Positive energy at the Maratakka River

positive mindset
My colleagues in Suriname are eagerly awaiting the coming summer months. Then more people will be able to travel to Suriname again. For the first time in 2,5 years, this will be a period in which everyone working in tourism can again do what gives them so much positive energy. In the meantime, many people have mainly focused on survival. In some places a lot of maintenance was carried out, but in locations where fewer financial resources were available, maintenance could not always be carried out optimally. Everyone does their best in their own way.

Kasidi family
I admire the people in Suriname that - even now with rampant inflation and ever-rising costs - they do not let themselves be discouraged during this period. They continue to look positively and confidently towards the future. A good example is the Kasidi family. They started in the late 90s and brought tourists to Bigi Pan Lake for the first time because there were so many nice birds were visible. Now almost 30 years later, the family is still active in tourism and the children and grandchildren of Kas and Gerda have also become enthusiastic and involved.

Eco Tourism - local and small-scale
The great thing is that they have always kept their activities small-scale and that they do not put profit and making money first. They really have a passion for their work. In June I finally had the opportunity to meet these warm-hearted people in person.

New challenge
Their activities have been expanded this year with trips to Maratakka River. A few years ago they helped Erick Gummels set up a camp. Now that he has taken on other duties, Kas, Gerda and their grandson Miguel - who has also been involved for years - will run the trips at the Maratakka camp. Their son Sergio remains Aunt Gerda's lodge run on Bigi Pan.

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Ideal birdwatching location
The Maratakka River is a perfect location for bird watching. The combination with Bigi Pan makes this trip extra interesting for birdwatchers because they are two completely different habitats where completely different birds live. You can admire the shorebirds on Bigi Pan. For example, here at the Maratakka you will find the Blue-yellow Macaw, Ararauna route, various species of birds of prey, kingfishers, hummingbirds and all kinds of small parrot species.

Encounter with the Great Potoo
The evening I spent the night in the camp on the Maratakka River, Mrs. Gerda told me about a very scary sound she had heard the night before. She hadn't been able to sleep. Her husband also did not know which animal had produced this sound. He thought of an owl or some kind of monkey. We were busy trying to figure out what else it could have been, when Gerda suddenly heard the sound again. We couldn't miss it either, it was terrifying. We decided to look in the woods to see if we could find anything. Together with Miguel and Dronica we searched with our flashlights. Not much later we saw the noisemaker sitting in the moonlight. It was a Pale Giant Nightjar-Nyctibius grandis!