We have been in the jungle for three days with no access to internet or electricity. The chimpanzee trekking was amazing we saw at least two dozen chimps which included babies, copulation, and lots of swinging from trees. At one point we were 6 feet away. We can't begin to tell you how fantastic that experience was. We were out about three hours treking through the jungle with two wonderful guides. In the afternoon we had a swamp walk in which we saw 6 of the 7 species of monkeys in that area. We watched for at least 15 min while they were swinging from tree to tree. They can leap an unbelievable distance. We have seen many baboons and we have seen close to 90 or so species of birds since we have been here.
Today we were out in a boat and almost got tipped over by a hippo who must have felt we had gotten too close. Saw many elephants with babies (one of which was 2 months old), cape and water buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, all types of antelope, and as I said birds galore.
We have stayed in a few hotels and mostly luxury tented camps. Tonight we are in a very nice place and spent several hours at the swimming pool this afternoon cooling off and relaxing. From the pool we could view the elephants, buffalo and hippos on the other side of the lake. Tomorrow we hope to finally see a lion and maybe a hyena.
Pictures will have to wait awhile but Peggy has taken over 1000 photos and I am video recording as much as I can when not in a moving vehicle.
So, that's it for now.
Elaine ( Peggy )
Amazing! I am so happy that y'all are enjoying this trip, and am looking forward to seeing pictures. Hope you get to see your hyena and lion very soon!
ReplyDeleteYour trip - so exciting and more to come - on to the gorillas!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Elaine, the best birthday ever!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! Sounds like you two are having the time of your lives. Enjoy... can't wait to see the pictures.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic voyage. Cant wait to see photos. Glad you are holding up well with out electricity and internet. Also sounds like you are glued to pools and pool chairs at the moment.lol
ReplyDeleteGuess you are close to gorilla tracking.
Happy Birthday, Mom! Hope your birthday wishes came true. Love you! Miss you! Looking forward to the next update.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Elaine. Hope you got to do what you hoped to do today. Know your having a wonderful time. Have a safe journey home. Looking forward to the pic and posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the birthday wishes and I'm delighted to say that my dream of turning 70 looking into the eyes of a mountain gorilla have come true. More about that to follow.
ReplyDeleteWhile is checking her email I'll fill you in on a little of today. I took the most strenuous hike of my life to visit the site where Dian Fossey did all her work on gorillas and where she and 26 gorillas she studied are buried. It was uphill all the way and besides hiring a guide we each had a porter. Peggy's porter had little to do except carry her backpack and watch her going off with the soldier hired to protect us from buffalo and wild elephants, neither of which we came across. We actually had 2 soldiers with guns, one in front and one at the rear. My poor porter had all the work helping me climb up the difficult terrain of the mountain. It took 4 1/2 hours but I was determined to make it. In the end the guide became my second porter and dragged me up and down...bottom line I made it. On the way down we came across a mother gorilla with baby on her back and a silverback sitting and eating. My dream of celebrating my birhtday looking into the eyes of a mountain gorilla came true. Gorilla treking tomorrow and have to be up early so off to bed.
ReplyDeleteElaine,
ReplyDeleteI just read your comments from last night and actually got chills ! What an incredible birthday - dreams do come true. Thrilled that your wishes came to fruition. Travel safely back.
D