AFRICAN - SAFARI
Magic eye cameras, magic-ear recorders, motion picture machine guns are modern adjuncts
for jungle expedition.Source: Harverster World, august-september 1949, by Joseph P. Daneluk
Reprinted by Wino, PA0ABM
Many interesting stories have been written about the performance of motor trucks under adverse
weather and road conditions, but to date relatively few are as fascinating as the recent safari by Cmdr.
Attilio Gatti to the "Mountains of the Moon" in British East Africa.
The Gatti-Hallicrafters Expedition, co-sponsored by the Hallicrafters Co., of
Chicago, was the eleventh such venture for veteran explorer Gatti into the
interior of Africa, and the first radio-monitored expedition carrying powerful
transmitting equipment to keep in touch with short-wave receiving sets
throughout the world. It will be remembered Cmdr. Gatti
and his wife astonished the Pygmies of the Belgian
Conga during the 10th Gatti African Expedition same
eight years ago with their Jungle Yacht "dream" trailers
designed by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky.
Provided with eight International trucks by the International Harvester Company of
Chicago--two KB-l's, four KBR-3 's and two KB-5's-the eleventh expedition carried
such modern adjuncts as a radio 'shack-on-wheels'; a rolling laboratory; a floating
island based on PT-boat adaptation; a diving eye with strobolights for underwater
observation; magic-eye cameras and magic-ear electronic-mirror recorders; motion
picture machine guns; various types of still cameras; and a host of other
photographic devices and lights.
AFTER SOME 25 MONTHS of preparation the expedition sailed from New York in November 1947,
arriving in Mombasa, British East Africa, some 46 days later.Here began the real tasks of proving how
the International trucks could withstand the rigors of African terrain and of getting the expedition under
way. Moving same 700 packages and parcels through British customs was incidental compared to the
monumental task of assembling all the units, hiring native personnel, and getting everything in readiness
for the first jump to an open plateau near Kwale, where the expedition established its first main camp.
From there, as from all successive main camps, the expedition made numerous minor safaris to observe
and photograph natives, scenery and game; to hunt for fresh meat; and to
follow a tip or hunch about rare animals, strange ceremonies or a witch
doctor's hideaway
Before the expedition moved from its first
campsite, however, myriads of details on
procedure, which had to be repeated at each
successive camp, had to be drilled into the
minds of all of the expedition's 49 men so that
it would be a smooth-running organization en
route.
Having established the rigorous, daily routine of African life, Gatti started
the expedition toward Kilema, reaching it only after many difficult miles
through mountains and over rocky, muddy and often virgin terrain. Here the camp had a magnificent
view of the Kilimanjaro's two highest peaks, the 17,000-foot Mawenzi and the 19,860-foot Kibo, with its
perennial cap of ice and snow.
Decision was made to climb the latter peak and conduct shortwave experiments from the loftiest point
of Africa's equatorial zone, as well as of the entire continent, in communication with
the 'shack-on-wheels' at the 5,000-foot camp, which in turn relayed broadcasts and
reports to short-wave radio "hams" throughout the world. Both the climb and the
experiments were accomplished during the following month, and daily contacts with
the outside world made.
AFRICAN SAFARI
Upon completion of the high-altitude radio experiments;
the expedition settled in its third main camp, near Arusha,
just under Mt. Meru. Days out of this camp were among
the most thrilling and exciting of the entire expedition. The
slopes of Mt. Meru teemed with rhino, while the plains to the west were
crammed with game, particularly zebra, giraffe, eland, oryx, ostrich, buffalo,
Thompson's gazelle, lions and cheetah.
At this point the expedition had a rich opportunity to observe the various kinds of wild game in its native
habitat and make numerous color and monochrome still and motion pictures for future use.
However, it also was a time of serious decisions. The season of heavy rains
was approaching. Ahead of the expedition was the immense Serengeti Plain,
difficult in the dry season, impassable at other times.
