BUCKETLIST

FAMILY TIES

PRIMATOLOGIST DIAN FOSSEY DIED FOR HER BELOVED GORILLAS. THROUGH HER EFFORTS, AND THOSE OF OTHERS LIKE HER, WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THESE LARGE CREATURES SO MUCH BETTER. JO BESTIC WAS FORTUNATE TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

Mountain gorillas are sociable and gregarious, intelligent and curious. So much like the human group I trekked with on a mild October day. As it turns out, we share 98% of our DNA with these gentle, vegetarian giants (our nearest living relatives are bonobos, chimps, with whom we share 99% of our genetic makeup). The imperilled mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringi) has recently been reclassified from Critically Endangered to ‘merely’ Endangered, thanks to intensive conservation efforts and supporting ecotourism projects. Their numbers have increased to all of 1 004 individuals, living in the unique cloud forest habitat of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Massif, straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga, Rwanda’s Volcanoes and Uganda’s Mgahinga national parks.

Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla, and live in groups led by one or more adult male silverbacks. Members comprise females, their young and

possibly other younger, inevitably grumpy males (blackbacks) not quite ready to challenge the silverback for leadership.

Our walking party of eight was allocated permits to trek to the Hirwa family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Visitors are permitted an hour with one group on a trek, which can take from just 45 minutes to several hours to reach ‘your’ family. Besides our group’s impressive silverback, Mr Lucky (hirwa means ‘lucky’ in Kinyarwanda) –who spent the entire hour feeding and moving around on his own – we were lucky enough to have a youngster in the group. Shyly hanging back behind mom’s legs at first, her curiosity soon got the better of her and her exhibitionism had us open-mouthed with amusement and wonder.

I was enchanted by her acrobatics on the vines, and just like a baby, sticking her feet in her mouth and sucking her toes, or ambling over to drink from a trickling stream. Suddenly she stopped what she was doing and toddled over to me. Looking straight up into my face she reached out her arm and put her hand on my thigh. Not one of us dared breathe or move! All too quickly though she dashed back to mom’s ample tummy, and on she went with showing off. While a group’s home range may cover up to 15 km 2 , their movement is limited to barely a kilometre on an average day, so they do not compete with one another. With their diet of mostly foliage, including leaves, stems, pith and shoots, they live comfortably in habitat ranging from low-lying bamboo to cloud forest.

Looking straight up into my face she reached out her arm and put her hand on my thigh.

Thinking back now on this life-affirming encounter, and the privilege of observing a group of our close relatives quietly getting on with their family routine, it has left me as breathless as my high-altitude rainforest walk on that unforgettable day.

BELOW: Curiosity is not exclusive to cats. This baby overcame her shyness – while mom kept a watchful eye – to interact with our group.

FACT, FICTION & FANTASY

A MARVELLOUSLY MIXED BAG – FROM THE CATCHY TUNES PENNED AND SUNG BY ELTON JOHN, THE DRAMA OF KEANU REEVES PLAYING AN ASSASSIN, THE GOOFY MAKE BELIEVE ANIMATION OF WHAT PETS GET UP TO WHEN THEIR OWNERS ARE NOT AROUND – TO BOOKS AND THE LATEST MUSIC RELEASES.

ROCKETMAN

top pick

Bohemian Rhapsody swept the Awards season in 2018/19 and made people fall back in love with the music of Queen. Early indications are that Rocketman, the ‘fantasy biopic’ of the life and times of Elton John could possibly eclipse that. Taron Egerton (Kingsman 1 & 2, Eddie the Eagle and Billionaire Boys Club) takes on the challenging role of rock legend Elton John, who is still very much alive and kicking.

The project has cleared a number of hurdles in getting to the screen with a change of director and actors before fi lming began. Tom Hardy was once tipped for the role while Elton wanted Justin Timberlake to play him – but critics are unanimous that Egerton nails the portrayal. Even more interesting is that the versatile actor also sings every song, not using a voice double or Elton’s original material!

The fi lm focusses on Elton John’s beginnings, starting as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music and carrying over to when he reached global stardom through his infl uential and enduring musical partnership with his songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin.

It’s a biopic that looks beyond the glitter, spotlight and camera fl ashes associated with the performer’s life, the good, the bad and the ugly.

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 PARABELLUM

Nowhere is safe in the city that never sleeps – especially not when there’s a $14 million bounty on your head. Keanu Reeves reprises his role in the eponymous John Wick franchise which has made millions at the box offi ce worldwide.

