COME WITH US TO THE LAND OF BUFFALOS

 

Mediavision Academy crew and the Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda team spent the  bigger part of Friday, 10th October filming inside Kidepo Valley National Park.

 Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. It lies in the rugged, semi arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with south Sudan in the north west and only 5km from the eastern border of Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species

photo of buffalos at the Kidepo Valley National Park

Our aim was to tell a story of the benefits of the Kidepo Valley National Park to the communities living around it. It was such a great opportunity to visit Kidepo but its by far having the most spectacular landscape of all the park. It has the biggest Buffalo population in Africa which is estimated at 10,000 - 15,000. Other wildlife like lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and elephants are also in plenty. 

In an interview, the Chief Warden Muhabwe Richard revealed that the Uganda Wildlife Authority is working hand in hand with the communities to conserve the park and the environment around it. Communities are encouraged to practice improved farming methods,  plant trees and resent poaching. 

One of the biggest challenges faced is the human wildlife conflict. Some animals cross over to the peoples farms and destroy the crops. Alot is being done to create harmony between the community and the wildlife. 

It was really an exciting moment shooting the park but later realised that it demanded for more gear.  A telephoto lens of about 500mm focal length was a must because the cinematographer can't get so close to the animals since some animals were very curious and would run away if they saw new people in their territory doing something they don't understand. 

 

Cameraman filming the national park

The story is much bigger than what we can share with you here but a lot is being done by Uganda Wildlife Authority to create harmony.  Most of these communities once lived in the park with the animals and regard it as their home.  

Their culture is linked to the park but were evicted by government of Uganda to protect the wildlife.  The communities once enjoyed the sites inside the park to define their heritage can't be accessed freely.  They were resettled on land around the park and forced to lead a different life.  The CCFU has conducted a research establish the extent to which this eviction is affecting their heritage and identify.  To supplement the findings of this research, CCFU partnered with Mediavision Academy to document that information in a film that will be launched in November this 2023. Kudos CCFU, UWA and Mediavision Academy.