As you might know, I have been on two conservation study tours with my University, and So reading back through my journals I made when in South Africa in Botswana and South America in Peru, I have decided to make a post on these experiences!
South Africa
Well what can I say.. it was one of the best experiences of my life!
We got the plane from London Manchester airport then had a small layover in Dubai (well small, only had 45 minutes to get from one terminal to the other) but we managed to get the next plane which was to Johannesburg.
From Johannesburg, we drove to the border of Botswana (stopping on the way as it was about 5/6 hours drive), where we got our passports checked and where we had to get two trucks (one very large to accommodate the luggage and the other a small jeep) on the other side of the river across the border.
From the border of Botswana, we then started our journey to the camp (from this point on no proper roads around, all mainly dirt tracks), by this time it was 5/6 o'clock local time and the journey will be about 1 1/2 to the camp site where we will be based at for the next two weeks. We arrived at the campsite and it was very dark by this time, we collected our bags from the trucks and then headed to our tents. We were allowed to choose our tents and the people who we bunked with, which was great!
The first few days we were just getting used to our surroundings and the heat, then the rest of the days were going out in the jeep in the morning early like at 6am and then come back to have lunch at the hottest part of the day (and I mean Hot!) and during this time back at the camp we were allowed to do anything we wanted (within reason) and then back out for another drive at 4pm until dark. The animals we would see on the jeep drives were Elephants, Zebras, Warthogs, Lots of species of birds, Lions and many more!
On some nights we would come back from the afternoon drive and then have dinner, then we would go out on a night drive! Going out to see if there are any nocturnal animals we can spot (which I particularly enjoyed!).
Once we finished our days at the camp, we headed back to Johannesburg, but via Pretoria, as we had an overnight stay. In Pretoria, we went to the Cheetah Sanctuary and the Bush Baby Sanctuary! (which were both enjoyable). Both were good except the cheetah sanctuary could be improved as they provide the animals with dog and cat food and provide them out of bowls (which shouldn't be happening), but I guess that is how it works out there.
We then drove back to Johannesburg airport and got the plane to Dubai and then to London Manchester.
Peru
Well what can I say.. it was another one of the best experiences of my life! (Completely different to South Africa of course!)
We got the plane from London Heathrow airport then had a small layover in Madrid only about 2/3 hours (can't remember the actual times). We then got the plane to Lima and then had a layover there for about 4 hours, then we got the plane to Cusco.
In Cusco we stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights to acclimatize and see the area of Cusco, which was nice! Then from Cusco, we drove in two mini buses to the cloud forest lodge (stopping on the way as it was a long drive) where we stayed over night for one night then in the morning headed off to the port near the Manu Learning Centre. The cloud forest lodge was basic, but the views in the morning were amazing! There was a massive river that flowed past the lodge which had great views and we could even see some primates in the trees across the river which was one of our first sightings!
We arrived at the boat port, we had to wait a while for the boats to arrive then we could board them for the 40/50 minute ride to the Manu Learning Centre lodges.
The boat ride was amazing! It was raining at the time, so it was pretty choppy, but a great ride. Near the entrance to the Manu Learning Centre (MLC), the boats had to turn around to get to the entrance as it was by the side of the river near the jungle. As our boat turned (as a group we had two boats), the one I was on, rock bottomed, so we hit the bottom of the river bed and we couldn't move the boat. The guides ended up out of the boat in the river to push the boat over a little (we felt like we were going to capsize!) and then they managed to move the boat and ride over to the entrance of the MLC.
The next day, which was our first day at the MLC, we were just training to be able to go out into the jungle as we needed to learn health & safety and needed to learn about how we would carry out the survey the primates.
We had a schedule for the week, what and where we were going to be during the week and the activities we were going to do. We would go out everyday (except a Sunday as that's the day off), on a walk into the jungle, surveying reptiles, amphibians and primates (and even surveying the macaws at the clay lick where the birds get their nutrients from). Everyday on the walks, we saw amazing views and even got up close to small primates! Everyday the walks were interesting and very different, even if we sometimes went up the same path. Some of the walks were absolutely exhausting by the end of it, but it was worth walking! Sometimes we were walking all day and sometimes just the morning, depending on weather, and what surveys we were going to complete!
On the last few days, we went to the lagoon to have some swimming and relaxing time (where it was safe to swim), that was amazing! Just to be out in the jungle, relaxing with all the sounds around you!
When it was time to leave after the week we had at the MLC, we said our goodbyes and had a small presentation on how we have contributed to their research and their company. We left and got back on the boats to head back to Cusco (at this time it was raining again). The boat ride back to the port was much quicker and then the drive back through the mountains to Cusco was also quicker, not sure why though, maybe because we didn't stop as much?! Ah well, both the ride and the drive was still amazing though!
