I had a six am wake up call, since the animals don't sleep in. The bed and the room was very comfortable, the jungle sounds so loud it was like someone had the volume on high. Monkeys, birds and very noisy frogs. I was so tired I would have slept through an earthquake. At six there was a light tap on my door, I popped out of bed eager to get started on another adventure.
After breakfast I headed out with my guides in the canoe. We couldn't have been more then twenty yards from where we were swimming the night before, when the guide said oh look there is an anaconda. I guess I wasn't quick enough, it submerged before I saw it. not to worry there was another one in my future.
After seeing many beautiful birds including the stinky turkey or Hossin as it is also known. This bird has two stomachs, after eating food it ferments in one stomach then is transferred to the other where it makes the birds flesh stinky. No one wants to eat the bird then. Smart no?
After going ways we then got out of the canoe and hiked back another way, more birds, some monkeys and leaf cutters ants were spotted. We then headed back for a snack and a rest.
My favorite thing to do at this time was to lay in the hammock and listen to my Zune.
Again after a great hike, I relaxed for a while and then went to the butterfly house. It is so special to see so many butterflies all colors and sizes flying around. I will include picture of me with one on my head.
After this I went to the main lodge for another wonderful lunch. We then greeted the new group. Joining me was Wendy and David. They were from England a delightful couple. He was eighty and she was seventy-seven, me the baby of the group at sixty eight. I now had no excuse for not keeping up. Our first adventure we headed out into the lagoon to the tree house. We brought flashlights since we would be walking back at night.
Cruising along the guide said look an anaconda. It took us awhile to spot it, but I got plenty of pictures. We then got to the tree house, which is a very large kapok tree. We climbed thirteen stories to the top. I am not crazy about heights so for me it was a big deal and I made it. Yeah.
We were rewarded by sighting many birds and then looking up in the tree we saw a three toed sloth not one but two. They can stay up in the tree for up to nine days only coming down to go to the bathroom. We were up there for over an hour then hiked back to the jungle, straight to the bar. I not much of a drinker but they made the best popcorn.
That evening we discussed the next days plans. Two ladies in another group wanted to go to the parrot lick and so did I. We were the only three that wanted to go since it involved a lot of hiking.
Wendy and David elected to stay back with our guide Julio. Again a canoe ride down the Napo river but in the other direction.
I am glad I went. We saw so many parrots, a great horned owl, and on the way there the guide stopped the boat and there on a cliff was thousands of parakeets. What a sight.
After getting back to the lodge and eating, I once again headed for the butterfly house.
In the afternoon I once again joined Wendy, David and our guides for a canoe ride. We saw many birds, monkeys and lots of beautiful plants. They were so nice and a joy to be with.
Tomorrow we get up at five to go to the walkway. Yikes.
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.