Camp Life
Our project is located at the Sankaber campsite in the Simien Mountains National Park where we live with our amazing local staff, scouts, and their families.
Our stone hut is powered by solar panels and is equipped with a basic lab for prepping hormone, DNA, and parasite samples, a computer station for entering data and performing data analyses, a fireplace for cool nights, a propane-powered stove and oven, a propane-powered shower shed for hot showers, and an ever growing library. We also have access to our very own semi-private lookout for sundowners in the evening!
We also have a few regular animal friends that stop by to say hello sometimes!
Studying geladas is hard work, but if you enjoy the mountains, hiking and keeping up with monkey drama, then the Simien Mountains is the best place to be! Each morning after a cup of freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee, we set out early to find our study groups and spend the day collecting various kinds of data (hormones, isotope, urine, DNA, focal observations, census, vocal recordings to name a few) from them. The terrain is spectacular, but can be exhausting when chasing geladas up and down the mountainside. Working at high altitudes also means less oxygen for us humans, so it can be a little challenging at times. The geladas can make it easy for us sometimes by grazing and socializing for long hours on the plateaus!
At the end of the day we return to camp to process samples, log our data for the day, and prepare equipment for next day’s data collection. After catching up on the monkey soap opera, we set about preparing dinner and watching whatever show is available at our camp theatre, and maybe even pausing to sit on the cliff together listening to music as we watch the most spectacular sunset. We also have gibshas (a traditional ethiopian party) every now and then where everyone from our local community gets together to shoulder dance and enjoy some of the best injera,doro wot and tibs in town!
