The Sanderson Adventure Team: A Jungle Walk to the Top of the Trees

Today’s outing started again with a walk along paths on the rainforest floor observing and learning about the amazing plants and animals Amazonia. But today’s excursion ended with a trip to the top of the trees, a viewing platform 140-ft up above the jungle canopy. During our walk we saw a lizard, a salamander, and several varieties of frogs and toads: a toad that looks like a leaf, a frog with clear skin such that you could see inside, and two types of poison frog.

The plant life is even more diverse. We saw a tree that’s leaf is so rough it can be used as sandpaper, and we also saw a tree known as the Walking Palm. Light can be hard to come by on the jungle floor beneath the thick canopy. The Walking Palm is supported by dozens of separate roots that act as legs. Over time it can put down new roots and “walk” in the direction of the light.

We took a brief break at a small clearing where we got to play Tarzan on a real jungle vine (although our native guides had tied on a handle for us).

Toward the end of our hike, we climbed up a platform that took us into the canopy of the trees 14 stories up. From there we could watch what goes on high above the jungle floor, primarily the incredible diversity of bird life. We saw toucans, parrots, falcons and many other colorful and exotic birds.

And when we returned to the lodge, we found a snake right outside our cabana.