To See A Jungle, Walk This Way - Small Ship Cruises

TO SEE A JUNGLE, WALK THIS WAY

by Bob Linde and Shirley Linde

It pays to walk a trail with a naturalist guide. A good guide will help keep you out of danger, help you spot wildlife and tell wonderful stories about what you see.

We have hiked through rainforests of Costa Rica and Belize and through jungles along the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers with naturalist/guides. Here four of the naturalists we have travelled with ... Marcel Lichtenstein,, Carla Weston, Conrad Weston, and Dr. Charles Leavell … share their tips on the ways to walk a trail like an expert and have satisfying sightings of wildlife in even the most remote areas.

Go with only a few other people. Big groups don't work.
Go at sunrise and sunset if you can. As sunlight arrives, monkeys are screaming and birds are chirping; at sunset they are giving their goodnight calls.
Know where you're going. Is it a loop trail or must you return the same way you came? Watch for landmarks on the way to make returning easier.
Stay on the trail. Watch where you walk. When you're looking up at the trees, don't move your feet. When you're moving your feet, look down. If you're going to touch something, take a close look before doing it.
Bring water. Drink it. You can dehydrate in the tropics without realizing it. Bring and eat some snacks to help keep up your energy.
Bring binoculars. Even if you are not an avid birder, you will be happy you brought your binocs. On one expedition our eagle-eye skipper/guide brought us to within 10 feet of a large Jesus Christ lizard (he can walk on water). With binocs we could see his huge standup pointed ears and his bright orange and black eye staring at us.
Wear loose comfortable clothes, and long pants if bugs are going to be a problem. Wear shoes that you have worn several times so you know they are comfortable. Wear a hat if you will be in open sunny areas. Bring insect repellent, but don't put it on until you need it. If it contains DEET or other toxic material, put it on your clothes, not on your skin.
Slow down. People usually walk right past incredibly exciting things and never know it. On one hike without a guide we saw six people walk right on top of a fascinating parade of leaf-cutting ants. They didn’t even notice them crossing the trail with leaf pieces held high that they had just cut from a nearby tree.
Look at different levels. In the trees look slowly along individual limbs, watching for bumps, lumps, and movements. A baggy looking lump can be an anteater or sloth inching slow-motion along the limb. Interesting insects are often seen inside flowers or on leaves. Also learn to look past where you are, focussing on the next layers of trees deeper inside the forest.
Listen. Keep your ears tuned for birds, frogs, or a sudden rustling in the underbrush. Things aren't always what you might think they are. A howler monkey might sound like a big barking dog; another monkey might sound like a squeaky toy. One spider makes a dinging sound. If you hear a breaking branch or other noise directly above, look up and be ready to jump out of the way. And listen for the sudden absence of sounds. It may indicate that something is going on.
Smell. Notice the jungle smells. You can smell peccaries and tapirs. You can smell wild ginger from 1/4 mile away. And one very strong smell is characteristic of a kind of ant colony.
Don't let rain stop you. Animals will be out, and because of the rain they can't hear you as well.
Most of all, be quiet. Noise will scare away the critters that you're trying to experience. Whisper, or don't talk at all. Walk lightly.

The naturalists gave some don'ts also. Don't try to attract animals or approach closely to them. A male might think you are trying to invade his territory. Don't feed the animals. It could encourage them to depend on humans. Don't wear perfume, cologne or after-shave lotion. It may attract bees and wasps. Ditto, flashy colors. Don't smoke. Don't walk in tall grass or other places where you can't see your feet. Unpleasant things may be there. Don't turn over logs or peel bark off of trees -- you may uncover an angry scorpion or snake. Don't touch caterpillars. You may find it very painful. Don't leave the trail. Don't walk in the jungle at night without a guide and a flashlight. There are some cool things out there, but there are some nasty ones too. Don't collect specimens. Rainforests are fragile eco-systems that require careful use if they are to survive. Don't leave litter behind.

Follow this advice and your next nature hike, whether it's in a rainforest of your nearby park, will be a more meaningful experience.

The naturalists interviewed work as freelance guides and lecturers for World Explorer Cruises and Clipper Cruise Line. Other eco/adventure cruises with naturalist guides can be found at www.smallshipcruises.com on the web.

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