cutting through the plains and it's possible to spend a day exploring it but do not expect to see many archeological finds, which can however be seen in the museum. Testimonials I have just returned from an advetnture of a life time facilitated by Adidasi and his team of cool friendly tour guides and porters.We succesfully summited 'Kili' in 6 days via the Lemosho trail and it was unforgetable expirience.

Adidas was a total proffessional and went beyound above his duty to ensure we had the holliday/expedition of life time.The tour guides and porters were knwolegable and likeable guys with a great attitude and fun,positive personalities.Each morning and at the end of each day whilist walking up 'Kili'the guides and porters would set the tone and feel of the day by dancing and singing a range of songs in honor of the mountain and the oportunity to climb.This was the high light of day and we looked forward to "jamming"along with the team. It was fantastic for team and moral and team building!!!Other groups appered quite envious and took photos and videos to capture the moment.

Summit night was difficult but nothing harder then you would expect,but Chiefs tours where there every step of the way!Post "Kili" Adidas done every thing in his power ensure we had holliday of a life time and he trully is honorable and fantastic bloke he took care of all our concerns when in country and we didnt to worry about anything!"Hakuna Matata" Tank you for an amaizing trip!:- PaulScotland Adidas is the best, I wanted to say hello, Adidas guided me and a good friend up Mt. Kilimanjaro in June 2004. It was an amazing experience!

DavidEngland I have just returned from an adventure of a life time facilited by adidas and his team of cool and friendly,tour guides, and porters.we successfully summited "Kili" in 6 days via the lomousho trail and it was unforgettable experience.Addasi was a total professional and went above and beyond his duty to ensure we had the holiday/expedition of a lifetime.The tour guides and porters were both knowledeable and likeable guys with a great altitude and fun,positive personalities.Each morning and at the end of each day whilst walking up 'kili'the guides and porters would set the tone and feel of the day by dancing and singing a range of songs in honor of the mountain and the opportunity to climb .This was the highlight of day and we looked forwardto "jamming"along with the team.It was also fantastic for team moral and team bulding!Other groups appeared quite envious and took photo's and video's to capture the moment.

Summit day was difficult,but nothing harder thenyou would expect,but Chiefs Tours were there every step of the way!Post 'kili' Adidasvdone everything in his power to ensure we had the holiday of a lifetime and he truly is a honorable and fantastic bloke and wedd not have worr about anything."Hakunamatata"! Thank you for an amazing trp;-) Paul Real Life Adventure Travel » Why Visit Olduvai Gorge? Leave a Comment Located in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, the Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine that stretches approximately 48 km and is widely considered to be the most important prehistoric site in the world. In fact, it’s been nicknamed “the Cradle of Mankind” due to the incredible and abundant prehistoric archeological finds discovered there. But you don’t have to be an archeologist or genealogist to enjoy a visit to this fascinating site. Just the idea of setting foot where perhaps the first known humans once roamed is intriguing enough. What Was Discovered There?

About 50 years ago, German entomologist Wilhelm Kattwinkel was hot in pursuit of a beautiful butterfly in the area of Tanganyika when he tripped and fell over a rocky ledge into what’s now known as the Olduvai Gorge, discovering an eroded landscape littered with bones, fossils and ancient artifacts. And the rest, as they say, is history (no pun intended). What’s been uncovered since then has revealed some of the most important evidence of mankind’s earliest existence. The modern-day rift was once a large lake, dating back millions of years. The shores were covered with varying layers of volcanic ash which, over the years, served to cover and preserve remnants of the changing environment. The gorge contains seven main layers, called beds, each of which have revealed fascinating information about the way life was over the past several million years. Bed I is the earliest deposit, and has revealed evidence of prehistoric life, from campsites to stone tools. What’s most interesting about the bones found in this layer are that they are not of humans as we are known today, but rather of primitive hominids.

In bed II, more sophisticated tools such as handaxes were uncovered with an estimated age of around 1.75 to 1.2 million years old. Beds III and IV held fossil bones and Acheulean tools from nearly 600,000 years ago and the higher beds, known as Masek, Ndutu and Naisiusiu Beds, respectively, showed the progress of evolution in humans, the tools they made and their way of life. Also discovered within the rich terrain of the Gorge were fossilized footprints, which revealed how pre-human hominids walked upright. Mary Leakey, who found the footprints, has become somewhat of a legend for her work in the Gorge. The discovery of the footprints is widely considered to be one of the greatest paleoanthropological finds of the twentieth century. Based on these and other findings in the area, scientists have concluded that East Africa is the location where modern humans first made their appearance. How can you Learn More? One of the best features of the Olduvai Gorge is the museum which is located right along the rim.

