Face to Face with Magnificence in the Mist
My Story of Tracking Gorillas in Rwanda and the Congo
It is a very special privilege awarded to very few people. I am honored to have been blessed with the opportunity to experience what I consider to be one of the greatest adventures in my life; tracking gorillas in the remote mountain jungles of Rwanda and the Congo. The sights, sounds and emotions of those two days will remain with me always as some of my most cherished memories of all time.
The idea for a Gorilla Trek had always been a dream of mine. Gorillas are my absolute favorite animal. Once I started planning this adventure to Africa, I knew above all else it had to include Gorillas (and Flamingos, which are Kathy’s absolute favorite animal). It took lots of research and planning to pull this off. The permits are the most difficult part of the process. There are only so many permits issued, and when they are gone, they are gone. We managed to secure our 4 permits about 9 months before the trip. Early planning is the key to success with this type of adventure.
After several days of safari adventure in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Arusha, we boarded a small 12 seat bush plane for our trip to Rwanda. After about 4 hours of flying, with one stop for immigration, and 3 stops to let other passengers off at various camps, we arrived at the capital city of Kigali. Read more →
Visit to a Maasai Village and School
The Maasai are a semi-nomadic ethnic group of people living in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. (Wikipedia: Maasai People)
Village Map Diagram
Upon arrival just outside the village we were greeted by the chief’s eldest son. I paid him $50 to allow unfettered access to the village and permission to take photographs of the people and structures. When we first arrived in Africa our guide explained that people here are generally very private and do not like their photo being taken. But, they are willing overlook this for a little cash, and $50 goes a really long way in a remote village like this.
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I Don’t Like Bugs…
Wow, Those Are Cool Bugs!
Bullet Ant
But show me a bug that is different than those I normally see and I think they’re cool! That’s one of the reasons I liked the Amazon so much…the bugs are pretty darn amazing. Read more →
Indigenous Amazonia – The Kichwa Part 3
This is a three part series on the Kichwa people living near the Yasuni National Park in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin along the Napo River. In Part 1 of the series, we discuss the village, schools, and infrastructure. In Part 2 of the series, we visit a Kichwa farm. In Part 3 of the series, we visit a cultural center and see how the Kichwa women are working to preserve their culture.
Part 3 – The Cultural Center
During our recent trip to the Amazon, we have several opportunities to visit with the local indigenous population. We were able to visit a Kichwa community, a Kichwa farm, and a Kichwa cultural area.
The Kichwa (or Quechua) are an indigenous people in South America. They speak the Kichwa language, which is also the same language the Inca’s spoke. They are found primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. Total population of Kichwa people is between 10 and 11 million people, with about 2.5 million of them in Ecuador.
In Part 1 of the series, we looked at a village commune and visited a school.
In Part 2 of the series, we looked at a farm.
Our third visit was to an Añangu Kichwa Cultural Center. Read more →
Indigenous Amazonia – The Kichwa Part 2
This is a three part series on the Kichwa people living near the Yasuni National Park in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin along the Napo River. In Part 1 of the series, we discuss the village, schools, and infrastructure. In Part 2 of the series, we visit a Kichwa farm. In Part 3 of the series, we visit a cultural center and see how the Kichwa women are working to preserve their culture.
Part 2 – The Farm
During our recent trip to the Amazon, we have several opportunities to visit with the local indigenous population. We were able to visit a Kichwa community, a Kichwa farm, and a Kichwa cultural area.
The Kichwa (or Quechua) are an indigenous people in South America. They speak the Kichwa language, which is also the same language the Inca’s spoke. They are found primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. Total population of Kichwa people is between 10 and 11 million people, with about 2.5 million of them in Ecuador.
In Part 1 of the series, we looked at a village commune and visited a school.
Our second visit was to a Kichwa farm. Read more →
Indigenous Amazonia – The Kichwa Part 1
This is a three part series on the Kichwa people living near the Yasuni National Park in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin along the Napo River. In Part 1 of the series, we discuss the village, schools, and infrastructure. In Part 2 of the series, we visit a Kichwa farm. In Part 3 of the series, we visit a cultural center and see how the Kichwa women are working to preserve their culture.
Part 1 – The Village Commune
During our recent trip to the Amazon, we had several opportunities to visit with the local indigenous population. We were able to visit a Kichwa community, a Kichwa farm, and a Kichwa cultural area.
The Kichwa (or Quechua) are an indigenous people in South America. They speak the Kichwa language, which is also the same language the Incas spoke. They are found primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. Total population of Kichwa people is between 10 and 11 million people, with about 2.5 million of them in Ecuador.
Our first visit was to a Kichwa commune. Read more →
Rain. As in Forest.
I’m going to write about rain. Specifically, rain in the rain forest. During our trip to the Amazon Rain Forest in eastern Ecuador, we expected rain. After all, it is a “Rain Forest”. And we experienced rain. Not very much, but it was there. And it was different.
The time of year was late February. This is the end of the dry season. Upon our arrival aboard the Manatee Amazon Explorer, we were told the river was very low. They were expecting the rains to come any day now. Once they came, it would rain until June. Glad I’m leaving in a week.
The dry season comes with many benefits. For instance the river is low, so that means the forest is very open to hiking, as it is dry. During the wet season, the forest floods, and you must take canoes into the forest. The dry season also means fewer mosquitoes. I can’t think of any time during the whole trip we were pestered by insects of any type. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of bugs, but they were for observing, not for swatting!
Sunset over a sandbar
The dry season also comes with issues. Since it is dry, many trees and plants are not flowering or producing fruit. Because of this, there is a lot less animal activity. Less activity means less encounters and fewer animals seen. Although we saw a fair share of wildlife, our guide said there are many more during the rainy season.
A Trip Down Memory Lane…
Cologne and the Rhine Valley, Germany
Our Trip to Germany and Czech Republic
Cologne and the Rhine River
Part 2 of the Series
At the Hauptbahnhof
After a great nights’ sleep in Frankfurt, we headed to Cologne (Köln for you German-speakers). We were able to leave most of our luggage at the hotel in Frankfurt and just took what we needed for an overnight trip. We walked to the main train station (hauptbahnhof) and bought our tickets for the ICE (intra city express) to Cologne. This particular train travels at 150 mph…pretty darn cool!
The Cologne bahnhoff was very busy and crowded, much more so than Frankfurt. We checked our one bag at an automatic luggage machine; you put your money and your luggage in the machine and it gives you a baggage claim card that you’ll need to retrieve your luggage. The luggage is taken downstairs via a little elevator inside the machine.
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