Iquitos. It’s busy, noisy and hot. I’ve been running around doing what’s always top on the expedition leader’s in-country to do list: shopping 😉
Apart from office stuff, batteries and insect repellent, three machetes have been added to our expedition equipment. Due to a jetlag of -7 hours I’ve spent some time in the early hours of this morning with setting up a few brand new GPSs I brought over. They are now ready for being taken out in the jungle: waypoints, tracks and the research grid have been uploaded. I was rewarded with seeing a wonderful sunrise from my hotel room (see picture: Mainai river that connects to the Amazon).
A note on insect repellent: Strong repellent (30% DEET or more) is not sold in Iquitos, but is a good thing to have when working in the forest. I’ve used 40% DEET before and it works well.
Alfredo, our scientist, and I just met at the A&E Office and we’re about to leave the city. The boat will take us to the main lodge today, tomorrow morning we’ll proceed to the Amazonian Research Centre, our base in the jungle. You will hear from me once we’ve arrived there. From now there won’t be any mobile phone coverage. If you need to contact me (for emergency reasons only, i.e. being late for assembly), please send an e-mail AND contact the A&E office in Iquitos.
Safe travels
Malika
From our conservation holiday volunteering with jaguars, pumas, ocelots, primates and other species in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, South America.
Biosphere Expeditions: blogs from the frontline of wildlife conservation and the fight for a more sustainable planet 