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In the NE of Cambodia, in the Ratanakiri province, just outside of Banlung, is Yaklom Hill Lodge. There are 10 bunglalows, on stilts (like all Cambodian houses), set in beautiful jungle. The bunglalows are basic, but clean, with electricity only in the evening and hammocks outside for relaxing surrounded by the noise of the jungle, huge butterflies and birdsong. The lodge can arrange treks into the jungle or to nearby hill tribe villages. The lodge is also only 2km from Yeak Laom lake, an exquisite crater lake set in protected forest, perfect for swimming and chilling out!
www.yaklom.com/wiki/doku.php
Yaklom Hill Lodge, National Route#78, Phume Phnom, Yaklom Commune, Ban Lung District, Ratanakiri Province
yaklom@gmail.com
Tel: (855-11) 790510
This must be one of the most authentic rain forest retreats that you’ll find. About a 1.5 hour drive from San Jose you have to get to Las Horquetas to pick up some wellies and wrap your bags in bin bags to protect them from what’s to come. The journey then begins. The lodge is 15km away, but to get to it is like a world away. The only way to get there (unless you rent a horse from a local) is to get taken up in the trailer pulled by a tractor. This takes about four hours along a very bumpy track that you even wonder whether the tractor will make it – at one point we had to get out while the tractor got pulled up a steep slope. This journey is not for the faint hearted and on the way back down we and our bags got completely soaked – but that was part of the fun. As it's so cut off you really need two days here at least. We stayed three but could easily have stayed longer.
The ride up gives you your first glimpse of pristine virgin rainforest with velvet and feathery leaves of various patterns and textures. The final few kilometres you can get out and walk up to the lodge and the guide points out frogs and snakes and identifies trees and flowers. The forest gets thicker and deeper and then you come to a grassed clearing where the wooden lodge of Rara Avis sits.
You really are in the middle of the rainforest here, completely cut off in a pristine green wilderness. The ethos of this place is to conserve the rainforest in a truly natural environment. There is no electricity, no mod cons, the rooms are basic but clean with hammocks on private balconies, there’s no need to lock the rooms and a convivial atmosphere is encouraged with communal eating in the main lodge building. The food is plentiful and there’s an honesty bar. When you’re not walking around the forest you watch in amazement at the hand sized butterflies and moths in the butterfly house, look at the orchids in the orchid house, swim in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall or play football, Guests Vs the Rara Avis team or just hang out chatting to guests whilst trying to photograph hummingbirds or bats at the feeders or just relax to the sounds of the forest in your hammock!
The naturalists are knowledgeable and friendly and the lodge is even used for biological research, with much more of an array of flora and fauna than we saw in any of the other rainforests we stayed at, including stained glass palms – only found at Rara Avis, walking palms, 250 year old mahogany tree, bromeliads, leafcutter and bullet ants, eyelash vipers, frogs smaller that a one pence piece, coati’s and loads of birds. There are walkways through the forest but again these aren’t like the cleared wide pathways in other rainforests reserves such as Monte Verde. They are natural and very muddy (hence the need for wellies) and on one walk our guide was having to hack his way through the forest with a machete – this was a truly magical and authentic rainforest experience and nothing compared at the other places we stayed at in Costa Rica.
It’s not for the faint hearted though – this is a truly wild experience where you feel at one with nature.
Rara Avis Rainforwst Lodge and Reserve
Las Horquetas de Sarapiquí
www.rara-avis.com/
info@rara-avis.com
Tel (+506) 2764- 1111
Google map: tinyurl.com/yc8srba
This secluded eco-lodge is located in the heart of the Amazon Basin, a short boat ride down the Rio Tambopata river. It's an incredible place to go to get in touch with nature, with expert staff, they even cater for ecology academics. Each lodge has a completely open wall facing the dense tropical jungle. Great for spotting wildlife from the comfort of your hammock. For more energetic folk, there are plenty of activities Including a medicinal plant walk with the local Shaman. You can also pretend you're a native and take part in the spiritual Ayahuasca Ceremony. Truly a magical place to escape.
www.perunature.com/
+511 241 4880
This is a great lodge in the middle of Etosha national park.
A great location on a high bluff overlooking the Tarangire River and well-managed ensuite permanent tents makes this excellent value for staying in Tarangire National Park. From the terrace there should be views of elephants, water buffalo, zebra, giraffes and other game. It is located about 15 minutes' drive from the main park entrance and has easy access to all the main circuits round the park. There is a small swimming pool. The only downside is that the meals in the spacious restaurant are less than special.
tel: 027 253 1447
e: sss@habari.co.tz
www.tarangiresafarilodge.com
Serere lodge is the ecology project of Madidi Travel to recover a reserve of flood plain in the Bolivian rainforest (one of the Amazon's major tributaries).
We spent four blissful days at the lodge, got to within a stone's throw of various monkeys, snakes etc. and some of the most amazing flora I've ever seen. However, the kicker is every penny of your money goes into the project and helps re-establish the community and wildlife from a shadow of its former self.
www.madidi-travel.com/
Fly from La Paz on Amazonsas or TAM
Canopy Lodge is located in Soberania National Park, a 30-minute drive from Panama City. It's a former radar/observation tower turned into a hotel catering to birdwatchers. I recommend it because it's an opportunity to stay in a tower in the middle of the rainforest, and the views are amazing. I'm not into birdwatching, but I understand that this place is the ne plus ultra for those who are into it.
www.canopytower.com
Full Panama trip report, with photos, at www.travelmusings.net
If you fancy a stay in a "log cabin in the woods for city slickers" then Evergreen Lodge is for you. It's in the forest area just outside the park and close to "Hetch Hetchy" gate on the west side of Yosemite and is a well laid-out complex of very comfortable accommodation with a central restaurant/bar/shop.
The prices are very reasonable and for Brits, with the exchange rate as it is, well, say no more. There is, of course, the whole of Yosemite to go at.
www.evergreenlodge.com/
Check out my site: ttp://www.broadjam.com/delton
and listen to Looking For America - Land of The Free for the full story and some more tips.
Sacha Lodge in the Northern Oriente area of Ecuador is a fantastic place to experience the Amazonian rain forest. It’s made up of a collection of cabins on the banks of a lake. Whether you are an avid bird watcher, or just a curious traveler, the lodge have staff who will do everything they can to make your visit rewarding, educational and whole lot of fun. Accommodation is comfortable, the food is amazing, and the level of customer care from all of the staff is exceptional. Our guides were knowledgeable and friendly and were only too happy to pass on some of their knowledge of the flora and fauna that surrounded us. I can’t recommend this place highly enough and on top of all that it does valuable work in conservation too.
Some tour companies in the area are providing hunting expeditions with members of the local indigenous communities. While it’s legal for the indigenous population to hunt, it is illegal for tourists to take part in hunts, and the activity damages local wildlife populations so you should decline, and find another tour company if they offer you a hunt as part of your tour.
www.sachalodge.com
Take a short flight from Quito
Great lodge with game drives in the Chobe National Park, and lots of elephants. Booked with Dumela Botswana for discounted rates.
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