The sloth depends on how it is sluggish in the Dschungelgeäst, from which it differs in colour, hardly, perfectly in front of enemies camouflaged. It moves as good as never. Only every few days, to the necessities performing, it slips sedately down. Makes you wonder how the gray plush animals of the rainforest multiply actually.
«Very slow», says the biologist Ole pile field, one of the five scientists on Board the «Bremen», to just 150 guests, the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon landscape. Once or twice a year, tells the batch field, exude sloth fragrances female Lock, then the males put yourself in gear to eat after copulation more in the tree leaves.
Some passengers find that enviable. The sloth is her favorite. Five million years ago, the megaterium americanum was a powerful animal, on the floor as lively as in the water. Evolution and civilization have decimated the once abundant animal population in South America. The sloth shrank in the course of time, was lethargic and survived. Such stories inspire the traveler.
boats bring the cruise guests in the rain forest
natural fascination for most of the guests on the expedition ship, the reason to book the trip on the Amazon river. From the Peruvian Iquitos up to the Brazilian Belém on the Atlantic ocean, with stints in tributaries – 4130 miles.
as early as six o’clock in the morning, the Out begins; 17 tour early with life jackets and photo equipment in the tube days, boats with aufjaule engines into the infinite green universe. The motors are turned off, that drives you through some of the countless arms of the mighty Amazon.
the landscape of The water bodies to vibrate in front of beguiling sea flowers and colorful species of birds, Howler monkeys and snakes. The Macaw squawks, the Toucan is circling over the water, black vultures rip apart a fish. It is steamy-humid, in the afternoon, Mr 35 degrees. After a short cast, a kitschy rainbow appears over the tree tops. The passengers are looking with binoculars, the next sloth.
cruise Director Gabriele Engler know who is number two on the scale of the animal favorites: the river Dolphin with a pink belly. He emerges from the water, nudges bather, with its narrow snout. From a platform you can swim with him.
Remember: people are happy when animals get close to you, with the exception of Piranhas. Of 40 species, six are beißgefährlich. Where the «killer fish» after dark active, the passengers never left the water.
Amazed by the traditional Amazonian medicine
In a night-time tour of tropical rain sets in suddenly. Water pelts down, all soaked through. The helmsman of the boat, an experienced biologist who brings lightning-fast a Cayman out of the water, a small, inexperienced Cub. He grabs it with one Hand behind the skull, with the other on the tail so it is unable to move.
Who wants to pet the animal? Some do it. You can see the sharp claws, massive teeth in its mouth. Touch the back of the Urtiers: rough leather. Beta his belly: tender warm skin. «I’ve caressed the Cayman Islands», calls out a passenger on the train raptured.
The habitat of countless animals and plant species is still largely unexplored, emphasize the scientists. Frogs that spend their entire lives in tree tops, and fish, killing insects with a jet of water, are bizarre.
But who could have known, that Aspirin derived originally from willow bark, and the cancer drug Taxol from the Pacific yew? The traditional Amazon medicine has around 400 medicinal plants with a variety of effects against all sorts of ailments. Some grow right next to the huts of the Indigenous. For example, at the root of the Bora in Peru.
Folklore and fruit at the root of the Bora in Peru
A Boy, seven or eight years old, faded T-Shirt and shorts, her running barefoot, in addition to the visitors. With shining eyes he stares at the tall Stranger, all of whom are knee-high rubber boots to wear – an urgent recommendation of the cruise staff.
Because in the Grass and mud lurking mites that stick to human legs and their eggs in the hollow of the knee are deposited. This leads to inflammation, therefore, all passengers are stuck in solid representatives.
The Boy has apparently never seen such a footwear. For him and his buddies that is like a visit from aliens. Very carefully look at the troupe, laugh, hold their children’s hands and be amazed when you step outside of your kick meadow stray Ball back. With the parasites you are here to learn to live small.
In the village is constructed, a fruit plate, there are Folklore dance, but also information about the life of one of the 350 indigenous peoples. Dengue fever is a Problem, each resident has on average every two years, Malaria. For the guests, the villagers have put parrot feathers in your hair and their faces with lines painted.
The fishermen here make loot by lash strikes the water with a loud Paddle. The fish float stunned to the surface, they are easy to collect. The hunters are deep in the rain forest. With the bow and arrow, birds, Tapir, or a belt to be bagged animal. Women collect in baskets the fruits of the Pequi tree, cooked.
mothers with infants, and Old swings in hammocks, many of them are toothless. Neither the chief nor the shaman are able to repair teeth. The latter motivated the hunt willing to rustic way: He blows self-grown tobacco, crushed spicy powder, through a blow tube in your nose. It stimulates the senses, makes you brave and strong.
educational holiday with a 4-course menu and fine wines
After all of them have made their photos, it’s back on Board, from the third to the first world. At dinner in the Restaurant, it’s solid. Round tables are covers, the waiters know after two days, the drinking habits of your guests.
To 4-course menus, fine wines. At the end of the trip the passengers will have consumed 1400 kilos of meat, the equivalent of two cows, 700 pounds of fish, and 10,000 eggs. Almost 1200 liters of beer and more than 600 bottles of Red and white wine.
also Impressive is the facts you need to know about the local environment you get in the two and a half weeks of expedition, travel through the countless shades of green of the Amazon basin are presented. Overall, it measures more than seven million square kilometres, this tropical rain forest is the largest CO2-storage of our planet, its «green lungs». Approximately ten percent of worldwide carbon emissions caused by cars, buses, trucks, ships and aircraft, tying the tropical forests in the year.
the Amazon rain forest is shrinking by the progressive surfaces of the end of deforestation and the slash-and-burn cultivation for huge soya-growing. The Keeper of the forest, the Indigenous, are pushed further and further back into the jungle. Who destroyed him, heating up the climate for future generations.
A passenger on the train says at the end of the Expedition: «in the past, Spaniards and Portuguese have sought the Eldorado. You have not understood that it is not the Gold that you found, is the real treasure, but the incredibly rich nature. We know it now.“
An Amazon cruise is always educational leave.
tips to Amazon cruises:
For the providers, you will find different tours. The expedition ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to, for example, upstream from Belém to Iquitos or in the reverse direction. The next trips are held in the spring of 2020 on new 5-star ships. 17 days, including travel cost from 12.466 Euro per Person (hl-cruises.de).
Phoenix Reisen offers in the context of a 13-day Brazil visit, a 9-day trip to the «Amazon Clipper Premium»/to Manaus from 4599 euros per Person (about rivers2oceans-kreuzfahrten.de). The Brazilian Rafael Tenorio offers English-speaking boat expeditions on the Amazon and Río Negro. They are guided by ecologically trained local Guides. Price from 290 euros per Person including Overnight stay in jungle Lodges and pick-up in Manaus (amazonriders.com).
participation in The trip was supported by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Our Standards of transparency and journalistic independence, see axelspringer.de/unabhaengigkeit.