It presents fascinating samples of both the history of the Gorge and all of the incredible discoveries that have been made there. The wide array of exhibits on display at the museum focuses on the paleoanthropological research and the amazing artifacts that have been recovered from within the gorge and the surrounding area. One hall is completely dedicated to the Leakey family and all of the tireless work they have done in the Gorge. It contains a number of historical artifacts, some real and others (such as the hominid skulls) casts of the originals, as well as maps and charts that explain the process of fossil excavation. Another hall is devoted entirely to the Laetoli fossilized footprints, including casts of the footprints, photographs, charts and illustrations that depict how the footprints were created. There are also two outdoor lecture areas used by museum staff for presentations. It’s a fantastic way to learn about the area and the important role it has played in the history of humankind. Whether you are seeking to experience some of nature’s most fascinating formations, are amazed by the history associated with our ancestry or are simply looking for a unique and unforgettable virtual journey back in time, a visit to the Olduvai Gorge should be on your to-do list.

From the beauty of the surrounding valley to the incredible archeological finds and awe-inspiring testament to the history of mankind, visitors are given the unique opportunity to walk where our ancient predecessors once tread. It’s a journey certain to delight, intrigue and astound even the worldliest traveler. The Old Man of Olduvai Gorge | History | Smithsonian Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Use The Old Man of Olduvai Gorge Irrepressible Louis Leakey, patriarch of the fossil-hunting family, championed the search for human origins in Africa, attracting criticism and praise By Roger Lewin Smithsonian Magazine | Subscribe October 2002 More than anyone, Louis Leakey established Paleoanthropology as a highprofile endeavor. By the time he died 30 years ago this month, his name had become synonymous with the search for human origins. A passionate naturalist and an astute chronicler, Leakey was also a showman who tirelessly publicized his discoveries to admiring audiences around the world. “He loved to be recognized, and to stimulate people by talking about what he’d done and who he was,” his son Richard, 57, himself an expert fossil hunter, has said.

From This Story [×] CLOSE A 1935 expedition to Olduvai turned up elephant fossils and cemented the relationship between Leakey (center) and archaeology student Mary Nicol (right). They wed in 1936. (Leakey Family Collection) Born in Kenya in 1903 to Anglican missionaries, Louis Leakey (in his mother's arms outside the family's mud and thatch house) was initiated as a youth into the Kikuyu tribe. "I still often think in Kikuyu, dream in Kikuyu," he wrote in a 1937 autobiography. (Leakey Family Collection) The Moral Dilemma We Face in the Age of Humans Louis pursued a breathtaking range of interests. He studied fossil bones, stone artifacts and cave paintings. He published monographs on the social customs of the Kikuyu people of Kenya and the string figures, comparable to cat’s cradles, made by people in Angola.

Believing that the behavior of monkeys and apes held clues to the nature of our evolutionary ancestors, he established a research station in Kenya near Nairobi for the study of primates, and he encouraged such now-famous researchers as Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas to live in the wild with, respectively, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Long before wildlife conservation became popular, Leakey helped establish national parks in Kenya. He was an expert stone knapper, or toolmaker, and would delight in making sharp implements with which he would swiftly skin an animal whenever he had an audience. His knowledge of animal behavior was encyclopedic, and he was a keen ornithologist, which he had once thought would be his career. “Everything Louis did, he did with enthusiasm,” remembers Andrew Hill, professor of anthropology at Yale. “He’d even be enthusiastic about the breakfast he prepared or the dinner he cooked. It could get a little wearing, especially at breakfast if you weren’t a morning person.” Perhaps not surprisingly, some colleagues found Leakey’s eclecticism off-putting.

“It annoyed a lot of people, who felt that with such a broad range of interests, he couldn’t possibly be taking seriously their chosen field of study,” says Alan Walker, professor of anthropology and biology at PennState. To critics, Leakey seemed more dilettante than Renaissance man. Although Louis grabbed the headlines, it was his second wife, Mary, an archaeologist, who made many of the actual finds associated with the Leakey name. Until later in their relationship, when their marital ties all but snapped for both personal and professional reasons, she let her husband bask in the limelight while she conducted her beloved fieldwork. Louis Leakey was an easy target for critics, partly because he flouted social convention but mainly because several of his most dramatic claims turned out to be wrong. In his excitement, he sometimes announced a bold new theory before marshaling all the available evidence—an approach that is anathema to careful science.

He was a maverick by any standard—“anything but typically English,” as he said of himself—and scorned bookish academics who were “only prepared to devote a few months to [field] research and then return to more lucrative and comfortable work in the universities.” Yet, paradoxically, he also longed to be accepted by academia and to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society, Britain’s most prestigious scientific organization. That honor eluded him, however. For one thing, some of his colleagues regarded Leakey’s flamboyant, sometimes fanciful writings as not sufficiently scientific. But his personal life was also an impediment. When he was 30 years old, he had scandalized Cambridge colleagues by leaving his wife, Frida—she was at the time pregnant with his second child—to be with Mary Nicol, whom he later married. Even more damaging to his fellowship chances, in Leakey’s own view, was the time he privately criticized an article by Sir Solly (later Lord) Zuckerman, a powerful member of the society and chief scientific adviser to the British government.

