This film is part of Free
Kharga
Documenting a journey by camel across the desolate wasteland of the Kharga Oasis in 1932.
Overview
Documenting a journey by camel across the desolate wasteland of the Kharga Oasis in 1932. The film includes scenes at a train station, bustling street, scenes of digging/excavating, camel caravan carrying loads and travel between desert camps (party includes European women). The film shows Kharga - the largest oasis of the Libyan Desert, which consists of a depression about 160km long and between 20km to 80km wide; it is located 232km south of Asyut, 550km south of Cairo.
The footage is likely to be the work of Elinor Wight Gardner (1892-1980), who was a geologist. Along with Gertrude Caton–Thompson (1888 –1985) they undertook research on the ‘Pleistocene Fauna and Flora of Kharga Oasis’ between 1930 and 1933. It possibly shows the arrival of Elinor Wight Gardner and Gertrude Caton–Thompson at Baliana on 9th December 1930, and their subsequent journey (using eight camels) across the high desert plateau to Kharga; a distance of 170km which took 5½ days. It was a leisurely journey, and they took time to note interesting archaeological and geological features along the way.
Related
Climbing Mount Everest Climbing Mount Everest
Non-Fiction 1933 32 mins Silent
A fascinating glimpse into life at high altitude for the party of the Mount Everest Expedition 1933 which intended, but ultimately failed to summit Everest.
East Nepal East Nepal
1961 72 mins Silent
Film taken by Tom Spring Smyth during the British Museum (Natural History) Expedition to East Nepal 1961-1962.
Amazon; Dr Hamilton Rice Amazon; Dr Hamilton Rice
1926 91 mins Silent
Take a journey with Dr Hamilton Rice as he embarks on his final expedition of the easterly tributaries of the Amazonian basin.
The Conquest of Everest The Conquest of Everest
Documentary 1953 78 mins
Colour film (narrated by Meredith Edwards) telling the story of the ‘Mount Everest Expedition 1953’, which saw the first successful ascent of the mountain.
Scenes from Around the World Scenes from Around the World
Amateur film 1947 9 mins Silent
Short colour, silent, compilation of unedited film footage giving a snapshot of life in various countries in the year 1947.
Nine Countries in Ninety Minutes Nine Countries in Ninety Minutes
Travelogue 1937 63 mins Silent
Amateur film travelogue of a journey around various parts of the world in 1937, by Frances Hotham F.R.G.S, A.R.P.S.
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.