Picking up stakes, the expedition moved as fast
as the terrain permitted and as steadily as
physical endurance allowed. Chief regret was
that too little time was devoted to the game paradise of the Serengeti and of
the Ngorongoro crater. But it would have been worse had the expedition
been caught by the rains anywhere along the journey to Loliondo, a tiny
outpost with but two white inhabitants.
Not far from there, the fourth main camp was established at Narwa, in the heart of Masai-land. Presence
of International trucks in this vicinity immediately raised the curiosity of the natives, and Masai warriors
trouped in from all nearby sections to watch in awe the miracle of this extraordinary camp.
Just as plans were being completed for another photographic charter at this point, the rains which had
missed the expedition earlier arrived. Falling with redoubled vigor just to the northwest of the campsite,
the rains flooded entire districts along the war the expedition had to follow to reach the "Mountains of the
Moon." These, however, were reached anyway by the radio section of the expedition,
which completed its work in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda with a total of some
4,000 contacts with all the states in America and with every single
country in the world except Tibet, which did not answer its calls.
The slopes Mt Meru were thick with rhino; and the plains to the west
were crammed with game. And our collection of unusual pictures
advanced by leaps and bounds. The result was that our crop of
observation on game was a rich one.
Camerawork on the Masai and other nearby tribes having been
finished, with good results, the expedition 's photographic and
cinema sections then proceeded toward the lake region, establishing three additional
camps respectively at Nanga Point, on the Kavirondo Gulf of Lake Victoria, Nakuru
(Lake Nakuru), and on the grounds of the Destro Plantation near Nairobi.
Much additional interesting still and motion picture material, in both color and black and white, was
gathered in each of these
locations, particularly the full
coverage of the hundreds of"
thousands of flamingoes which
live and breed on the waters of
Nakuru Lake. Pictures of these
red-eyed birds and other African
bird and animal life were
reproduced recently in Life
magazine. Other experiences
were related in the Saturday
Evening Post, and subsequent
stories are scheduled for release
in Collier's, True, Coronet,
Mechanix Illustrated, Argosy,
and other leading national
magazines.
We knew for sure where to find
herds of whatever game we
wanted to photograph and-once
a week or so-to shoot for 'pot.'
For now the pot was a large one.
The only fresh meat we could
get for ourselves and for our native boys was by means of hunting.
Pictures taken during the expedition also have been featured in the national advertising of a number of
well-known corporations. At present the International Harvester Company is preparing a full-color movie
of Gatti's eleventh expedition to Africa to supplement pictures taken during his previous African venture-
which already have been shown to some 3,000,000 people, and are still in demand by company dealers
for their family parties.
Internationals star in jungle jaunt
Explorer Gatti puts transportation to a tough test. After disappointing experiences with everything from
camles to a dozen different makes of trucks, he "discovered" Internationals, uses them exclusively now.
Of African natives, he remarks: "Those fellows were always interested when a hood was raised, and
well might they be. Those sturdy engines powered us mile after mile never needing more than routine
service."Finding the right trucks for his highly specialised jobs was no problem for this African traveler.
Ther are 22 basic Internationa trucks, 1,000 different truck-combinations, for efficient truck
specialisation.
Around that curve lies East Africa!
Commander Attilio Gatti, veterean of
11 African safaris, is shown at the
jump-off the Gatti-Hallicrafters
expedition in 1948, a 5,000 mile, 9-
month safari described in this issue. A
fleet of light and medium-duty
Internationals provided horsepower for
his jungle jaunt.
No trip for a tenderfoot!."As we
progress toward "The Mountains of
the Moon", says commande Gatti, "we
are not misled by those level plains.
We know that ahead lies tortuous
terrain and rugged going that will test
the stamina of men and equipment." A
tough trek-test, but the machines were
ready.
Look who dropped in for lunch!
Commander Gatti reports: "It wasn't
uncommon to find giraffe grazing
nearby, certainly the giraffe didn't
seem suprized to find International
trucks in the veldt!". Ad man's note:
Inernationals are at home next to
giraffe, next to coal mines, next to oil
fields, next to anything!.