The likeable and principled hitman has a massive – and lucrative – target on his back. Assassins don’t make trustworthy friends and Wick must once again survive by his wits and his killing skills. Consequently, the action is (predictably!) fast and furious, involving an epic motorcycle fi ght scene and even a horse chase! Supporting roles are supplied by the likes of Halle Berry in black leather, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburn. Shot on location in New York City, Russia, Morrocco and Spain, the fi lm hits local screens soon.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

When you harness the creative talent behind Minions and Despicable Me, how can it be anything BUT successful – as The Secret Life of Pets was. Reprising their ‘roles’ from the fi rst movie are comedian Kevin Hart as Super-rabbit Captain Snowball, Dana Carvey (Pops), Bobby Moynihan (Mel), Chris Renaud (Norman), Lake Bell (Chloe), Eric Stonestreet (Duke), Ellie Kemper (Katie) and Jenny Slate (Gidget). Making their respective debuts in the sequels are Tiff any Haddish as the Shih Tzu Daisy and sarcastically droll Harrison Ford as the Welsh sheepdog Rooster, boss of the farmyard. It’s all about what happens when their owners leave for work and school – with maximum comedic impact and great sassy, witty one liners.

I AM EASY TO FIND THE NATIONAL

It’s the eighth studio album from the band and includes some really special touches this time around.

Like the contribution from Gail Ann Dorsey, long time collaborator with David Bowie, who lends her voice to ‘You had your soul with you’, the fi rst track off the album. And the Brooklyn Youth Choir, Lisa Hannigan, Sharon van Etten, Kate Stables and Mina Tindle.

“Yes, there are a lot of women singing on this, but it wasn’t because, ‘Oh, let’s have more women’s voices’,” lead singer Matt Berninger said in a statement. “It was more, ‘Let’s have more of a fabric of people’s identities.’ It would have been better to have had other male singers, but my ego wouldn’t let that happen.”

CALIFORNIA SON MORRISSEY

Former leadman of British group The Smiths, Morrissey has developed his own following over the years. With his latest album, California Son, he pays tribute to some of the greatest songs and musicians of the 60’s and 70’s. Music critics are already buzzing at the prospect of hearing Dylan’s Only a Pawn in Their Game, Joni Mitchell’s Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow, Roy Orbison’s It’s Over and even Carly Simon’s When You Close Your Eyes.

Petra Haden, LP, Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear, Ariel Engle of Broken Social Scene, Sameer Gadhia of Young The Giant, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Lydia Night of The Regrettes also feature.

ANY RANDOM KINDNESS HAELOS

In May, British trip-hop outfi t HAELOS are slated to drop their latest album, Any Random Kindness. Due out through Infectious, the followup to 2016’s Full Circle fi nds Lotti Benardout, Arthur Delaney, and Dom Goldsmith “experimenting” with new songwriting approaches. “I think we put pressure on ourselves for sure,” said Benardout, “we had a real desire to complete a whole album and not just come out with one, two tracks and see what happened. We really wanted to lock ourselves away and complete a whole album.”

Specifi cally, Delaney returned to his roots of writing music on the acoustic guitar; Goldsmith, meanwhile, turned to the music of techno legend Ricardo Villalobos for inspiration. The band also expanded by making touring guitarist Daniel Vildósola an offi cial member, incorporating his “classical background and technical prowess.”

The 11-track collection was produced in East London, and its themes touch on modern society and its ills, including the current political landscape, climate change, and technology.

THE PARISIAN ISABELLA HAMMAD

As the First World War shatters families, destroys friendships and kills lovers, a young Palestinian dreamer sets out to fi nd himself. Midhat Kamal navigates his way across a fractured world, from the shifting politics of the Middle East to the dinner tables of Montpellier and a newly tumultuous Paris. He discovers that everything is fragile: love turns to loss, friends become enemies and everyone is looking for a place to belong.

Isabella Hammad delicately unpicks the tangled politics and personal tragedies of a turbulent era – the Palestinian struggle for independence, the strife of the early 20th century and the looming shadow of the Second World War. An intensely human story amidst a global confl ict, The Parisian is historical fi ction with a remarkable contemporary voice.

STAR CROSSED – MINNIE DARKE

Destiny doesn't happen by accident . . .

When Justine Carmichael (Sagittarius, aspiring journalist and sceptic) bumps into her teenage crush Nick Jordan (Aquarius, struggling actor and true believer) it could be by chance. Or it could be written in the stars. Justine works at the Alexandria Park Star - and Nick, she now learns, relies on the magazine's astrology column to guide him in life. Looking for a way to get Nick's attention, Justine has the idea of making a few small alterations to the horoscope for Aquarius before it goes to print. After all, it's only the stars. What could possibly go wrong?

DISCLAIMER: All books featured here are supplied by Penquin Random House South A ica

THE SECRETARY RENEE KNIGHT

Look around you. Who holds the most power in the room? Is it the one who speaks loudest, who looks the part, who has the most money, who commands the most respect?

Or perhaps it’s someone like Christine Butcher: a meek, overlooked fi gure, who silently bears witness as information is shared and secrets are whispered. Someone who quietly, maybe even unwittingly, gathers together knowledge of the people she’s there to serve – the ones who don’t notice her, the ones who consider themselves to be important.

There’s a fi ne line between loyalty and betrayal. And when someone like Christine Butcher is pushed to their limit, she might just become the most dangerous person in the room ...