When two curious biologists seek a new home in a remote part of Tanzania called Mangola, they find adventures in abundance. They are greeted with dramatic scenery, red-dust whirlwinds, a lush oasis, bad roads, and a striking cast of colorful characters.

This fascinating memoir about an intrepid, homesteading couple tells the story of the people they met-foragers, herders, farmers, anthropologists, government officials, and tourists. With humor, pathos and vivid illustrations, they show how they survived and flourished by learning the ways of their fellow pioneer villagers....