Kristin and I spent the past week packing and throwing together supplies for the next 2 months of shooting in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Our list seems endless: rubber boots, quick-drying field cloths, binocs, Kristin’s stills equipment, maps and field notepads, computers and hard drives, packs, energy bars, rain capes, loads of zip lock bags, air and water tight stuff bags, a few books, and most importantly, very good chocolate. In the time leading up to the first shoot, I felt that I was an indentured servant to my endless lists.

We packed a comprehensive medical kit (another list), which included wraps for my 43-year-old knees and ankles, blister pads, insect repellent and sun block, antiseptics, anti-malaria drugs, Kristin’s contact supplies, foot powers and anti-fungal stuff. It was a real challenge to get everything into our 5 pieces of check-in luggage and 2 or 3 carry-ons. When everything is spread out all over the bedroom, you think, ‘It’s never going to fit’. Sometimes we do have to leave a few items behind -- but never the chocolate.

The flight to Entebbe, a port town near the capital city of Kampala, was smooth and easy. We flew via Amsterdam, our favorite hub in Europe, and arrived in Entebbe just as the sun dropped below the horizon. What a spectacular welcome we received as the clouds turned a thousand shades of yellow and red. The sliver of the new moon followed closely behind the sun, and though my window was a bit smudged, I was able to capture a reasonably good photo of the scene.

Once we cleared customs and immigration, we found our friend of many years Debby Cox waiting for us at the airport. Debby is an amazing advocate and voice of chimp conservation and welfare who has been working with the Jane Goodall Institute since the early 90’s. It had been a few years since we had seen each other, so it was great to catch up on all the news at JGI-Uganda. When we arrived at the hotel, Mark and Ed were there with all the filming and sound equipment. We had a few cold drinks, made plans for the next few days and went to bed. In all, the journey from Syracuse to Entebbe, door to door, takes just over 24 hours.

Debby Cox and friends (earlier shot)