We departed camp and entered the jungle with great anticipation. But it would be another
1-1/2 hours before we'd stand on the edge of a huge swamp spying the gorillas,
who were feeding at a distance more than a football field away. The only way to get closer, our research
guide told us, was to go through the swamp.
We were up for the challenge, secured our equipment, and followed him
into the stinky bog. I was the first of
our team to take a step onto one of the thick clumps of floating vegetation
that was actually solid enough to withstand my weight. But my second step proved this was going to
be a real nightmare, as I landed up to my waist in murky water and thick mud,
holding the video camera over my head in case I was completely submerged. With the help of our guide and a tracker, I
was able to pull myself out, but not before tearing a big hole in my pants from
the crotch all the way down to my right kneecap, exposing my colorful
underwear. Mind you, these pants are
designed for activities such as jungle safaris, but they completely failed me this time. After the initial shock, I laughed out loud
along with the rest of our team, knowing it would make for a good photo op
later.
We continued to move forward, slowly, sloppily. One or two solid steps, followed by a splash
into the nasty, dark ooze. The trick was
trying to find the most fortified vegetation and follow our guide, who has
spent many days working in this swamp.
Yet even he, with all his experience, has never made it through
unscathed. He was just as muddy and wet
as we were. What's more, he was wearing
shorts, and giant leaches began attaching themselves to his legs. He would periodically find them and pull them
off, leaving trails of blood. This is
exactly why I only wear long pants when I travel!
But, since my pants were compromised, I had my share of
troubles - ants climbed in through the gaping hole and bit my legs so hard they
left dozens of small black and blue bruises, as I discovered the next day. What's worse, the gorillas were moving away
from us at a pace faster than we could maintain.
Doesn't this sound like fun?
Our story continues tomorrow!