According to Leakey family biographer Virginia Morell, Leakey believed that it was Zuckerman who repeatedly blocked his election to the Royal Society. Solo to Africa – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar Island | BootsnAll Home » Articles » Solo to Africa – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar Island Solo to Africa – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar Island By Shannon Rae | April 11th, 2005 | Comments (0) Get daily travel inspiration Like this article? Please share! Solo to Africa Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar Island I went to Africa as I wanted to use all airline points I had amassed. I could go as far as Addis Ababa, business class on Lufthansa, so said: why not?! Seeing Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge has always been a dream of mine, so I made it come true! And Zanzibar also was a place I have always wanted to see. No one I knew would go with me: husband happy to stay at home!

Everyone else said “Africa, why the hell would you want to go to Africa?!” Everyone who hadn’t been there told me how unsafe it was, it only made me want to go more! True to my A-type personality, I turned the six month prep time into a job! A pleasant one, mind you! Total trip: 22 days. Two of those days were travel, so 19 days. First trip in five years. I researched well, got all my shots, got visas here in Canada, took only drip-dry, sensible clothes, only packed a carry on. You never need what you think you do. I used a Nikon Coolpix 5200 camera with spare battery and two 512mb memory cards. Took 950 pictures. Drank only bottled water, peeled everything, was careful what I ate. Did not get sick. Had no problems with anything, really. I took $1,500 US cash, and used my Mastercard for hotels in Arusha and Addis, as well as for the safari and my Addis-Arusha airline ticket. Everything else I used cash.

Literally used every last cent, last $20 used at airport at Addis to pay exit tax on flight home! I bought nothing really: a $5 sarong, some $5 copies of masks, a couple of trinkets. View from my room at Queen of Sheba Hotel, Addis Ababa Flew to Addis: stayed at Queen of Sheba Hotel for four nights – booked myself on the internet. $59 USD/nite. Excellent hotel. Breakfast $2.50. Clean, huge room, well-run hotel, but no local food in restaurant! Bambi supermarket nearby for all foods. Safe but smelly city! Walked around, no real hassles. Somali beggars, wearing blanket ponchos, no pants and carrying walking stick were the worst, very loud and physically aggressive. All museums charge high for tourists $10 USD (which is ok) but let locals in for free so beggars still come into museums. A bit of a hassle. City has an unpleasant smell, is very dirty and very poor, but I was prepared for that. I walked everywhere, except when buying water bottles.

A taxi driver said most white people were too scared to come to Addis when I asked him why I was only white face around. I saw no other white people walking on the street. Very strange. National Museum and “Lucy” skeleton were amazing. However, the washroom was one of the grossest I have seen in all my travels. It was so bad I must mention it in conjunction with the well-laid out museum exhibits. I didn’t have time to do historical route, as Tanzania beckoned! I booked air flight to Arusha, Tanzania from Ethiopian Airlines office in Hilton hotel – $600 USD. Flew to Arusha, stayed at Impala Hotel, $72 USD/nite including breakfast. Again, booked myself on the internet. Superbly excellent hotel! Watched Rwandan War Crimes trials in Arusha Int’l Conference Centre (AICC). Hand in your passport at door and get a pass. Bookmark Bookstore on Jacaranda is the best! I booked ticket to Zanzibar at Boma Road Precision Air office – all other airline offices are on Boma Road, as is Jambo Inn, a good place for travelers to hang out.

Cheap fruit at the fruit stands, cheap taxis, cheap everything! Tried out a lot of restaurants, all good. Stiggy’s is fun: run by an Australian & his Tanzanian wife. Deck to lounge and eat, Sunset Hotel, Kendwa Beach, Zanzibar Zanzibar was amazing: everything I thought it would be. I took a taxi to Stonetown. Walking around Stonetown was enjoyable, ate at a few key places – “Sweet Eazy” and “Mercury’s”. I had taxi arranges spice tour, and it was interesting and fun. One night at Zanzibar Beach Resort: $58 USD/night – I got taxi drive to find for me. Absolutely stunning. Being handed passion fruit juice upon checkin is a nice touch! Next three nights were at Sunset Hotel on Kendwa beach, northern tip of island. Amazing resort layout, cheap rooms at $40 USD/night. Electricity, hot water, bathroom – not as clean as Miss Picky here would have liked! Overall, good ambience, great laidback staff, a little loud when the kids on the overland trucks came through.

