Serere, Bolivian Rain Forest
The last four days have been the best highlight of our trip so far, with an awesome time at the privately owned Serere reserve in a floodplain of the rain forest. The lodge, accommodation and food was very good, and the guiding was excellent. It is said that the rain forest is the biggest pharmacy in the world, and we continue to learn some of the plants and trees, and their uses. The birding was great, and the macaws continue to be a great challenge to photograph up in the high canopy of the forest. The monkeys, of which we saw five species, (squirrel, capuchin, yellow, nocturnal and howler), are even more challenging to photograph. The forest has numerous dangers including the caiman, freshwater sting rays, fire ants and many others. To Heathers dismay and terror, we had a night walk spotting spiders, but were fortunate to see a very large tarantula on a day walk. During our time at the lodge, we met the owner, Rosa Maria Ruiz, and on returning to Rurrenebaque, had dinner with her, followed by some additional time chatting the next morning. Rosa Maria was fundamental in the identification and declaration of the Madidi National Park, and is a conservationist on the front line who at times has had her life threatened because of her activism for wildlife and indigenous peoples rights. What a privelege to meet, and spend time talking to her. Our minds continue to mull over ways to continue to stay involved, even remotely from Canada. Serere is a little piece of paradise, with so much good work being done in and around the reserve.
The last four days have been the best highlight of our trip so far, with an awesome time at the privately owned Serere reserve in a floodplain of the rain forest. The lodge, accommodation and food was very good, and the guiding was excellent. It is said that the rain forest is the biggest pharmacy in the world, and we continue to learn some of the plants and trees, and their uses. The birding was great, and the macaws continue to be a great challenge to photograph up in the high canopy of the forest. The monkeys, of which we saw five species, (squirrel, capuchin, yellow, nocturnal and howler), are even more challenging to photograph. The forest has numerous dangers including the caiman, freshwater sting rays, fire ants and many others. To Heathers dismay and terror, we had a night walk spotting spiders, but were fortunate to see a very large tarantula on a day walk. During our time at the lodge, we met the owner, Rosa Maria Ruiz, and on returning to Rurrenebaque, had dinner with her, followed by some additional time chatting the next morning. Rosa Maria was fundamental in the identification and declaration of the Madidi National Park, and is a conservationist on the front line who at times has had her life threatened because of her activism for wildlife and indigenous peoples rights. What a privelege to meet, and spend time talking to her. Our minds continue to mull over ways to continue to stay involved, even remotely from Canada. Serere is a little piece of paradise, with so much good work being done in and around the reserve.