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Markus Eichenberger | profile | all galleries >> SOUTH AMERICA TRIP >> BOLIVIA >> MADIDI JUNGLE NATIONAL PARK tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

MADIDI JUNGLE NATIONAL PARK

Here are the pictures of my 10 days trip to the jungle in Bolivia. I went with Mashaquipe Travel Agency, which is run by local people, actually a whole family who is native to the jungle. They are very friendly and highly competent. My guide Eber explained me the jungle in so many details, from different leaves that were anesthetic to berries, which could be eaten, to the behavior of every single animal in the forest. Just amazing.

It was a great experience and I loved it every minute, despite all the mosquitoes and the fact, that I carried my 10kg photography backpack around for an average of 3 hours a day. Well, good exercise it was :D I hope it was worth the effort and you enjoy to photos as much as I do...

Here some facts about the park (source: Wikipedia)

Madidi is a national park in the upper Amazon river basin in Bolivia. Established in 1995, it has an area of 18,958 square kilometres, and along with nearby protected (though not necessarily contiguous) areas Manuripi-Heath, Apolobamba, and (across the border in Peru) the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Madidi is part of one of the largest protected areas in the world. Ranging from the glacier-covered peaks of the high Andes Mountains to the tropical rainforests of the Tuichi River, Madidi and its neighbors are recognized as one of the planet's most biologically diverse regions. In particular, Madidi protects parts of the Bolivian Yungas and Bolivian montande dry forests ecoregions. The Madidi National Park can be reached from Rurrenabaque if you cross the Beni River with the small passenger ferry over to San Buenaventura. The local people who have migrated here from the Andean highlands speak the Quechua language. The cultures who find their origin here are the Tacana, the Mosete, the Tsimane and the Ese Ejja, all of which have their own language which pertains to one language group. Some eco-lodges are found in and around the Madidi National Park. Another important site is the Serere Sanctuary operated by Madidi Travel; a 4000 hectare private reserve dedicated to generating income through tourism for on-going conservation work to establish new legally protected zones in the north of the Madidi Mosaic. Others include the young Entno Ecolodge - Mashaquipe on the Tuichi River close to the outlet into the Beni River.
My little plane to Rurrenabaque
My little plane to Rurrenabaque		 ready for take off
ready for take off		 that flying cigar had just 19 seats
that flying cigar had just 19 seats		 with direct views into the cockpit
with direct views into the cockpit		 with some quite old fashioned buttons...
with some quite old fashioned buttons...
I had a propeller window seat
I had a propeller window seat 		and here is the proof that I survived, obviously...
and here is the proof that I survived, obviously...		 Rurrenabaque is a small town in the jungle
Rurrenabaque is a small town in the jungle		 with some infrastructure
with some infrastructure		 37 degrees 70% humidity and you guessed it right, mooosquitoooos
37 degrees 70% humidity and you guessed it right, mooosquitoooos
This was the place I stayed for one night
This was the place I stayed for one night		 and here a young local guy
and here a young local guy 		next day we took off by boat upriver
next day we took off by boat upriver		 we were 3 tourists and one tour guide
we were 3 tourists and one tour guide		 called Eber, who was fantastic
called Eber, who was fantastic
he showed us so many things, like this Cacao fruit
he showed us so many things, like this Cacao fruit		 well, this tourist again... completely nuts...
well, this tourist again... completely nuts...		 this was one of Eber's sons
this was one of Eber's sons 		we made our own sugar cane juice
we made our own sugar cane juice		 pressing it in a mill
pressing it in a mill
the end product, soooo delicious
the end product, soooo delicious		 Eber's other son loved it too
Eber's other son loved it too		 and off we went further up river
and off we went further up river		 meeting some kids swimming
meeting some kids swimming		 having lots of fun
having lots of fun
we had to register at the entrance of Madidi Park
we had to register at the entrance of Madidi Park		 Our lodge with my cabana
Our lodge with my cabana		 and from the inside
and from the inside		 it was nice and cosy with mosquito net...
it was nice and cosy with mosquito net...		 there were flies that were really really big...
there were flies that were really really big...
and lots of fruits around the lodge
and lots of fruits around the lodge		 like bananas and pineapples
like bananas and pineapples		 that the cook used, his own veggie patch...
that the cook used, his own veggie patch...		 eventually we took off for some 3-4 hours hikes
eventually we took off for some 3-4 hours hikes		 we saw these howler monkeys making amazing noises
we saw these howler monkeys making amazing noises
and some weired looking birds, goose type
and some weired looking birds, goose type		 and an insect, don't ask me what that is...
and an insect, don't ask me what that is...		 and lots of spiders all around
and lots of spiders all around		 and ants, which were cutting leaves
and ants, which were cutting leaves		 and some nasty big hornets
and some nasty big hornets
beautiful leaves in the jungle
beautiful leaves in the jungle		 and lots of different butterflies
and lots of different butterflies		 and again this tourist always standing in the way...
and again this tourist always standing in the way...		 an insect, no clue what that was, but it was flying...
