2 July 2013 / leggypeggy

Top bush camp in Brazil

Brazil, bush camps, camping, Congonhas, cook groups, Google Earth, Oasis Overland, overland travel, South America, sunset

Sunset in Brazil

When we left Congonhas about 3 in the afternoon, we were heading for our first real bush camp of this overland expedition.

This exploratory adventure—meaning the very first time Oasis has taken this route—is a journey into the unknown, so the itinerary is subject to change.

Colin checks out a track that goes nowhere

On this day, Danny, our tour leader, warned us that our search for a campsite might mean some wrong turns and back tracking. What he didn’t say was that Colin, our driver, had already spent the previous afternoon on Google Earth, trying to pinpoint a perfect spot.

He outdid himself.

Colin and Sponge Bob took us high—about 1350 metres—into a Brazilian national park, overlooking a vast valley and the city of Ouro Branco and surrounds. We were ‘sitting’ on the Serra do Ouro Branco, part of the escarpment that runs along the east coast of Brazil.

Alex with Ouro Branco in the right distance

Colin found a level spot to park the truck and lots of room for us to spread out the camp kitchen and our tents. Poor John and I picked a spot in long, soft grass.

Because we arrived well before sunset, there was plenty of time to walk up to a great viewing point. We noticed scattered showers were off to the left, and were glad they stayed there.

Cook group did a great job too, making a gigantic sausage and veggie stew that gave us copious amounts of leftovers for breakfast. This suited me perfectly. I love dinner for breakfast. I also love wearing shorts, and this was the first morning since starting this leg of the trip that it was warm enough to start the day in shorts.

As an aside, I got up for sunrise but it was a disappointment. Otherwise, this bush camp was the best-ever in South America and, remember, I’ve been to this continent before. Thanks Colin, Thanks Google Earth.

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