Just Barnard and I in field this morn, basically zero conversation, but able to communicate sufficiently with very basic vocab and lots of gestures. He’s a great worker and we exchange pleasant non-verbal communications. Quiet in field (vs Swahili banter among usual crew of field assistants) and the silence feels peaceful and not strained.

Talk of tennis over lunch (one trustee donate money specifically to fix up a clay court) and it happens in the late afternoon! It’s so surreal to be playing tennis the African bush. At one point some impala snort at use, and we stop to watch a giraffe splay its legs and bend its body to drink from the watering hole. While emailing in the office after dinner see some flashlights through the window, and come out to discover a Puff Adder is hanging around the lab! Wonder what the askari will do with it, and then see the large axe in hand…