The ViewFinder [KENYA UPDATE][ NEW BUDGET IMPLICATIONS][HISTORY][TORTOISE UPDATE] Since our last newsletter in March, Kenya has started on the long road to recovery. The economy was, of course hit hard and inflation is still running at 30%. However, tourism has started to recover, and business is getting back to normal. A coalition government is in place, with the leader of the opposition now installed as Prime Minister, sitting on the same side of the house as the President. There is no official opposition, which many people find difficult to live with in a democratic nation. It’s all rather unusual, but so far things are being held together. The majority of the internally displaced people (it is felt that the figures were understated, and that there may have been half a million) have returned, or are in the process of returning ‘home’, and they have apparently been given some financial assistance to rebuild their lives, though this will almost certainly be inadequate. The months of April and May are usually our ‘quiet’ time, as this is the season when we expect our ‘long rains’. This year, however, the rains were substantially lower than usual and we were inundated with film crews - flamingoes, Patas monkeys, elephants and more elephants, as well as human origins and some charity projects. The second half of the year is already looking incredibly busy and is seems that we will have nearly a hundred people in the Maasai Mara in August-October. The BBC Big Cat Week will be going “live” this year, which necessitates a huge amount of equipment – 40 tons at the last count – which will be a nice little challenge for us.
A shot taken by Juliet Nightingale to remind you of how beautiful Kenya really is. The new budget recently announced contains something that affects film makers. The government has introduced VAT on what they describe as “tourist transportation”. This has previously been VAT-free. The services affected include: vehicles (landcruisers and minibuses), air charters, helicopters, and internal flights. Suppliers of these services consider film makers as “tourists” as the definition is really between ‘resident’ and ‘non-resident’. However, as we are an EPZ company, and therefore exempt from VAT, film crews can avoid paying an extra 16% provided that the bookings are made through us. If you want to hire a vehicle, a plane, a helicopter etc. direct, you will be charged VAT. If you do it through us, you will not be charged. Strictly speaking, we should also be able to get the VAT off hotel accommodation, but there are very few of us and most hotels are not playing ball – this is something we are working on, to benefit our film crews.
During the quiet times earlier in the year, Jean was able to start work on her long awaited book. This was to have been a fairly light, gently humourous recollection of her experiences in the wildlife film business over more than 20 years. However, it has expanded into a full history of the genre in Kenya, possibly the country where it all really began. Given that the first film involving wildlife made here was in 1909 by Cherry Kearton, the centenary is very nearly with us. Films have changed since then, technology has progressed in leaps and bounds and continues to do so, but real film makers with passion consistently emerge and sometimes triumph. Many of them have worked here. The book will feature great film makers, some not-so-great film makers, and even a few really ‘rubbish’ film makers – Kenya has had them all, from class to crass, magical to moronic, wonderful to ‘why?’ It will also include many people without whom films cannot be made – scientists and researchers, conservationists, game wardens, and of course some of the eccentrics that keep Kenya alive. If any of you have any thoughts about anything that should (or should not) be included or any personal memories, please do send an email as soon as possible.
Quite a few of our loyal readers are interested in our tortoises’ efforts to increase the population. True to form, the young male has been doing what young males do, and the elderly Sid has played her part too. The last clutch of last year’s season was laid on 6 June 2007 (14 eggs), after which both tortoises realized that winter was here and went into semi-hibernation with no reproductive activity for several months. Things started happening again in September, and this year there have been four clutches laid (always 14 or 15 eggs). On 25 February, she chose a new site, but returned to the rose bed on 29 March. This time she chose the spot where she had laid exactly one year before, and in the process she dug up last year’s eggs. They contained nothing but a mush. On 4 May she moved a few feet away, but was back in the rose bed again on 11 June. In March we took six eggs and put them in the airing cupboard, and in May we took another four. We shall see whether they hatch or not. We are not very optimistic, as the airing cupboard isn’t that warm, but it is of a more stable temperature than the garden.
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