We arrived in Cusco, we stayed at the same hotel for one night this time though! We again, got to look around the area of Cusco town for a couple of hours. From Cusco main city centre, we drove to the airport. From the airport we boarded the plane to Lima. We then arrived in Lima and we had a 11 1/2 hour layover so we decided we needed to do something rather than just sit and chill at the airport. We decided to go to the Peruvian zoo (which I must say, is not up to high standard- small enclosures, live feeds and food bowls rather than enrichments) and then we decided to go to the main city centre of Lima and have a look around (which was rather nice, and lovely buildings!). We then boarded the plane to Madrid (which was a long flight) and had a layover for about 4/5 hours then boarded the plane to London Heathrow.
Overall these two trips were amazing and both life changing experiences!!
On some nights we would come back from the afternoon drive and then have dinner, then we would go out on a night drive! Going out to see if there are any nocturnal animals we can spot (which I particularly enjoyed!).
Once we finished our days at the camp, we headed back to Johannesburg, but via Pretoria, as we had an overnight stay. In Pretoria, we went to the Cheetah Sanctuary and the Bush Baby Sanctuary! (which were both enjoyable). Both were good except the cheetah sanctuary could be improved as they provide the animals with dog and cat food and provide them out of bowls (which shouldn't be happening), but I guess that is how it works out there.
We then drove back to Johannesburg airport and got the plane to Dubai and then to London Manchester.
Peru
Well what can I say.. it was another one of the best experiences of my life! (Completely different to South Africa of course!)
We got the plane from London Heathrow airport then had a small layover in Madrid only about 2/3 hours (can't remember the actual times). We then got the plane to Lima and then had a layover there for about 4 hours, then we got the plane to Cusco.
In Cusco we stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights to acclimatize and see the area of Cusco, which was nice! Then from Cusco, we drove in two mini buses to the cloud forest lodge (stopping on the way as it was a long drive) where we stayed over night for one night then in the morning headed off to the port near the Manu Learning Centre. The cloud forest lodge was basic, but the views in the morning were amazing! There was a massive river that flowed past the lodge which had great views and we could even see some primates in the trees across the river which was one of our first sightings!
We arrived at the boat port, we had to wait a while for the boats to arrive then we could board them for the 40/50 minute ride to the Manu Learning Centre lodges.
The boat ride was amazing! It was raining at the time, so it was pretty choppy, but a great ride. Near the entrance to the Manu Learning Centre (MLC), the boats had to turn around to get to the entrance as it was by the side of the river near the jungle. As our boat turned (as a group we had two boats), the one I was on, rock bottomed, so we hit the bottom of the river bed and we couldn't move the boat. The guides ended up out of the boat in the river to push the boat over a little (we felt like we were going to capsize!) and then they managed to move the boat and ride over to the entrance of the MLC.
The next day, which was our first day at the MLC, we were just training to be able to go out into the jungle as we needed to learn health & safety and needed to learn about how we would carry out the survey the primates.
We had a schedule for the week, what and where we were going to be during the week and the activities we were going to do. We would go out everyday (except a Sunday as that's the day off), on a walk into the jungle, surveying reptiles, amphibians and primates (and even surveying the macaws at the clay lick where the birds get their nutrients from). Everyday on the walks, we saw amazing views and even got up close to small primates! Everyday the walks were interesting and very different, even if we sometimes went up the same path. Some of the walks were absolutely exhausting by the end of it, but it was worth walking! Sometimes we were walking all day and sometimes just the morning, depending on weather, and what surveys we were going to complete!
On the last few days, we went to the lagoon to have some swimming and relaxing time (where it was safe to swim), that was amazing! Just to be out in the jungle, relaxing with all the sounds around you!
When it was time to leave after the week we had at the MLC, we said our goodbyes and had a small presentation on how we have contributed to their research and their company. We left and got back on the boats to head back to Cusco (at this time it was raining again). The boat ride back to the port was much quicker and then the drive back through the mountains to Cusco was also quicker, not sure why though, maybe because we didn't stop as much?! Ah well, both the ride and the drive was still amazing though!
We arrived in Cusco, we stayed at the same hotel for one night this time though! We again, got to look around the area of Cusco town for a couple of hours. From Cusco main city centre, we drove to the airport. From the airport we boarded the plane to Lima. We then arrived in Lima and we had a 11 1/2 hour layover so we decided we needed to do something rather than just sit and chill at the airport. We decided to go to the Peruvian zoo (which I must say, is not up to high standard- small enclosures, live feeds and food bowls rather than enrichments) and then we decided to go to the main city centre of Lima and have a look around (which was rather nice, and lovely buildings!). We then boarded the plane to Madrid (which was a long flight) and had a layover for about 4/5 hours then boarded the plane to London Heathrow.
Overall these two trips were amazing and both life changing experiences!!
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