Malambe

Baobab.

This morning I joined a trip to Mecula town, the district headquarters, which is within Niassa Reserve and is located around an hour’s drive from the Reserve’s own headquarters. I’d previously passed through Mecula on various occasions to access the other area of the Reserve where I used to spend time.

The premise of today’s visit was to check out the market for the sale of pesticides that are used in animal poisonings. The search didn’t reveal much. It’s not an activity that advertises itself.

I was equally interested to see the changes in Mecula in recent years. Boomtown may be a stretch as a description but there is certainly new money showing up in Mecula with the building of new shops, upgrading of structures and general air of positivity. The market felt less scruffy and more prosperous, and various goods were on sale compared to other remote outposts such as this. Here is the monument in the foreground of Mecula Mountain, which looms over the town.

At the new restaurant we enjoyed a cup of freshly made baobab yogurt. Delicious and tart.