(I’m older than I should be!?!) I walked to Nungwi from Kendwa at noon, and contrary to other women’s experiences, I had no problems. But then again, I can put on “mean face” as required! Lots of people walking. Roads in and out of the Kendwa and Nungwi Resort areas are very rough – dirt and coral and rocks! Taxis are very uncomfortable – need a 4×4, not the sedan they like to use! Flew back to Arusha, booked a two day safari with Bushbuck Safaris. They managed to get me a night at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge with one day’s notice, during high season! Wow! I Saw Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge and Ngorongoro Crater – fantastic! My stay at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge was one of the best experiences of my life! 5-star food and staff. Had my own vehicle and driver, very worth it – $900 USD for two days: all taxes, meals, park and guide fees into Oldupai gorge to dig sites included.

They even dropped me at the airport, after oogling my pictures of cheetahs and lions feeding and hippos, etc!! Flew back to Addis, stayed at Hilton: $160 US/nite. Very enjoyable. I like my rooms to be a haven and I also like to hang out in rooms at night (I don’t drink or party, yup, I guess I’m old!) The Hilton was a perfect oasis for me. I took in some more sights, walked around, but truly enjoyed Hilton: could sit out and read and not be bothered by anyone. Overall: I would not go back to Ethiopia – I found it a little unfriendly, you could say. I felt safe, but I didn’t really have fun, and I have fun anywhere I go. Give me a phrase book and a map and I’m off and running! Addis was a bit of a struggle: smelly, dirty, beggars, unsafe water, no place to sit and relax as a solo traveler ie: no “haven”.

Plus, it seemed that the antiquities were not as respected as they should be, ie: tourists viewing them are not treated very well in general, and again, the bathroom in the main museum, as well as “there’s this smell…”! Yes, I knew what to expect, I just didn’t realize it would be all at once, full time! I would go back to Zanzibar, however, would likely go somewhere tropical nearby Canada instead, Zanzibar is a long way! Tanzania mainland was ok, but I feel the corruption, poverty and unemployment will eventually lead to an unsafe situation. And my reading of local papers confirmed my feeling. 40 degrees, and Me in Oldupai Gorge, Tanzania, at site where Mary Leakey’s major archaeological find “Zinjanthropus” early man skull My humble opinion: The saddest thing is the corruption on the whole continent. 90% of governments and staff are pocketing 90% of the aid money.

Yes, the people are very poor, yet aid groups are more detached than have ever been – money is being thrown at the people (hence the “African Malaise” as I call it – they now expect money, and, as a result, don’t expect to work for the money!) or the money is handed over to corrupt officials – suddenly schools initially funded by aid money are closed due to “lack of funds”. Africans need education if they are going to help themselves. There are so many bright youngsters, but they need education and guidance, not good intentions. It appears that schools run by Rotary clubs and associated volunteers are the best: they are being run by people who are there because they want to be, not because they feel they should be, or for the prestige, or just want to “help out for a month”. By the way, I have sent a local kid there for school for several years to School of St. Jude, run by an Australian Rotary Club. I also visited her and her family: her English is so good, she has now been teaching her parents. Her father, who couldn’t get a job, as he couldn’t read a word of English, now works full time.

The mother also works part-time, her English skills have given her confidence in doing housework for all the “muzungus” (Swahili for whitey!) Yes, they still live with no electricity or running water, but they have so many more opportunities and knowledge: They know not to drink the local water unless boiled, they know how to keep clean and therefore not get sick. Basic things we take for granted. I never think there’s any big deal to be made that I am helping educate those less fortunate than myself, I just think it’s my duty to help as directly as I can, my duty a result of my luck that I was born in Canada and that little girl was born in Africa. “But there for the grace of God go I”. I also feel we can all help in our own little touristy way: my rules to myself were: Don’t try to bargain down a beachfront room from $10 to $5. Don’t haggle a $2 taxi ride to 80 cents. Yes it’s cheap there, but don’t insult by not paying more than $1 for anything. Gasoline costs the same there as it does in Canada.

The people still spend an hour of their time making something…how is their time worth 1/10th of ours? African economy must be allowed to get up at least to half of what ours is. So, that is my humble opinion! Please don’t hesitate to contact me with comments or questions. Next trip…Cambodia? Vietnam?! Can I drag my husband along this time?! If not, again I will not hesitate to go on my own! I truly think having a nice hotel room is one of the more important requirements for a enjoyable trip. I’m 44 and have earned it! Get daily travel inspiration Leakeys / Boing Boing Bones of Turkana: Meave and Richard Leakey on human ancestors and the Leakey legacy The Leakey family is like the Kennedys, but for paleoanthropology instead of politics. Think about any hominin fossil or artifact you can name. Chances are, there was a Leakey involved in its discovery. Louis Leakey was one of the first scientists to champion the idea that humans had their origins in Africa.

