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The North route<br />
13<br />
Shiing sand<br />
The shiing sands is a unique site in all Ngoro<strong>ngo</strong>ro-Lengai<br />
Geopark. The sand is grey to dark grey in color and magnec<br />
in nature. The magnec property of this sand is possibly<br />
coming from magnete originated from basalc lavas<br />
erupted from Mt Oldoinyo Lengai between 2-3 Ma ago. The<br />
sand moves by the acon of wind from East to West showing<br />
a magic movement of about 17m annually (4.66cm daily).<br />
The movement of sand formed the amazing half moon<br />
(crescent) shaped feature. The height of the sand dune is at<br />
least 2m high . The sand observed to kill vegetaon when<br />
covers them and it always takes me the vegetaon to<br />
grown<br />
© Family<br />
up<br />
Leakey<br />
again. . It also kills insects when stood on for<br />
somemes; example of observed insects was beetles.<br />
Apart from this famous shiing sand, there is another<br />
moving sand (02°46'52.7"S, 35°36'15.7"E) in a place known<br />
as Ootuni on the way to Olkarien gorge from Serenge Plain<br />
observaon point. So, the sand is now named Ootuni shiing<br />
sands and it is quiet similar to the famous shiing sand with<br />
the only difference that this sand contains mica flakes<br />
(parcles) and fossils mainly of spring hare and snail shells.<br />
© www.coolgeography.co.uk<br />
Family Leakey and friends inside the outdoor dining room<br />
14<br />
Bao site<br />
Bao is a Swahili name for board. This is a tradional mancala<br />
board game famous in many parts of East Africa especially<br />
Tanzania, the coast of Kenya Comoros, and Malawi, as well<br />
as some areas of DR Co<strong>ngo</strong> and Burundi. Bao is played with<br />
two people one player in each side; the board has 32 holes<br />
arranged in four rows. At the beginning all the holes contain<br />
two seeds(the seeds may be small round object made of<br />
stone, wood or even plant seeds) as the game connues a<br />
person who manage to take all of his opponent seeds will<br />
become a winner.<br />
The bao site is unique since the holes are made from the<br />
stones on top of the mountain. There is no clear informaon<br />
about who made this bao but it is believed to be made a long<br />
me ago.<br />
14