USPCA

by Luke, in Uganda
09th December, 2009

The USPCA is a great organization. Run on a total voluntary basis by three founders, each of whom help out when they can; it is staffed by five individuals lead by Dr Alex – a Ugandan vet – who manages it on a day to day basis. The USPCA can’t afford its own clinic but shares its facilities with those of Alex who runs his own private practice alongside the work of the USPCA. Being clearly a bit short of bucks doesn’t stop the USPCA from paying huge attention to detail in ensuring the comfort and good welfare of the dogs and cats under its care. I was really impressed with the shelter – they have about 80 dogs looking for homes that they have rescued from the street and all of them seemed happy, healthy animals, living in harmony in runs of about 6-10 dogs based on size and age. I loved the fact each run had raised platforms for environmental stimulation, that they manage being on the edge of capacity so well and it was so clean and the staff so friendly. The cat run was tucked as far away from the main dog runs as possible and it seemed more like a giant playpen for the animals rather than a mesh box exuding a cold sterile rehoming functionality that sometimes (albeit rarely) these places can become....Continue reading

Rhinos

by Luke, in Uganda
10th December, 2009

Fairly non interesting fact is that about 15years ago I went to Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe and volunteered on a rhino sanctuary. It was a great adventure, four of us who had shaved our heads for black rhinos and were high on the adventures of our first year at University, backpacked around South Africa and Zimbabwe one summer and worked on the national park as part of our overseas extramural study experience. It was my first exposure to African game and I remember quivering in my boots when we stumbled upon a lion who had a fresh kill at its feet, and basically being fairly awed by the big game experience....Continue reading

Becoming precious…

by Luke, in Uganda
11th December, 2009

Finished a hardcore morning of tracking rhinos today. This was great as we got to see both the babies – the only two rhinos having been born in Uganda in over 27 years – which was pretty special. Godfrey was our guide and we pranced around in front of the camera in an attempt to be oblivious to the 2.5 tonne wild white rhino about ten metres behind us. The rhinos were fairly laid back and no misadventures occurred and then we hit the road towards our next stop in Bwindi. At this point I’m going to hit you with some fun facts about white rhinos such as that they have a 16 month gestation (black rhinos have only a 15month gestation), they weigh up to 2.5 tonnes, live until about 45 years of age and graze in social groups with big flat lips (as opposed to a prehensile hooked upper lip which their much more aggressive but small solitary black rhino cousins have). Hope you feel enlightened.
 
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After a nice farewell to the wonderful Angie and her kind family, we hit the road. Describing an 8 hour road journey, 4 hours of which were in the dark, with poor lights and variable road rules, in words other than terrifying and death defying would be tough. Luckily Adam drove heroically the whole way which meant we made good speed but also presented numerous opportunities for him to impart driving tips to other road users as we passed them and which I’m certain they all found useful. Needless to say, he got us here safe and sound which was the key and with much relief we are now in our stop over motel before we nail another six hours road travel tomorrow. It’s just gone midnight and hitting the sack is the next mission. Looking at the ‘sack’ I want to hit, I definitely won’t be the first to have done so judging from the massive dip in it. African motels in small towns on main roads have a special reputation and I’m keen to remain as naïve about this as possible. It might not be a plan to slip a visit here onto a honeymoon itinerary – there is hot water – and a working light – which is handy or I might not be able to read the large HIV leaflet complete with stomach turning pictures that has been left in my room for me. Very thoughtful. I wish I had packed a plastic sheet for the bed though – not too sure about the big black stain in the middle of it – perhaps all this ‘stardom’ is making me a bit precious…...Continue reading

Luxury Toilet Paper

by Nathan the Assistant Producer, in Uganda
11th December, 2009

Today has been great as we filmed white rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. It was amazing to watch a baby rhino (the second born in Uganda in over 20 years) suckling up to his mother and the head ranger admitted to me afterward that he had never seen this before so it was very special for him too. There have been some amazing moments on this series and this definitely ranks up there. I would also highly recommend anyone to pay a visit to the rhino sanctuary as the staff are extremely friendly and the sight of seeing one of these creatures is awe inspiring and also could soon be a fragment of the past if the poachers get their way.
 