For three generations now, his family has carried out active paleo excavations in eastern Africa, especially the countries of Tanzania and Kenya. The first generation—Louis Leakey and his wife Mary—were most associated with Tanzania's Oldupai Gorge. But their son Richard, his wife Meave, and their daughter Louise have all spent their careers focused on Lake Turkana, on the border between Kenya and Ethiopia. The site is the world's largest, permanent desert lake. Undisturbed by modern development, in a spot where millions of years of flowing water have washed deposits and fossils down from the rift valley—Lake Turkana is an excellent place to search for human ancestors and our ancient relatives. On Wednesday, PBS will air an hour-long documentary on the Leakeys' work at Lake Turkana. Part biography of Richard Leakey and part exploration of human history— Bones of Turkana will air May 16th at 9:00 pm central and again on May 21st at the same time. Yesterday, I got the opportunity to speak with Richard and Meave Leakey.

We talked about human evolution, the scientific promise of Lake Turkana, the process of paleo fieldwork, and the lasting impression of the Leakey legacy. Read the rest PBS / Boing Boing Why forensic science is failing us — and why tonight's NOVA documentary doesn't quite cut it In 2009, the National Academies of Science published a massive report on forensics. For many Americans, forensics is possibly the most familiar of all the sciences. It's the one we welcome into our living rooms every night, along with TV crime dramas and murder mysteries. But the report's conclusions might surprise you. For one thing, it's hard to even generalize about the state of forensic science in the United States, because everything from standard practices to accreditation varies widely by sub-discipline, law-enforcement agency, and whether the law enforcement is happening at a local, state, or federal level. Worse, it's not at all clear that some of those sub-disciplines have a sound, scientific basis. For instance, DNA analysis tends to be pretty well-supported by evidence, while fingerprint analysis remains an art, more dependent on the person looking at the fingerprint than on hard laws of anatomy.

Of course, the report also found that there simply hasn't been enough research done to determine how scientific most disciplines of forensic science are to begin with. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has allowed trial judges to certify forensic techniques as reliable even though we don't know whether they they are or not — and those decisions have been made in a haphazard, inconsistent way from one judge to the next. Given how much our legal system relies on this stuff, we should all be feeling more than a little uncomfortable right about now. The state of forensic science, combined with its importance, virtually guarantees that there are innocent people behind bars (or worse) and criminals on the loose. Read the rest Bones of Turkana: Meave and Richard Leakey on human ancestors and the Leakey legacy The Leakey family is like the Kennedys, but for paleoanthropology instead of politics. Think about any hominin fossil or artifact you can name. Chances are, there was a Leakey involved in its discovery. Louis Leakey was one of the first scientists to champion the idea that humans had their origins in Africa.

For three generations now, his family has carried out active paleo excavations in eastern Africa, especially the countries of Tanzania and Kenya. The first generation—Louis Leakey and his wife Mary—were most associated with Tanzania's Oldupai Gorge. But their son Richard, his wife Meave, and their daughter Louise have all spent their careers focused on Lake Turkana, on the border between Kenya and Ethiopia. The site is the world's largest, permanent desert lake. Undisturbed by modern development, in a spot where millions of years of flowing water have washed deposits and fossils down from the rift valley—Lake Turkana is an excellent place to search for human ancestors and our ancient relatives. On Wednesday, PBS will air an hour-long documentary on the Leakeys' work at Lake Turkana. Part biography of Richard Leakey and part exploration of human history— Bones of Turkana will air May 16th at 9:00 pm central and again on May 21st at the same time. Yesterday, I got the opportunity to speak with Richard and Meave Leakey.

We talked about human evolution, the scientific promise of Lake Turkana, the process of paleo fieldwork, and the lasting impression of the Leakey legacy. Read the rest Inside Japan's Nuclear Meltdown Last night, PBS FRONTLINE aired a new documentary about what happened at the Fukushima nuclear power plant during the crucial first days of that crisis . Using amateur video shot during the earthquake and tsunami, interviews with power plant workers who were on the scene, and some astounding footage taken inside the power plant itself, the documentary is extremely powerful. It feels weird to say this, given the effect the meltdowns have had on Japan's energy situation and the lives of the people who lived and worked near the plant ... but it seems as though Fukushima could have been a lot worse. The documentary shows us the valiant risks taken by firemen and plant workers. It also shows us the moments where, in the midst of the Japanese government and utility company TEPCO doing a lot of things very wrong, individuals stepped up to make decisions that saved lives. Without those things, this would have been a very different (and much darker) story.

