Suriname > Morning walk at Overbridge

At half past five, Wibo’s alarm goes off. We get out of the hammocks to take a walk through the jungle. At six in the morning, we leave the campsite. Just outside the campsite, in the rising sun, we see a troop of monkeys in the trees. The animals leap from treetop to treetop. A little further on, we follow a narrow path. The vegetation is still wet with dew, and the path is sometimes difficult to navigate. We climb over fallen trees, jump over puddles, and walk through the mud. Wibo points out various things along the way. It’s a beautiful sight to see the sunlight filtering through the tree trunks.

Suriname - Low-hanging mist during the morning walk

We spot several birds, and occasionally monkeys swing above our heads in the canopy. Back at the campsite, we pack up the hammocks and try to dry and clean our trousers a little. We have an extensive breakfast on the dock and at ten o’clock set off toward Paramaribo. We take a look across the river at two old ships, which are completely overgrown by the jungle and partially sunken. It’s a strange sight to see such debris simply left behind. On the way back, we sail along the opposite riverbank. We enter a creek in hopes of spotting animals and birds.

Suriname - An overgrown shipwreck in the Suriname River

Unfortunately, we only see one monkey in the trees along with some small crabs and various birds. Back on the Suriname River, we take a dip in the water. Because the river is deep and the current strong, we have to wear life jackets. As we swim, the boat drifts along with the current. In the background, we see the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge, the most iconic feature of the Suriname River. On the left bank, we enter another creek. Wibo had asked us not to take photos of the residents. This is a bit of a shame, as the creek has become one large garbage dump. Abandoned cars lie in the riverbed, and trash floats past. Still, the residents use the water for washing themselves and their clothes. By half past three, we are back at the dock in Paramaribo. In the city, you really notice how warm it is. We take the van back to our hotel and have the same rooms as the first night. Not much has changed in the room—only the towels have been replaced. In the evening, we head into the city by bus. It doesn’t matter how far you ride; the fare is one Surinamese dollar. We have a drink in the old Waag building and eat Surinamese roti. At half past ten, the taxi drops us off at our hotel, and we go to bed.