Gatamaiyo Forest Nature Reserve

I spend a spontaneous night at the little frequented Theta dam in the middle of the Gatamaiyo Forest Nature Reserve. Beautiful, lonely spot with wonderful ambient noise at night and day. Signs at the reserve's gate state that entering is not allowed but the guards/rangers/soldiers at the gate tell that it is indeed possible to take the road and they even recommend to stay overnight at this dam. Strange place, surrounded by pristine forest but showing this massive human footprint. Also illegal logging is going on as I found many evidence just when entering the forest. While writing this after breakfast I hear at least two big trees falling in the distance. But it turns out that previously this has been partly used as industrial forest. Further up you find Eucalyptus plantations. It is a nature reserve for just around 20 years the locals tell me.Read more