In about ten minutes, I'm going to be moderating a live Q&A with Dan Edge, the producer of Inside Japan's Nuclear Meltdown . I'll be asking him some questions about the story, and the process of filming a documentary like this. There will also be opportunities for you to ask Edge some questions, as well. (And I already know y'all are good at coming up with interview questions.) You can follow along, or join in on the discussion, using the chat box embedded in this post. Read the rest Truth and consequences: FRONTLINE's brilliant documentary on Fukushima Nuclear Aftershocks is a new FRONTLINE documentary, airing tomorrow, January 17, at 10:00 pm Eastern. I watched an advance screener yesterday. About halfway through Nuclear Aftershocks , a new FRONTLINE documentary about the physical and social fallout of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, it becomes clear that correspondent Miles O'Brien and his production team are really going to piss some people off. In the best possible way. The first part of the program is a pretty straightforward timeline, walking you through the earthquake and tsunami that led to meltdown at a Japanese nuclear power plant.

It's a gripping story, and includes some particularly heart-wrenching details—Fukushima plant workers scavenging car batteries in a last-ditch attempt to restore backup power, the Japanese paleontologist who spent 20 years trying to warn the government and industry that tsunamis of this magnitude had happened before and would happen again. At the same time, though, it's pretty straightforward stuff. You might have heard the information elsewhere, it's just better explained here. What makes Nuclear Aftershocks different is the point when the documentary shifts gears, and begins to talk about what happens next. What does Fukushima mean for the future of nuclear energy? What happens if places like Germany and Japan shut down their nuclear power plants? How does the fear of nuclear meltdown stack up against the consequences of a world with no nuclear energy? This is where Nuclear Aftershocks really gets good, and it starts with one fact. Japanese officials evacuated areas around the crippled nuclear plant where humans would receive a radiation dose of 20 millisieverts per year. Read the rest Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology Next Explore the balance between ecological concerns and socioeconomic objectives in the vast wilderness expanses of northern Tanzania.

This is a geographic map of the particular program you've selected. The map contains basic information about the country of the program resides in. It is just supplementary graphical map and does not hold any information that is pertinent to the pages content. Examine the dynamics shaping the contentious balance between people and wildlife in northern Tanzania. You’ll see how inseparable ecosystems are from human spaces and how development and population growth affects the natural habitat and vice versa. You’ll reframe notions of sustainability in relation to local population needs, perspectives, and values and consider how natural resource management will benefit future generations in light of the current factors driving environmental degradation. Explore conservation through multiple lenses. In this interdisciplinary program, you will study Tanzanian history, politics, economics, and current events in addition to wildlife ecology, conservation, environmental issues, and national park management. You’ll learn how to integrate both social science and ecological field techniques through anthropological and field ecology projects. Start building a network for your academic and professional careers. The program has several major in-country partners: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Klub Afriko Cultural Orientation Center, and the host communities. Many students have returned to work with these partners in future endeavors. Study issues of deforestation, agriculture, and population growth.

Experience life in a remote village with a Maasai family. Speak with Mto wa Mbu villagers about their experiences living adjacent to protected wildlife areas. Visit Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and explore Tanzania’s rich, extensive, and biodiverse flora and fauna. Spend 33 days camping in Tanzania’s beautiful and ecologically diverse wilderness areas. Visit Loliondo Game Controlled Area, the most contested landscape in northern Tanzania. Critical Global Issue of Study Climate | Environment View more programs like this » Prerequisites Previous college-level coursework and/or other significant preparation in environmental studies, ecology, biology, sociology, anthropology, international relations, or related fields, as assessed by SIT. Independent Study Project – syllabus (ISPR3000 / 4 credits / 120 hours) Conducted in Arusha, Moshi, or surrounding areas or, with program approval, in other parts of Tanzania.

Sample topic areas: impact of tourism on local cultures or the natural environment; perspectives on management options in designated wildlife areas; environmental education; soil conservation in Mayo Village; body modifications among Maasai at Ngare Sero; behavior of Colobus guereza in Sagara Forest; canopy and habitat use in sympatric primate species; modernized farming methods in Mgwashi; Arusha youths' views on population and the environment; vegetation analysis of elephant damage at Ndarakwai Ranch. Note: Because of restrictions on fieldwork in Tanzania, participants should expect to spend all or most of the Independent Study Project outside the boundaries of Tanzania's national parks. Excursions Excursions Please note that in order to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, program excursions may occasionally vary. Tanzania is a beautiful and diverse country, home to the Serengeti Plains; Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak; and the Zanzibar archipelago. More than 120 ethnic groups live in Tanzania, representing tremendous cultural and linguistic diversity, though unified by a single national language: Kiswahili.

To fully appreciate the diversity and complexity of this region, you will spend significant time on the move (33 nights of camping), exploring a variety of natural habitats. Excursions are designed to provide a variety of locations and scale so you can explore the program’s key topics through multiple lenses and perspectives. Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem Here, you will explore a fragmented ecosystem comprising two national parks. Tarangire National Park is famous for its baobab trees and termite mounds. Wildlife common to the 1,100-square-mile park include elephants, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, honey badgers, impala, and, in the dry season, large herds of zebra and wildebeest. Lake Manyara National Park is 130 square miles of arid land, forests, and a lake that is nearly nonexistent in the dry season but can be as much as 77 square miles in the wet season. Here, you may spot the flamingos the lake is known for, as well as hippopotami, leopards, blue monkeys, and gazelles.

