After an epic day devoted to sport fishing, Mom negotiated with her father for a peaceful walk along the water in one of the oxbow lakes that line the river. The banks of the estuary are overgrown with mangroves, areas where mangrove trees grow on their arching roots. A unique fauna thrives here, the most bizarre of which are undoubtedly lungfish, primitive dipneusts, and periophtalmes climbing onto aerial roots without straying far from the surface. As calm as ponds and lined with lush vegetation, these channels give walkers the impression of being alone in the world.
The pilot skillfully steers the motorboat between the islets made up of dead wood covered with saprophytic plants. He navigates slowly, allowing passengers to fully enjoy the landscape. Birds fly between the branches of the trees that invade the banks. Their songs range from melodious chirping to hoarse stridulations. The discordant cries are mixed with other howls: those of monkeys, which remain invisible. Crocodiles slither across the bare parts of the banks. These large lizards seem to be eternally sneering. Some rest with their mouths open, letting oxpeckers clean their teeth. In the exposed marshy areas, we disturb the occasional bush pig, which raises its snout and pricks up its ears as the boat passes by. The marmot gets excited every time it sees us, and its exclamations surprise the animals living in this Eden
As we enter a tributary, the mangroves become sparser, gradually giving way to a more traditional forest. At the front, the Major has deployed a fishing rod of a more reasonable size than for a sea excursion. He plans to catch a few fish for the evening meal. He asks the guide to turn off the engine and let the boat drift so as not to scare the fish. Set like a ruby in a green velvet case, a tree covered with orange-red flowers, a bignonia, stands out from the foliage, its reflection turning the dark water pink. Rare on the coast but much more common in the center of the country, it stands out in the landscape. Did it grow here spontaneously?
The Major, observing his daughter's wonder, orders the boat to settle under this splendid coral canopy. The driver calmly completes the maneuver by rowing. “Let's stay here, we'll be safe,” declares the Major, glancing quickly around. As they are about to dock, a powerful gust of wind makes everyone turn their heads and causes the adults to turn pale.
A herd of hippos breaks the surface all around the boat! The guide swerves to avoid hitting one that has emerged in front of the bow. Any comic book reader knows how angry these large, sensitive animals can be! The risk of capsizing, if only because of the weight ratio, is very real.
Inevitably, curious and insatiable crocodiles rush to the sound of the survivors beating the water with their arms and legs, giving the impression of animals in distress trying to escape drowning. This is no fiction, and the grandfather orders in a low voice not to restart the engine in the middle of the herd so as not to cause panic. The boat gets stuck in aquatic plants near a floating log. The animals flap their ears, ruffling the water into little waves that form a pink and brown collar around their thick necks.
“Oh!” A small hippopotamus swims quietly near its enormous mother, attracting the boy's indiscreet sympathy. “Shh!” The grandfather widens his eyes to intimidate his grandson. The ungulates have so far ignored the intruders, and there is no point in attracting their attention. If they consider the intruders to be a nuisance, they will leave. But if they suspect them of malice, it's better not to try it! The first hippopotamus yawns, prompting others to follow suit. The young woman hugs her son close, both their hearts pounding, hers with fear, his with excitement.
At that moment, Grandfather, a heavy smoker, is seized by a coughing fit, causing a few grumbles among the group. “Shh!” It is the grandson who reprimands his stunned ancestor, glaring at him! He makes his mother giggle, despite her apprehensions, amused by such natural impertinence.
Mysteriously, the group disappears as suddenly as it appeared, without warning. A few ripples on the surface are the only evidence of their passage. After five minutes that seem like an eternity, the Major decides to leave this idyllic but infamous spot. They will go fishing somewhere less risky. Mom, who was hoping for a quiet outing, was more frightened than last time, but at least she didn't get seasick!