Elephants and more
I realised it's been way too long since I posted something on the blog... We're already the end of February 2012 and the last time we wrote something was in November!!
So.
With the Christmas holidays, we decided to go to the Extreme North of Cameroon, a trip we actually wanted to make last year, but didn't happen.
With a couple of families, we went to Boubandjida, one of the most bio-diverse national parks in Western/Central Africa. Only draw back with such beautiful places... they're a LOOOONG way away.
Thorsten drove up to Ngaoundere (2 days drive) with Andreas and Mauricette, the children, a third couple and I took the overnight train (15 hours).
What an experience. I was a little worried as you never know how it will go. We've heard enough stories of delays (not only hours, but also days stuck in the middle of nowhere), robberies, derailements, but also of the nice and wonderful experience, the quality of the sleepers etc. Plus, Lisa gets very motion (travel) sick. But it was great. The train left on time, we arrived -reasonably- on time, the sleepers were great, clean,... And Jara and Lisa slept like angles all night.
From Ngaoundere, it took us another 2 days of driving to reach Boubandjida (but that can be done in one day, we realised later, as the roads have been improved).
Boubandijda was wonderful. We saw lots of animals, we had a great time and deicided on the spot we're going to go back.
Since we're back though, we've been hearing about horrible things that are happening in the Park. The park is (or rather was) very rich in elephants, but since the beginning of 2012 hundreds of elephants have been killed for the ivory. Here,here and here some more information about it. It has become a national crisis.
After Boubandjida, we continued our trip to Maroua, the capital of the Extreme North of Cameroon. A different country! It is one of my favourite places in Cameroon. The pace of live is more relaxed, people are friendly and hard-working and the city is beautiful. We were lucky to meet up with friends who we hadn't seen in a long time. It was great to spend time with them. Mia, Jara's first 'best friend' in Cameroon moved up to Maroua nearly 2 years ago and they've seen each other maybe 2 times since. It was again love at first sight.
With a couple of families, we went to Boubandjida, one of the most bio-diverse national parks in Western/Central Africa. Only draw back with such beautiful places... they're a LOOOONG way away.
Thorsten drove up to Ngaoundere (2 days drive) with Andreas and Mauricette, the children, a third couple and I took the overnight train (15 hours).
What an experience. I was a little worried as you never know how it will go. We've heard enough stories of delays (not only hours, but also days stuck in the middle of nowhere), robberies, derailements, but also of the nice and wonderful experience, the quality of the sleepers etc. Plus, Lisa gets very motion (travel) sick. But it was great. The train left on time, we arrived -reasonably- on time, the sleepers were great, clean,... And Jara and Lisa slept like angles all night.
From Ngaoundere, it took us another 2 days of driving to reach Boubandjida (but that can be done in one day, we realised later, as the roads have been improved).
Boubandijda was wonderful. We saw lots of animals, we had a great time and deicided on the spot we're going to go back.
Since we're back though, we've been hearing about horrible things that are happening in the Park. The park is (or rather was) very rich in elephants, but since the beginning of 2012 hundreds of elephants have been killed for the ivory. Here,here and here some more information about it. It has become a national crisis.
After Boubandjida, we continued our trip to Maroua, the capital of the Extreme North of Cameroon. A different country! It is one of my favourite places in Cameroon. The pace of live is more relaxed, people are friendly and hard-working and the city is beautiful. We were lucky to meet up with friends who we hadn't seen in a long time. It was great to spend time with them. Mia, Jara's first 'best friend' in Cameroon moved up to Maroua nearly 2 years ago and they've seen each other maybe 2 times since. It was again love at first sight.
0 comments:
Post a Comment