Wildlife and People

One of my aims while in Burkina Faso is to see an Elephant. Obiously my work takes priority. But, if I happen to see an elephant while accidentally looking for interviewees in a National Park it couldn't hurt! In terms of wildlife that you can see every day, things are not too exciting in Ouaga. There are a lot of gecko-looking things, one of which lives in the cupboard in our room and makes a loud clicking noise in the night. There are also other lizards that can make themselves quite tall and run on long legs that I think are called margooya (that's what the name sounds like anyway). As you can see from the picture, we have also seen a Crocodile. There is an urban park in Ouaga that is about the size of Hyde Park in London. The park is mostly just forest which people can pay a small fee to go and enjoy. However, there is also a lake/marsh area in which there are crocodiles. thus, about a mile from the central district of the capital there are crocodiles that seem to live pretty much wild. Also in the park there are apparently lots of antelope living in a large fenced enclosure. We've met a guide (who doesn't speak much english but likes saluting us) who is I think going to take us to see the antelope at dawn one morning.

Other than animal-life we've met lots of friendly people. Most people we interview want to know how I can help them to move to the UK. A lot of others however just want to help us. We met a man in a shop who is on a mission to put us in touch with anyone important in Burkina Faso. He is ringing me later about arranging a meeting with the National President of the Cattle Herders Association. We've also met a nice lady whose husband works at the American Embassy. She's invited us to visit their house at some point and there is even a softball game organised for one weekend which we can go and watch! Mike asked if we could take part but she didn't seem to think we would be up to the standard. Maybe its going to be like the American little leagues you see on films.