Apo Calypso has wasted no time in submerging itself back into the wilderness. On the 9th, we revisited the Lewa Downs Conservancy in an attempt to capture some of the wildlife missed on our first time around. We arrived in Kamanjo, our camp site, that evening and on the following morning, we took the camera out on a walk through the bush, and a hike up the rock cliffs.
On the 10th, we returned to Nanyuki to begin preparations for a three-day stint in the Lower Sanga community Manyatta, a district in central Il Ngwesi where the people live in an utmost traditional fashion. The elders granted us permission to set up camp within the Manyatta, their communal home and village, and it wasn't long before the opportunity to collect footage arose, as with their help we were able to orchestrate a full-day of Moran chants and dances. The complexity of their songs can at times be entrancing, especially as more members are added to their indigenous choir. Even at nighttime, the sound of a mother singing to her crying child is one that resonates deep within. The sound that we have managed to capture thus far, will play a key role in the Maasai experience that Apo Calypso hopes to achieve.
On the 10th, we returned to Nanyuki to begin preparations for a three-day stint in the Lower Sanga community Manyatta, a district in central Il Ngwesi where the people live in an utmost traditional fashion. The elders granted us permission to set up camp within the Manyatta, their communal home and village, and it wasn't long before the opportunity to collect footage arose, as with their help we were able to orchestrate a full-day of Moran chants and dances. The complexity of their songs can at times be entrancing, especially as more members are added to their indigenous choir. Even at nighttime, the sound of a mother singing to her crying child is one that resonates deep within. The sound that we have managed to capture thus far, will play a key role in the Maasai experience that Apo Calypso hopes to achieve.
The Moran's are a fierce group. They stand together hand-in-hand, seemingly impenetrable. Meanwhile, their glance are razor sharp and would be intimidating to most, to say the least. These are the protector's of the community, armed with spears and arungus, who would surely sacrifice themselves for their tribe and their herd.
We continue to be pleased with our overall progress, our footage, which now exceeds a total of 20 hours, and audio quality.
Shots we have thus far include:
- The Rolling hills of the plains Savannah
- The True Safari Drive
- The Base of the Rift Valley
- Mount Kenya
- The Skyline / Clouds / Sunset / Moon
- The Trees (Acacia & Zufobia)
- Wildlife
- Turtle, Lizard, Zebra, Elephant, White Rhino, Buffalo, Water Buck, Thompson Gazelles, Baboons, Giraffe, Camels, Birds, Annex, Cattle and Goat
- Interviews with 6 Maasai Elders
- Elders herding and meeting
- Goat Slaughter
- Moran Chants and Dances
- The Morijo and Kiyaa's Manyatta / Boma
- Children playing
- Women
- Beadwork
- Daily chores
- Boma building
Locations we have visited within Il Ngwesi are:
- Leparua (2 nights at Kenyaga boma)
- Makurian community Manyatta (1 night)
- Sanga community Manyatta (3 nights)
- Chumvi
- Ngare Ndare
- Munyangalo
- Ethi
- Lewa Downs
- Borana Ranch
- Nadungoro
- Dol Dol
- Sieku
- Kamanjo (1 Night)
- Isiolo


In the following 10 days, we hope to visit the Samburu region and potentially Mount Kenya, depending on the clouds. On the 24th, however, the team must return to Nairobi for the arrival of Heather Ramsey, President of Upstream Wealth, who is coming to check out our operation with hopes of offering her help in building Apo Calypso's sustainable organization. Meetings with the Executive Director of Sunrise, based out of Toronto, as well as Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom in Kenya are being arranged in hopes of receiving possible funding. Another meeting with Joseph Lekuton, a Maasai member of parliament, is in the midst of being arranged for the purpose of obtaining connections within the Masai Mara, before we head in that direction. We will be returning to the field on the 18th.
Until Next Time,
Your friends at Apo Calypso Productions
We continue to be pleased with our overall progress, our footage, which now exceeds a total of 20 hours, and audio quality.
Shots we have thus far include:
- The Rolling hills of the plains Savannah
- The True Safari Drive
- The Base of the Rift Valley
- Mount Kenya
- The Skyline / Clouds / Sunset / Moon
- The Trees (Acacia & Zufobia)
- Wildlife
- Turtle, Lizard, Zebra, Elephant, White Rhino, Buffalo, Water Buck, Thompson Gazelles, Baboons, Giraffe, Camels, Birds, Annex, Cattle and Goat
- Interviews with 6 Maasai Elders
- Elders herding and meeting
- Goat Slaughter
- Moran Chants and Dances
- The Morijo and Kiyaa's Manyatta / Boma
- Children playing
- Women
- Beadwork
- Daily chores
- Boma building
Locations we have visited within Il Ngwesi are:
- Leparua (2 nights at Kenyaga boma)
- Makurian community Manyatta (1 night)
- Sanga community Manyatta (3 nights)
- Chumvi
- Ngare Ndare
- Munyangalo
- Ethi
- Lewa Downs
- Borana Ranch
- Nadungoro
- Dol Dol
- Sieku
- Kamanjo (1 Night)
- Isiolo
In the following 10 days, we hope to visit the Samburu region and potentially Mount Kenya, depending on the clouds. On the 24th, however, the team must return to Nairobi for the arrival of Heather Ramsey, President of Upstream Wealth, who is coming to check out our operation with hopes of offering her help in building Apo Calypso's sustainable organization. Meetings with the Executive Director of Sunrise, based out of Toronto, as well as Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom in Kenya are being arranged in hopes of receiving possible funding. Another meeting with Joseph Lekuton, a Maasai member of parliament, is in the midst of being arranged for the purpose of obtaining connections within the Masai Mara, before we head in that direction. We will be returning to the field on the 18th.
Your friends at Apo Calypso Productions
1 comment:
Great shots guys!!!! Miss you! xo
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