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"I followed it for days. ULTIMATE AFRICA
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Survivor is Shaba's other Name The heat is searing, the tires are tearing. We step out of the car and consider our fate. We are stuck in the middle of nowhere, somewhere between Isiolo and Samburu, on the way to Shaba. We have literally rubbed shoulders with elephants. Some primates have teased us too. This is not the place to be once darkness falls. The rugged hills, rough and defiant, seem to accentuate the sense of confrontation. This will not be an easy journey. It is difficult to imagine that in just under four hours, we have faced such diverse weather... It was a misty morning when we left Nairobi, cold, foggy, almost impenetrable; now it is melting hot. A truck hurries past and buries us in dust. We wait for the dust to settle and set to fixing a flat tire. Soon we get on the move. We are on the way to the filming site of the acclaimed reality TV series, Survivor III, being undertaken by American firm, CBS, at the Shaba National Reserve. The series pits 16 people to fight for survival, living in the wilderness for 40 days. The last remaining Survivor is awarded US $1 million. They are armed with water and rice rations, and should supplement their dietary needs with wild fruit and insects. 32 year old Maria Apokor does not believe one can survive out in the open. "When it gets very cold at night, we light fire," said the resident of Ngaramara village. Emerging from her one-room mud hut, she cuts a stoic figure. She has not heard about the film being made next to their village. Upon learning that there are millions to be won she notes with a wry smile "If there is money involved, then I could give it a try." Maria sells charcoal by the roadside, and sometimes, business is so low she does not strike a sale for a whole month. In such instances, she collects wild fruit that she boils. "It's too bitter... you have to boil twice or thrice before eating," she explains. While Survivor III is a real test of endurance, it has confirmed Shaba's uniqueness, and reaffirmed its destiny as Africa's Hollywood. Shaba has hosted "To Walk With Lions", a smashing film inspired by the life of conservationist George Adamson, and a BBC / Discovery Channel documentary, "The Great Crocodile Trail". Located 315 km north of Nairobi, Shaba Game Reserve was gazetted in 1974. It is home to an assortment of wildlife that include lions, elephants, cheetahs, Grevy zebras, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and over 350 bird species. This is the place that George and his wife Joy Adamson made popular with their esoteric life in the bush, and devoted their lives to rescuing animals born in captivity. Elsa is perhaps the best known animal in the world. Born in captivity, its mother was shot and killed when still a cub. George would take care of the cub to adulthood, and free it into the wilderness, leading to Shaba's christening as the "Born Free Country". Sixteen lions were released into the wild between 1970s and 1980s. Born Free is also the book that Joy wrote and translated into 20 languages. Buffalo Springs, Sarova Shaba and Serena's Samburu Lodge are ideally located to offer travelers a a glimpse of this region. Sarova Shaba enjoyed hosting the crew and cast of the 1999 film "To Walk With Lions". Set on 15 acres of the Shaba Reserve it is a veritable miracle in the desert. Water flows from springs into the swimming pond and onto the outlying Uaso Nyiro River. But it wasn't to be - Isiolo County Council wardens locked us out, not even the intervention of the lodge's staffer could make them budge. Having been put on the spot for long, the council is so hostile to outsiders, especially those with bulging cameras. But now the real task is for the 16 contestants who have to face severe weather, averaging 30 degrees centrigade, and extremely cold nights. Wild animals lurk in the dark too. To be a survivor in this part of the world, one needs the tenacity of camels we see trotting majestically: consume water to last for months (or days in this case), develop a thick skin and boast of long, tough legs that can kick off predators. Having survived the selection process, in which only 16 people were picked from 60,000 applicants across the world, it can only be hoped that the Survivor III cast are up to the challenge. The challenges they have to overcome will be beamed to 50 million viewers across the world by the end of the year. A few more punctures and two hours later, we manage to make the return journey to Isiolo. The day's crowning is a beauty pageant that we attend at Bomen Hotel in Isiolo town. Just about everything here is different: The catwalk is held under the moonlight, soothed by the creaking sounds of tree branches under intense blowing wind, as beautiful women trot on the gravel track... Survivor III / Ultimate Africa Safaris
At Ultimate Africa Safaris we know how to start a fire using two stones and springhare droppings...we know how to carry fire for weeks at a time in ostrich eggs...we know how to make a fish hook and line from the thorn tree and how to cure a stomach ache with a handful of leaves...We know Africa first hand. Canoe with hippo and crocodile; raft the world's most challenging white water beneath the world's largest waterfall; track lion and elephant on foot; interact with locals in their villages; experience Africa; Contact our office... If you are interested in traveling to Africa contact Ultimate Africa Safaris in Seattle, Washington, USA. Our expert safari consultants have hands on experience in Africa. Call Toll Free in the USA 1 800 461 0682 or send an email to info@ultimateafrica.com |