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Following our morning filming of the rhinos we endured an eight hour drive west towards the gorilla trekking, which will happen in a couple of days. Adam deserves all the praise for getting us to our over night stop off point safely and this was coupled with the fact that he worked like a trooper (as always) this morning. And whilst driving he had to endure Mr Gamble jabbering away to him and taking pictures of every digger we passed, which was a lot. Tomorrow we have another 6 hour drive until we finally reach our hotel for the gorillas....Continue reading

Bumps

by Adam the Cameraman, in Uganda
12th December, 2009

Driving in Uganda can be perilous, with truks and taxi vans bombing it at top speed, overtaking on dangerous corners, you always have to have your beady little eye out when you drive....Continue reading

Driving Shots

by Luke, in Uganda
12th December, 2009

The six hour journey took us more like nine – perhaps we were driving like old ladies or something but we had a couple of interludes to film the journey. These are great moments whereby everyone piles out of the truck and I am vaguely instructed to drive over the horizon and then turn around and come back towards camera. I mustn’t look at camera and I have to be just to the left or right of the lens. I also need to make sure there are no cars in front of me or behind me and that I maintain a constant speed throughout the entire stretch of road no matter what traffic lights, roundabouts or bends are in my way. I cannot deviate from my path and slight alteration of the plan will ruin the shot. I also have Marc barking at me down the two way radio in Germanic guttural tones – I am unable to respond on the radio because I then look strange and this also ruins the shot. As you can imagine, these little episodes are stress free and take no time at all to film. We did a lot of them today which may account somewhat for the three hours extra it took us....Continue reading

“Rock And Roll”

by Nathan the Assistant Producer, in Uganda
13th December, 2009

It’s been a strange day as I’ve felt full of energy all day long – how strange is that? I might even go as far to say that I haven’t felt tired. This might have something to do with the fact that I got my best night of sleep since I got out here. We’re staying in tented accommodation, but this isn’t some windswept, rain drenched, faeces spewed Glastonbury experience (pretty much my only experience of sleeping in a tent as it goes). No, this is a luxury, double-bedded, hot water, clean sheets, and very much better than a hotel experience. The fact that we are sleeping in fresh air feels amazing, but the highlight for me has to be the hot water bottles that are put in our beds whilst we are having dinner (and what makes them even more special is the fact that the hot water bottle covers have flags of the world on them ­– tonight I have New Zealand). Wow…...Continue reading

Community Day

by Luke, in Uganda
13th December, 2009

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Hardcore community day – loved it. Wasn’t too sure what to expect, in fact none of us were, but it was brilliant. Treated about 300 animals – cows, goats, chickens and pigs and there wasn’t a dull moment. There is a huge amount to relate about the community project set up by Joy Howell which is a fantastic venture and really making a difference to the people here – anyone wishing to volunteer and help work at the school would have a wonderful trip. The school itself has six classrooms – three of which are concrete and it runs classes for 400 pupils who come from all over the region. It has an amazing feel to the place and getting behind this venture is a must. Charlie Garret, a Scottish vet and ex University professor, sadly passed away last year but worked with Joy to set up a poultry unit to help the local children get better nutrition from eating eggs – it is brilliant and working well. It was wonderful to see what he has created and the improvement it has made to the people.
 
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The above doesn’t do justice to the project Joy has set up here – it really is something special and very worthy of support and aid. The plan is to now really up the support teams from WVS for this project and I promise anyone coming on this trip, you will have an absolutely amazing time. I’ll expand on this on the WVS site when I’m back but this project is perfect for non-vets as there is so much to help out with in the school so fingers crossed you get involved....Continue reading

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

by Nathan the Assistant Producer, in Uganda
14th December, 2009

It has been a great day as we trekked the gorillas for over 2 hours in the dense Ugandan rainforest. But eventually we found them and Luke delivered possibly his best piece to camera of the whole series in front of the giant silverback gorilla. It’s going to make for great viewing.
 
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It was hard work walking the two hours back to the cars, but definitely worth it....Continue reading

Teddy and Diggers!

by Adam the Cameraman, in Uganda
14th December, 2009

Luke has a thing about taking pictures of every single digger, tractor, crane, basically anything yellow and to do with construction and to top that off he has a little teddy bear from Harrods, which he brings along with him on every shoot. Every person, animal or digger of interest, Luke will get them to pose with the teddy so he can show his little son Noah when he gets back home. Hmmmm. A slight distraction to the shoot, but each to their own!...Continue reading