Apart from the humidity, everything is very enjoyable. Tropical fruit is so plentiful and the meals are really good; a combination of Congolese and Belgian-French. And the hospitality here at the guest house has been very generous. (A far cry from first impressions on arrival at the airport but that's another story.)
I have three favourite locations: one is a bit of a walk (only half an hour or so but the humidity is the killer) but the forest is so serene and peaceful when you get there that it is well worth it. The other is on a bateau, floating quietly in the river where my 500mm F4 on a tripod with the Wimberly head comes into its own. And the third is at Bamboo Beach, a tiny little spot where some of the Bonobos also step into the water; here a 200-400 lens on a beanbag is fine. ISO needs to go up to about 200 by about 3.30pm. 
I have been out on the bateau a few times now. Today I saw one of the Bonobos slide itself down head first, on its back to drink water upside down from the river. I am not sure why (!!) the shots are certainly very interesting. The little ones are always fun to watch with their quizzical expressions. And the adults are climbing the trees, their feet allow them to be more adept at climbing and holding things and they are sleeping up there, all spread out like a leopard along a horizontal branch. A couple of them walk across the shallow part of the river from one side to the other. I have found some eggs which I am allowed to feed to them tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to get them right where I want them!
One of the Bonobos is sick, nothing serious but she looks miserable. Some of the others stay with her and don't come down river to feed. Quite nice I thought - most of them are very kind, there's just that one mother to stay clear of.
There's also a lot of sexual behaviour - it's quite extraordinary but hey, it seems to keep the peace.
Julie
Letter from the Congo - 28 December 2007
