Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve and Cabbage Haul Creek, Belize
Entering into Dangriga town of Stann Creek in Belize, we got off the Zodiacs where we had our buses waiting. Our destination was to be the Cockscomb Basin Range Wildlife Sanctuary, put aside by Belize as a sanctuary for jaguars. This is the only sanctuary in the world for the preservation of jaguars.
Passing by “Maya Center”, a small village of Ketchi Maya, we continued inside the protected area to our main site, where we left our buses and started a 45 minute trek through a lush green forest teeming with beautiful wildlife all around. Our guide leading this trek pointed out the different types of flora and fauna, examples of which are the mahogany trees, tall and graceful, red-capped and white-collared manaquins. We saw the way the different butterflies show off their beauty. So much to experience in just this walk to a waterfall, coming down from the Maya Mountains to form pools far below. Some of us swam and splashed-about in the crystal-clear fresh water. The temperature being around 90 F, we were glad for the natural pools and waterfall shower. We then trekked back to our waiting buses, which took us to Maya Center where we purchased local-made crafts. Once back in Dangriga, our Zodiacs returned us to the Voyager.
Pulling up anchor we headed further south and stopped at the mouth of Sapodilla Lagoon, which leads to Cabbage Haul Creek. After lunch and a short siesta, we attended a presentation on estuarine ecology and conservation given by Richard Anderson, of the Audubon Society. At the end of our talk we appropriately prepared our kayaks and Zodiacs to explore this river, it’s marshes and mangrove swamps. We were rewarded with sightings of West Indian Manatee and many different species of birds, including wood storks, anhinga, common black-hawk, brown pelicans and great egrets.
Entering into Dangriga town of Stann Creek in Belize, we got off the Zodiacs where we had our buses waiting. Our destination was to be the Cockscomb Basin Range Wildlife Sanctuary, put aside by Belize as a sanctuary for jaguars. This is the only sanctuary in the world for the preservation of jaguars.
Passing by “Maya Center”, a small village of Ketchi Maya, we continued inside the protected area to our main site, where we left our buses and started a 45 minute trek through a lush green forest teeming with beautiful wildlife all around. Our guide leading this trek pointed out the different types of flora and fauna, examples of which are the mahogany trees, tall and graceful, red-capped and white-collared manaquins. We saw the way the different butterflies show off their beauty. So much to experience in just this walk to a waterfall, coming down from the Maya Mountains to form pools far below. Some of us swam and splashed-about in the crystal-clear fresh water. The temperature being around 90 F, we were glad for the natural pools and waterfall shower. We then trekked back to our waiting buses, which took us to Maya Center where we purchased local-made crafts. Once back in Dangriga, our Zodiacs returned us to the Voyager.
Pulling up anchor we headed further south and stopped at the mouth of Sapodilla Lagoon, which leads to Cabbage Haul Creek. After lunch and a short siesta, we attended a presentation on estuarine ecology and conservation given by Richard Anderson, of the Audubon Society. At the end of our talk we appropriately prepared our kayaks and Zodiacs to explore this river, it’s marshes and mangrove swamps. We were rewarded with sightings of West Indian Manatee and many different species of birds, including wood storks, anhinga, common black-hawk, brown pelicans and great egrets.
