Up at 5.30 as the world outside was waking up - John rued the fact he couldn't make a cup of tea. Another cold shower - I am getting used to them now and am just thankful for a shower!
We packed up all our kit ready for the next stage of our trip to Rewa and went off to breakfast leaving a laundry basket full of washing to be washed and collected on Saturday when we return.
After breakfast I did some emails and ensured my iPad was fully charged before we left at 0930 for Kwatamang landing to await our boat to Rewa Eco lodge. While waiting I sat on the bank and watched some rusty margin flycatchers in the tall bushes.
The boat was due to arrive at 1000 but finally came around the bend at 1045....fully laden with passengers and their kit - they turned out to be from Karanabu Lodge our stop in a few days time, they had been helping out Rewa with culinary training amongst other things - they told us Rewa were waiting for us and already had our dietary requirements which they then reeled off - impressive!
We then met Ken our guide and Levi our boatman who took us to Rewa - it took 2 hours - we had been prepared for 3 - but bums were getting numb and hunger was setting in by 1pm so we were glad when we stopped at this really impressive looking site on the banks of the river and didn't head straight past and were told "this is the lodge"!
However the trip revealed a lot of activity both human and wildlife. It was good to pass small communities, see children playing in the water, see canoes being paddled up and down the river - there was even one dug out with an outboard attached. These communities are much more reserved than in Africa - there the children wave madly - here they shyly wave but have big beaming smiles when they do.
The wildlife we saw included:-
Osprey
Black skimmer
Large billed tern
Amazon kingfisher
White wing swallow
Cormorant
Anhinga
Coqui heron
Jaberu stork
Yellow headed caracara
Lesser kiskadee
Black vultures
Fish - arapaima -this is the biggest freshwater fish which I saw thrashing around in the middle of the river - its large fins being fully exposed above water.
Black Caiman on the bank and swimming noncholently past the boat!
Yellow spotted turtle - who every time I went to take a photo slipped into the water.
On arrival we were. Fully briefed by the manager and met all the staff. The whole site was clearly well cared for and our simple cabin and ensuite had everything we needed.
After lunch we unpacked and had a siesta before meeting Ken at 4.30pm for a tour of the village with bird watching enroute.
The village is formed of 4 tribes -the majority being the Macushi indeed we met the Village Captain as we started the walk - the wonders of a patriarchy - he walked straight past me and had a conversation with John!
Thanks to government help every building now has a solar panel and they have piped fresh water from a well rather that river water which they don't know what has happened to it further upstream.....in the past this was a cause of sickness. They have a nursery and primary school and a health worker who is helped by our guide who has proudly undergone first aid certification.
As we toured the village we spotted:-
Blue backed grassquit
Palm tanager
Lineated woodpecker
Golden spangled piculet - brilliant little bird like a minature woodpecker.
Silver beaked tanager
Morcha oriole
Fork tailed flycatcher
As we watched a very good volleyball game between young men in the village - preparing for a match over easter from a visiting community we saw orange winged parrots fly over and red fan parrots in a tree on the edge of the playing fields.
On the way back we saw a female black crested ant shrike.
On our return we had a cup of tea before having a welcome shower and changing for dinner. Today has definitely been the hottest and driest day yet......let's hope it lasts for a while!
We even found that we had caught the sun on any exposed pieces of skin and that was inspite of factor 50 put on this morning.
Dinner was excellent - best cooked yet - soup and fish and brilliant mashed potato,beans and onion rings with a light sponge for desert. Wildlife viewing continued during dinner a paraque flew in and out of the dining area and a toad visited and hopped around the floor eating the bugs!
We retired after dinner to write my blog and prepare for our 6.30 start tomorrow.