an insect, no clue what that was, but it was flying...		 and crossing our way, a little turtle
and crossing our way, a little turtle
the jungle was quite thick in soome places
the jungle was quite thick in soome places		 and Eber had to cut his way through with a Machete
and Eber had to cut his way through with a Machete		 this is the viewing point, 300 meters above
this is the viewing point, 300 meters above 		the jungle overlooking the river and the Macaws flying
the jungle overlooking the river and the Macaws flying		 an Israeli died here as he fell down the viewing point
an Israeli died here as he fell down the viewing point
it was an amazing experience
it was an amazing experience		 to watch these parrots
to watch these parrots 		flying around with their beautiful feathers
flying around with their beautiful feathers		 and most of the times in couples
and most of the times in couples		 one having a rest on a branch next to us
one having a rest on a branch next to us
our campsite near the Macaw Viewpoint
our campsite near the Macaw Viewpoint		 our cook prepared some delicious food
our cook prepared some delicious food		 on a little fireplace
on a little fireplace		 did I mention insects,... here the beautiful sorts
did I mention insects,... here the beautiful sorts		 in all colours and shapes
in all colours and shapes
sitting next to my doorstep in the Lodge
sitting next to my doorstep in the Lodge		 and a smaller version...
and a smaller version...		 one day we went Piranha fishing :D
one day we went Piranha fishing :D		 very nasty guys with lots of teeth
very nasty guys with lots of teeth		 and dangerous to take the hook off
and dangerous to take the hook off
our revenge :D we ate them all, ha,ha,ha
our revenge :D we ate them all, ha,ha,ha		 along the river were lots of birds
along the river were lots of birds		 and something beaver like swimming around
and something beaver like swimming around		 and some fruits hanging off the forest
and some fruits hanging off the forest		 and a dangerous looking green snake
and a dangerous looking green snake
this is the wall where the Macaws having
this is the wall where the Macaws having 		their nests. The Viewpoint is above this wall
their nests. The Viewpoint is above this wall		 and sorry, another session of the birds...
and sorry, another session of the birds...		 but they really amazed me
but they really amazed me		 and I went with my guide every day there
and I went with my guide every day there
here some Loros, green parrots, hard to spot...
here some Loros, green parrots, hard to spot...		 and this one was just posing for me
and this one was just posing for me		 while watching the birds, some little guys
while watching the birds, some little guys		 joined us, basically sitting next to us
joined us, basically sitting next to us		 and a beautiful big one in the air
and a beautiful big one in the air
sometimes there were more than a hundred
sometimes there were more than a hundred		 sitting in trees and flying around
sitting in trees and flying around		 like airplanes
like airplanes		 and most times with their partners...
and most times with their partners...		 with amazing colours
with amazing colours
this is a footprint of a Puma that was strolling around our campsite
this is a footprint of a Puma that was strolling around our campsite		 and spiders everywhere
and spiders everywhere		 with some wild pig guests
with some wild pig guests 		and another huge butterfly
and another huge butterfly		 Turtle Number 2 with Eber
Turtle Number 2 with Eber
and busy ants next to my bungalow
and busy ants next to my bungalow		 a huge, fist size, tarantula sitting in the tree
a huge, fist size, tarantula sitting in the tree 		and some more butterflies gathering
and some more butterflies gathering		 strange looking bird feeding
strange looking bird feeding		 and then flying off
and then flying off
and some small monkeys in the trees
and some small monkeys in the trees		 very shy and extremely hard to photograph..
very shy and extremely hard to photograph..		 this guy was lazy, had lunch already
this guy was lazy, had lunch already		 some more parrots through the trees
some more parrots through the trees		 couple chatting about these stupid tourists..
couple chatting about these stupid tourists..
and getting annoyed and flew off
and getting annoyed and flew off		 sorry, did I mention birds before...
sorry, did I mention birds before...		 and no more suffering, the last one ;-)
and no more suffering, the last one ;-)		 Beautiful view over the river
Beautiful view over the river		 walking in the jungle is quite rough
walking in the jungle is quite rough
especially, I realized, touching things is not a good idea...
especially, I realized, touching things is not a good idea...		 a leaf that has been eaten up by insects
a leaf that has been eaten up by insects		 and really amazing trees with huge roots
and really amazing trees with huge roots		 argghhh, another screw up photo with that tourist...
argghhh, another screw up photo with that tourist...		 btw, here at night another spider
btw, here at night another spider
and my favourite insect....
and my favourite insect....		 every seen one of these before?
every seen one of these before?		 it is a Mantis in English and Spanish, in German it is called Gottesanbeterin
it is a Mantis in English and Spanish, in German it is called Gottesanbeterin		 very hard to spot, and eats the male after mating...
very hard to spot, and eats the male after mating...		 on our way back to Rurrenabaque
on our way back to Rurrenabaque
at the airport in Rurrenabaque
at the "airport" in Rurrenabaque		 we fly from Gate 1, the only one :D
we fly from Gate 1, the only one :D		 back in the plane
back in the plane 		flying to La Paz
flying to La Paz		 and touching down
and touching down

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