Submitted by Lawson Schultz on the 2020 winter session program in Brazil sponsored by the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences…
After a flight from Manaus to Tefe, our group traveled by motor boat to the Uakari River Lodge. The lodge is located in the Mamiraua Reserve in the Amazon rain forest as an opportunity for ecotourism. The lodge prides itself on being very sustainable as it is completely solar powered, uses recycled rain and river water, and serves local seasonal foods. Additionally, the guides and staff at Uakari Lodge are most often from local communities from around the Mamiraua Reserve.
The forest of the reserve becomes flooded swamp in the wet season. January is the beginning of the rainy season, so our group was able to hike. In addition to hiking, we took motor boat trips, canoe rides, went fishing, and had classes held in the lodge. Although we only had one opportunity to fish, catching piranhas appeared to be the favorite activity of the group. By the end of the week, the majority of the group was covered in mosquito bites, sunburn, or rashes, but reluctant to leave the local guides we had bonded with. Although only two members of the staff spoke English, we were able to appreciate what wonderful people everyone there was.
On our last day, we traveled to Caburini, one of the communities, to better understand the local way of life connected to the rain forest. The head of the community gave us a tour and told us about the history of their community. They grow their own crops, fish, and raise chickens and ducks. There are not enough children in their community of about fifty people, so they take their children into Tefe for school so they can learn to read and write. As we visited, they were preparing for their community wide party in which they will honor their patron saint in February. Other local communities will be invited and the festivities last for ten days. Before we left, we played football with the guides. Many students noted the football game as the highlight of their trip and the perfect way to end the week.
