A forestry graduate student with a degree from the University of Washington and working on a master's degree from Oregon State University, Herlocker soon found himself working as a ranger. His beat was the Ngorongo Conservation Area, centered on a volcanic crater some one hundred square miles in area. It was home to rhinoceros, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo as well as antelope and zebra. "Hundreds of thousands of animals migrate through the area," he said. "It has a variety of landscapes - mostly grassland, but some heavy timber," he said. "My job included managing grazing and cutting, fire prevention and running a small nursery." During the ensuing three years, Herlocker crossed paths with British officials, wildlife biologists, native Africans who held fast to traditional ways and those adapting to Western society, fellow Americans - including a nurse named Cathy, whom he married - not to mention charging elephants, curious lions and Horace the Lazy Rhino, an unofficial park mascot. "That Peace Corps experience was the start of a 25-year career abroad as a range ecologist and consultant in the Serengeti, Kenya and Somalia - before that country fell apart," he said. "My parents always encouraged me to write a book, based on the letters I sent home."
Tanzania RPCV Dennis Herlocker writes"Buffaloes In My Bedroom," a memoir of the ensuing three years as a forester in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), a newly-independent corner of the British Empire
Peace Corps vet tells of adventure
Literature - Book signing held at Chapters during First Friday Art Walk in May
By: David Sale
* Published: 4/28/2010 12:00:00 PM
Caption: Dennis Herlocker worked in Africa for 25 years, but only wrote about his arrival there recently in his new book, ‘Buffaloes In My Bedroom.' Photo By: Gary Allen
Writing about Africa -
Dennis Herlocker worked in Africa for 25 years, but only wrote about his arrival there recently in his new book, ‘Buffaloes In My Bedroom.'
"I enlisted almost as soon as the Peace Corps was created."
So said Dennis Herlocker of his decision to travel to Africa in 1964.
What ensued is recorded in "Buffaloes In My Bedroom," a memoir of the ensuing three years as a forester in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), a newly-independent corner of the British Empire.
"I'd wanted to work in East Africa because my dad had had a lot of books about the wildlife when I was growing up. It was a place he'd always wanted to visit and I'd become interested in the area as a result," Herlocker said. "I thought I might get the chance to visit the Serengeti once or twice while I was over there. Instead, I was stationed right in the middle of it."
A forestry graduate student with a degree from the University of Washington and working on a master's degree from Oregon State University, Herlocker soon found himself working as a ranger. His beat was the Ngorongo Conservation Area, centered on a volcanic crater some one hundred square miles in area. It was home to rhinoceros, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo as well as antelope and zebra.
"Hundreds of thousands of animals migrate through the area," he said. "It has a variety of landscapes - mostly grassland, but some heavy timber," he said. "My job included managing grazing and cutting, fire prevention and running a small nursery."
During the ensuing three years, Herlocker crossed paths with British officials, wildlife biologists, native Africans who held fast to traditional ways and those adapting to Western society, fellow Americans - including a nurse named Cathy, whom he married - not to mention charging elephants, curious lions and Horace the Lazy Rhino, an unofficial park mascot.
"That Peace Corps experience was the start of a 25-year career abroad as a range ecologist and consultant in the Serengeti, Kenya and Somalia - before that country fell apart," he said. "My parents always encouraged me to write a book, based on the letters I sent home."
"If I was 40 years younger, I'd go back like a shot," he added. "It was a great adventure."
Herlocker will sign copies of "Buffaloes In My Bedroom," from 5 to 9 p.m. May 7 at Chapters Books, during the May First Friday Art Walk. Additional copies can be ordered on-line at www.iUniverse.com.