These excursions allow you to examine the western conservation model of national parks and to witness the program’s themes on a smaller scale. These different locations also provide insight into the ways that different ethnic groups interact in their landscapes. Serengeti-Ngorongoro Ecosystem You will go on a 14-day safari through the 25,000-square-kilometer Serengeti-Ngorongoro ecosystem. Serengeti National Park is home to a large and diverse population of wildlife. Here, you may see the “big five”: lions, leopards, elephants, black rhinoceros, and African buffalo. Other wildlife in the park include hyenas, ostriches, baboons, and vultures. The Serengeti ecosystem includes Oldupai Gorge, a formation of the Great Rift Valley system and the site of renowned early hominid fossil discoveries by Mary and Louis Leakey. You will also visit the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Enashiva Nature Reserve, and the Loliondo Game Controlled Area, where tourism has had a profound impact on the local Maasai population.

The immense Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO world heritage site and the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Northeastern Tanzania You will visit the privately owned, 11,000-acre Ndarakwai Ranch, which practices sustainable ecotourism, preserving seasonal elephant routes and a variety of habitats for more than 70 mammal species and 300 bird species. Near the Usambara Mountains, you will see the Mazumbai Forest Reserve, a pristine tropical forest. Faculty and Staff Faculty and Staff Felicity Kitchin, PhD, Interim Academic Director Felicity is originally from Durban, South Africa. For more than four years, she lived in Columbus, Ohio, where she obtained her master’s degree and PhD in geography from Ohio State University. She later returned to South Africa and served for more than ten years as academic director for SIT’s first semester abroad program in South Africa, based in Durban, and most recently worked as academic coordinator for the same program. Felicity has traveled extensively throughout southern and eastern Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. She works as an independent research consultant, mainly in urban development, sustainable urbanization, and local government.

Oscar Paschal Nyakunga, Academic Coordinator Oscar has been involved with the program for more than five years. He is a graduate of Mweka College of Wildlife Management and worked for their Wildlife Division. His primary responsibilities are the oversight of all field academics, planning and logistics, and assistance with the ISP modules. Mercy Felix Kamnde (Mama Juni), Office Manager Mama Juni has been with SIT in Tanzania since 2009, and her organizational work provides a strong foundation for the program. Her responsibilities are numerous and include managing accounts, supervising local staff, procurement, and acting as a confidante to the students. Mama Juni is the backbone of the program, and she ensures the program runs in an efficient and professional manner. Beatrice Kimaro, Kiswahili Language Coordinator Beatrice is the language coordinator and head Kiswahili language teacher with SIT in Arusha. She has been developing the program’s Kiswahili materials and classes since 2004. Beatrice directs a capable team of four teachers and was instrumental in an East Africa–wide process of standardizing SIT’s Kiswahili language courses. Beatrice is also pursuing her BA in education at a local university.

Francis Makari, Wildlife Expert Francis joined SIT in 2014. He is a graduate of Mweka College of Wildlife Management and is a veterinarian by profession. He also works on numerous NGO projects in Tanzania. He serves SIT as a wildlife expert while on safari and assists students with their ISPs. Simbamwene Ramadhani, Wildlife Expert Simbamwene is a graduate of Mweka College of Wildlife Management. Simbamwene acts as a wildlife expert to SIT while on safari and assists students in their ISP work. Anthony Rapheal, Ornithology expert Also known as Bwana Ndege (Mr. Bird), Anthony is an independent ornithologist and celebrated bird scholar in East Africa. Anthony also runs a successful private birding company in Arusha. Lecturers for this program are drawn from institutions such as Sokoine University of Agriculture and Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute. Independent Study Project Independent Study Project You will spend four weeks near the end of the semester working on an Independent Study Project (ISP), pursuing original research on a topic of your choice. The ISP is conducted in Arusha, Moshi, or surrounding areas, or with program approval, in other parts of Tanzania.

Sample topic areas: Perspectives on human-wildlife conflict in Jangwani Corridor near Lake Manyara National Park Mweka College of Wildlife student perspectives on the new presidency An analysis of facial expressions in olive baboons by habitat and group behavior GPS mapping of elephant corridors in the Tarangire-Manyara landscape Impact of tourism on the natural environment or cultures Management options in designated wildlife areas Environmental education Soil conservation and agricultural practices Arusha youths’ views on population and environment Wildlife-livestock disease interaction in the Kwakuchinja corridor Behavior of primates, e.g., Colobus guereza and olive baboons in Sagara Forest Wood use in various types of protected areas, including village forests Bio-indicator studies, e.g., birds and butterflies at various locations Perspectives on population and the environment Vegetation analysis and elephant damage at Ndarakwai Ranch Note: Because of restrictions on fieldwork in Tanzania, you should expect to spend all or most of the Independent Study Project outside the boundaries of Tanzania’s national parks. SIT Tanzania helped me develop a different perspective on the world and to view things through a very different, non-western lens.

