Fly sloth airways – getting you nowhere very slowly!

We’ve been filming at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and it has been brilliant. Seeing these creatures close up has been really magical and the walk in the forest with them was something that will stay with me for life (the fact it poured down with rain only made it more special in some way).

My brother had been to the sanctuary a month before on holiday and the one thing he said was amazing was the otters that bathed around the island. I had a search for them but they were obviously off hiding at that moment, although I can’t complain as the chimps were the real stars of the island.

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.
 

 

 
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.

I’m writing this from our overnight hotel and it is possible the worst place I have ever stayed in. Luke found a very informative leaflet on AIDS related cancers that are common in Uganda in his room (a great night time read apparently) and the irony of the “luxury toilet paper” in my bathroom didn’t pass me by – it was more like sand paper for smoothing cement. Can’t wait to move on tomorrow.

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…

Anyway, the thing is today has been full of energy and I have to lend a hand of applause to one Luke Gamble who has exerted himself “to the max”. He’s been “in the zone” at the community day delving into his “bag of power” to help over a hundred sick animals (cows, dogs, goats and pigs) and treating even more animals for common problems like worms and ticks. And when the car tyre blew on our way this morning we filmed Luke changing the wheel on his own much to his dismay, but he managed to get that “in the bag” eventually. All in all it has been a “nails” day, very much “hardcore” and the thank you letter he received from the farmers’ society was definitely “cool beans”. Yet, despite Luke’s “heroics” the crew (myself included) decided it was more fun to pick on the fact that none of the farmers understood anything Luke said (“to the max”, “in the bag” etc.) Poor Luke Gamble, you work your socks off and all you get is mocked ­– it sure is lonely out in front of the camera.

We’re off to see the gorillas tomorrow and I can’t wait. I’m getting a nice early night in my luxury tent as we “make shapes” and “rock and roll” first thing in the morning.

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.
 

It was hard work walking the two hours back to the cars, but definitely worth it.

So, it’s my last shoot day of the whole series and it’s been one hectic ride. Unfortunately I’m going to be back in the office editing during the final trip to Costa Rica so I finish now. First of all I would like to say a big warm thank you to AJ Tours in Uganda who have been tremendous throughout: Pascal, Andrew, Adam and Thierry have been brilliant help to us all and are really amazing people. If you ever venture to Uganda I would highly recommend you contact them.

And all that’s left now is for me to say thank you to all the charities throughout the series. It has been a tremendous experience and one that I will never forget. The first four episodes go out on Sky One on the 28th February and I can’t wait to see them. For all the people reading this blog there is one last wish, and no it’s not about saving my name from the scoundrel that is Mr Luke “the talent” Gamble. It is much more important than that. When you watch the series think about the work that is actually being done by WVS all the time and the support they so desperately need. They help some amazing charities and are doing work that is essential in many countries around the world. I hope that this series inspires people to help animals across the world and become part of something I truly feel is making a difference.