This morning we woke up to a steady downpour in the rain forest. I found myself thinking that this was great, it should rain in the rain forest. Yesterday was so sunny it was hard to imagine that it was a jungle – so much for another one of my preconceived notions. Over breakfast the rain slowed to a sprinkle, and by the time we reached the other side of the lagoon on our way to the Kapok Tree Tower, we only felt the drips from the trees. For an hour we saw brightly colored yellow, turquoise, and scarlet birds, eating the seeds from the strangler fig that will slowly kill the kapok tree in the next 70 years. What we thought was a termite nest in a tree turned out to be a wasp nest with a lot of action going on. We saw dark, ominous looking clouds approach, rain began, and within seconds it is a downpour. Angel had to bail out the canoe. The downpour continued on the 25 minute ride back to the lagoon with Karen bailing out the canoe. Even with ponchos, we were soaked through. Reaching the lagoon, the rain lightened, and as we stepped out of the canoe it stopped. Fifteen minutes later the sun was shining. Heading back to our cabin to change into dry clothes, we stopped to look at the raindrops glistening from the plants. With him so close by, we decided to visit the pygmy marmoset but he wasn’t out. While we waited for him, two capybaras came through, playing a game of chase. There are big puddles on the way back to our cabin and as we stood in a puddle watching, thousands of ants scurried up and over the buttresses of trees, leaves and logs, following an ant superhighway route. We wondered if they were trying to get away from the puddles or something else.
It felt great to peel off our soaking clothes and hang them out on the clothesline. We have little hope of them drying.
In the afternoon we went back to feed our pygmy marmoset addiction and were rewarded with him being down close to the ground. Later, we headed out for a late afternoon visit to the canopy walk. We saw fewer birds than we saw the first time, but many rainbows. The best part was the hike out through the puddles. I learned just how great those gumboots were. We stayed a bit too long, and by the time we were down from the tower, night was closing in. It was a slow hike back to the lodge. Luckily Thumbelina and Angel both had flashlights to help us out.
Tonight we pack up our soggy clothes to get ready to leave at 6 in the morning. I find myself wishing I would have taken more videos of things I learned about to take back to my students. I will try to do that in the Galapagos.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.