Tara Boggaram, University of Texas at Austin Homestays Homestays The homestay is an integral part of the SIT experience. During your homestay, you’ll become a member of a local family, sharing meals with them, joining them for special occasions, talking with them in their language, and experiencing the host country through their eyes. Homestay placements are arranged by a local coordinator who carefully screens and approves each family. Students frequently cite the homestay as the highlight of their program. Read more about SIT homestays . The host communities in Ngaramtoni and either Ngare Sero or Loborsoit provide a foundation for the program’s success. You will spend three weeks living with a family in the peri-urban community of Ngaramtoni. This village, about 10 kilometers from Arusha town, is high on the slopes of Mt. Meru. Accommodations here vary, from wattle-and-daub homes to those with electricity. Families range from two-parent professional households (such as veterinarians, teachers, and doctors) to those headed by single-parent subsistence farmers.

A second homestay takes place in one of two Maasai villages, Ngare Sero at the base of the Maasai sacred mountain Ol Donyo Lengai, or Loborsoit about 60 kilometers from Arusha and east of Tarangire National Park. Here, you will be placed in pairs in a boma (extended family compound) where you will live in in different huts. Other accommodations during the program include hostels, private homes, small hotels, and about 33 nights of camping. Career Paths Career Paths Students on this program represent many different colleges, universities, and majors. Many have gone on to do work that connects back to their experience abroad with SIT. Alumni of this program are working with: Princeton in Africa in the Usambara Mountains. an environmental NGO in Zanzibar. Ethiopian National Parks Service at Simien National Park. School for Field Studies in Tanzania and Kenya. the Peace Corps in Gambia, Chad, and Kenya. Cost and Scholarships Cost and Scholarships SIT Study Abroad is committed to making international education accessible to all students.

Scholarship awards generally range from $500 to $5,000 for semester programs and $500 to $3,000 for summer programs. This year, SIT will award more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students. SIT Pell Grant Match Award. SIT Study Abroad provides matching grants to students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding for the term during which they are studying with SIT. This award can be applied to any SIT program. Qualified students must complete the scholarship portion of their application. View all SIT Study Abroad scholarships.

Tuition: $16,540 Environmental Research Methods and Ethics course focusing on environmental research methods and Human Subjects Review Intensive language instruction in Kiswahili All educational excursions to locations including nature reserves and conservation areas such as Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Mazumbai Forest Reserve, Ndarakwai Ranch, Loliondo Game Controlled Area, Enashiva Nature Reserve, and Tarangire National Park, including all related travel costs Independent Study Project (including a stipend for accommodation and food) Health insurance throughout the entire program period Room & Board: $2,960 The room and board fee covers the following program components: All accommodations during the entire program period. This includes during orientation, time in the program base (Arusha), on all excursions, during the Independent Study Project, and during the final evaluation period. Accommodation is covered either by SIT Study Abroad directly, through a stipend provided to each student, or through the homestay. All homestays (three weeks in a village near Arusha and one week in a Maasai village) All meals for the entire program period.

Meals are covered either by SIT Study Abroad directly, through a stipend, or through the homestay. Estimated Additional Costs: International Airfare to Program Launch Site International airline pricing can vary greatly due to the volatility of airline industry pricing, flight availability, and specific flexibility/restrictions on the type of ticket purchased. Students may choose to take advantage of frequent flyer or other airline awards available to them, which could significantly lower their travel costs. Visa Expenses: $100 Immunizations: Varies Books & Supplies: $100 International Phone: Each student must have a phone in each country. Cost varies according to personal preferences, phone plans, data plans, etc. Discretionary Expenses Personal expenses during the program vary based on individual spending habits and budgets. While all meals and accommodations are covered in the room and board fee, incidentals and personal transportation costs differ depending on the non-program-related interests and pursuits of each student. To learn more about personal budgeting, we recommend speaking with alumni who participated in a program in your region. See a full list of our alumni contacts. Please note that free time to pursue non-program-related activities is limited.

Please Note: Fees and additional expenses are based on all known circumstances at the time of calculation. Due to the unique nature of our programs and the economics of host countries, SIT reserves the right to change its fees or additional expenses without notice. Contact A Former Student

Question: Which family of palaeoanthropologists is most associated with work in the Oldupai Gorge, Tanzania?
Answer: Leakey