WAORANI EXPEDITION
ECUADOR
15 September – 1 October 2012

The Waorani indigenous people of Eastern Ecuador suffer from water systems polluted by oil and they urgently need clean drinking water. The Environment Ministry have asked John Blashford-Snell and his colleagues to help. Following a recce in April 2011, with support of the Just a Drop charity, a team will be installing clean water systems in three villages in September 2012.

Medical aid will be given to the Waorani. School books and reading glasses will also be distributed. A study of the fauna and flora of the forest will be made with the Waorani and working with the Yasuni National Park staff, we shall examine ways of assisting in the future with the wild life conservation.

The expedition will assemble in Quito on 15th September and spend the next day preparing stores for the move to the Waorani villages. We shall be staying in a Hotel in Quito.

On 17th September we shall travel from Quito by mini bus over the Andes to the riverside town of Coca and stay that night at a local hotel. This is a journey of up to 9 hours.

Here we shall meet the Environment Ministry  liaison officer and next day drive for about 2 hours to Tobeta village (55 people) making camp at a nearly park rangers station. By now the new water system should be completed by our Ecuadorian engineers and be ready for inspection and an opening ceremony . Medical and dental aid and reading glasses will be given to the villagers and books presented to the School.

On 20th September we drive for approximately one hour to Miwawono village (144 people). We shall inspect the new water system and possibly assist with its completion. Medical an dental aid and reading glasses we will be given to the people and books presented to the school.

On the evening of 21 September we drive about 3 hours to the Environment Ministry Centre on the Shiripuno  river and stay the night. Next day we take canoes for one hour down river to Noneno Village (152 people), camp and assist with the installation of the new water system.

On 23rd September we shall canoe down river for three hours, deeper into the tribal territory to Shiripuno Lodge. This has been set up with traditional huts in the jungle by Ecuadorian ecologist Jarol Vaca and  is run with the Waorani. Their guides will take us into the forest to catalogue the fauna and flora and study the Waorani tracking and hunting techniques. Here some 470 species of birds have already been identified and there is wide range  of tropical rain forest wildlife. Our team will stay in the lodge
On 28th September we retrace our way back to Coca, stay the night in a hotel and next day fly back to Quito.

The 30th September will be available for shopping in Quito and a farewell dinner. The expedition will disperse on 1st October

The area is tropical and malarial. In the jungle members will need light clothing and a fleece or sweater to wear in the cool evenings. The altitude at Quito is 3,400 meters and one needs an extra layer of clothing when the sun goes down.

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