June 16At 6:30 am we go by motor boat to an Island for a walking safari, in single file with a guide in the front and a guide in the rear. We see many beautiful birds (one blue bird with red beak and feet),several crocodiles, baboons, warthogs, elephants, antelopes, buffalo skull, fresh feathers left from a recent kill, and the guide hears lion calls on the next island. When we stop near a hippo pool, 5 of the hippos start to come toward us with their heads out of the water, but stop when we back up. They don't move and continue to watch us. Hippos are very dangerous if you get between them and their babies or between them and the water, and kill more people then any other animal. Leopards and hyenas can also be found in this area.
After a jog around the camp, a hot shower and a lunch of butternut squash soup and sauted vegetables (my usual), it was time for the afternoon motor boat ride at 3:30pm. Our guide gave us a taste of the white inside of a papyrus plant and showed us how the locals use the outside of the stem to make mats. He used the stem and flower of the water lilly to make a necklace.
At 5pm he brought us to place on the bank where all of the camp guides were waitng to take us for a sunset cruise on small traditonal canoes using poles in very shallow water. I enjoyed this quiet and peaceful way to explore the area.
The Delta is comprised of 80,000 small islands. The ecosystem, including the water, plant and animal life, the humans and the weather are extemely dependent on each other. Conservation is a major concern of the lodges, their guides, and the government.
Bruce, a bachelor hippo, comes into the camp every night.
No comments:
Post a Comment