Day 18 of 19

Recovering the meat

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Florian has gone to Caprivi to look after a German client and his family. The meat recovery falls to us. We leave early for morning-sun photographs, then the long work of cutting, preparing, and distributing to villages that have not had meat for a whole year.

Florian had left two days ago for Caprivi, taking a German client and his family. The recovery fell to the rest of us.

Early-morning photographs of the second bull, day 18 — Early morning photographs — the soft light a man remembers after a safari

We went out early for photographs in the early-morning sun. Then the work.

Worn feet and deep cracks, the signs of a very old bull — Worn feet, deep cracks — the signs of a bull at the end of his years

Butchering the bull, day 18 — Cutting and preparing — a long, specific, practical job

The meat was cut, portioned and prepared for distribution to several villages. Some of the villages had not received meat for a whole year. You could see in their faces the moment they understood some of it was for them.

Meat loaded for distribution to the villages — Loaded for the villages — Tsumkwe and the outlying kraals

Distribution at a Nyae Nyae village, day 18 — A year since their last meat — and some of this would be theirs