Majka Burhardt's "Namuli" and the Act of Discovery

What happens when a group of climbers and scientists climb a mountain? Namuli, a new film by climber and 2015 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival guest Majka Burhardt, documents just that: from the act of discovery, to the friendships that come along with an extended trip.

The namesake of Burhardt’s newly released film, a short documentary by Ukalene Productions, is Mozambique’s second-highest mountain.

According to Burhardt, who is also the author of two nonfiction books about Ethiopia, Mount Namuli is a “biodiversity hotspot” that runs from Saudi Arabia to South Africa, and is home to as many as 7,500 people.

Burhardt, whose career incorporates her passions for climbing, environmental activism and journalism, chose Namuli not only for its climbing potential, but because it had been relatively unexplored by scientists.

“Cliffside ecology has never really happened in that area,” Burhadrt tells host Brandon Pullan during their interview for The Banff Centre’s Basecamp podcast.

“If I can contribute to scientific research, if we could help facilitate what scientists want to get done, that’s pretty interesting.”

On Episode 12 of Basecamp, hear Majka Burhardt tell host Brandon Pullan:

• about her love of rock climbing

• her transition from climbing to environmental activism

• her work in Ethiopia

• Namuli: the mountain and the documentary