LivLife are based in the small community of Meserani in northern Tanzania. The village is well known for its Snake Park, run by BJ and Ma who have been based in Meserani for over 15 years. The Park is a popular stop for overland trucks and their passengers – that come looking for repairs, a place to camp, or simply to enjoy the bar and great food – and BJ and Ma provide an extremely warm welcome for anyone that passes through.
They also do a huge amount for the local community, including funding a clinic not far from the Park that offers its services for free to any of the local people. I was lucky enough to spend a morning shooting there, at its busiest during the weekly cattle market. Masai from many miles around visit the market and whilst the men are selling their cattle, the woman and children come to the clinic for treatment. Since there has been some rains recently, most of the cases were children with diarrhoea, conjunctivitis and chest infections, but there were also a couple of in-patients recovering from snake bites and one who recently had a toe amputated.
All the patients were gracious enough to allow me to shoot and the entire experience was a real highlight of my trip to Tanzania.
Photos of the Meserani Free Clinic, Tanzania – Images by Matthew Oldfield
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Great pix of a morning at the clinic!