Venezuela part 3
An eight-hour trip in a van took us through different landscapes of the high Andes to Merida, one of the main cultural centres of the country. The excellent location in the mountains, mild daytime temperatures and cool nights, parks, lagoons, the old university, monumental buildings from the colonial era and the start of many expeditions and trips for climbers, make this place a very popular place.
www.hotelbelensate.com
Our bus trip continued from Merida to Los Llanos, an area of ??53,000 hectares of grassland, known for its spectacular wildlife sanctuary with hundreds of unique species of birds and other animals. The most notable mammals there are the Capybara (a cross between a giant hamster and an otter) and several species of anteaters. Furthermore, this is also the habitat of an impressive giant snake, the Anaconda.
The lodge where we stayed was seized from the private owner a few years ago and nationalized. As a result, you should not expect much from the current state of maintenance and it meant at least cold showers!
Three times a day the dinner bell rang, at 7 am, 12 and 7 pm precisely, which meant everyone was expected in the dinning hall for one fixt meal. But aside from the lack of luxury this place is definitely one that you must see. The endless colors of the birds flying overhead, many caimans and turtles, fish for piranhas that you will find grilled on your plate in the evenings, a boat tour between million water lilies, searching for giant crocodiles and pink dolphins … in short, a whole new manner of a safari experience than we know from the ones in Africa.
for trips to Mid- and South-America: www.windandtales.com
Een acht uur durende reis in een busje voerde ons door