Every day, new guest are coming to Sacha Lodge. Two nature guides are walking
with groups of maximum five people through the jungle. One guide is always a
member of the Quichua tribe. The Quichua live along the Rio Napo.
Arrival of a new group at Sacha Lodge
The Quichua tribe is comfortable with the outside world. In contrast, two groups of
the Waorani tribe prefer to live their traditional nomadic warrior life. A specific
area – the Zona Intangible- is reserved for this group. This zone is in the Yasuni
National Park. Yasuni is the most biologically diverse spot on earth. This pristine
environment is seriously threatened by the vast oil fields discovered in this area.
Unfortunately, the Yasuni Initiative failed to protect this very special place from
oil exploration.
Walter, our Quichuan guide, shows us how to weave a basket with palm leaves.
We were fascinated by many unusual sights and sounds.
Red roots of a tree
Little seed balls growing directly out of a tree trunk
A monkey jumping from tree to tree
Colorful birds inhabit the Rain Forest. In the Parque Nacional Yasuni, there live 500
species of birds. A boat trip on the Rio Napo brought us to a clay wall close to the
entrance of Yasuni. Hundreds of Parrots were picking clay from the wall. They need
the alkaline clay to neutralize their acidic diet.
Green Parrots picking clay
A canopy walk was one of our highlights. It was misty and rainy. The bridge seemed
to be disappearing into the grey sky. Although we did not see birds, the whole
atmosphere was intriguing.
A canopy bridge above crowns of trees
The view over an ocean of green was stunning.
– Text and pictures contributed by Garyo –