Bolivia, Madidi Pampas (Jungle)

Click here to view all Madidi Pampas photos
I don't know if it's the scenery, the weather, the fresh air or that I just like hanging around with monkeys, but I LOVE the jungle. Everything about it is amazing - ok maybe not everything, I could do without the mosquitos - but the landscape and masses of animals more than make up for a bite or hundred. We really landed on our feet on this tour. Our guide was fantastic, he knew loads about the area and where to go for the best chance of spotting wildlife. And the river lodge we stayed in was paradise, with parrots flying overhead and pink dolphins frolicking in the water. You could just lie in a hammock and watch them play. It was too exciting. We saw so much in four days that we almost became blasé, oh another aligator, dolphin, turtle, capybara...talk about being spoilt. Top highlights include tracking and spotting anaconda, galloping on horseback through the pampas (marshlands); watching a family of 30+ Squirrel Monkeys swing through the trees right by our boat; seeing a 6-metre long caiman; spying a turtle laying its eggs on the river bank and stumbling upon some cowboys herding hundreds of cows across the croc infested river. None ended up as lunch, well not to the crocs anyway. We've got a video of this in the gallery so if you ever wanted to see a cow shift it some, here's your chance. Gives a new definition to fast food (sorry couldn't resist). [Clare]