Onward and Upward: Bat Cave

Late departure from Asa Wright Nature Centre and an anxious Field Guide, Dave, impatiently waiting for the brave team members attempting a strenuous trek to the Tamana Bat Cave. We were all geared up and excited to reach our destination. The drive from AWNC to Tamana was filled with 'picong' and raucous laughter...perhaps nervous from the trepidation of facing a million bats and who knows what else.

We arrived at our destination point, at the base of our climb at 5pm.

The tall boots were already giving the novices trouble...ahem...namely Janine, and we did not even hit the muddy stretch as yet. Winston, always a gentleman, graciously assisted. 

We began our ascent up the steep hill which was very slippery and muddy after the earlier rainfall. Winston, our resident snake expert, carried a guide rope which he tied around himself pulling the ladies upwards...our hero! With a lot of slipping, sliding, huffing, puffing and maybe some silent cursing of whomever had the bright idea to attempt this trek, we were onward and upward!

On the way up we had to stop for at least two rest breaks. 'Wow!' this was turning out to be some climb, not what most of us were expecting.

Covered in mud, mosquito bites, thirsty and breathless, we finally made it...hooray! At the top it was breathtaking. Mist covered us like a thick blanket, even the pictures we attempted to take were shrouded in this magical translucent veil. Conditions were damp, not cold, not hot...we were all drenched.

Dave led us deeper into the cave. Holding on to the rope the others began to climb down into the mouth of the cave.

Bats were everywhere, by the hundreds, by the thousands...so were the huge cockroaches. What am I doing here?? I am not their biggest fan! These cockroaches seemed as big as the small bats themselves. We could not venture as far as we would have liked, because of a large deep pool of water...nobody was up for a swim, especially with guano floating on the water. Yikes...a messy adventure!

Seeing enough of the deep cavern, we climbed back out to sit at the summit, awaiting the exodus of bats, leaving to feed. Within a short space of time, the thin spiral of bats grew into a thick impenetrable spiral of bats, racing to exit the cave, surrounding us and through the tunnel made by the path. The swoosh of wind as the bats sped past was surreal...the multitude of bats rushing towards us without collision, was an awesome thrill!

OUT OF THIS WORLD...SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE!

  

Thousands of bats flying all around us...a perfect fly-by...their navigation functioning efficiently. Too bad they were not insect eating bats because the ravenous mosquitoes, which seemed as big as the cockroaches and little bats, were launching their assault on us. 

Dave recommended that we remain still, making no sudden moves. Sometimes, we do not always listen to our Learned Leader...we wanted to conduct our own experiment, and began moving our hands directing bat traffic. Dancing with the bats we call it. One was caught with the sudden movement of our hands, and Ganesh lost his bet...pay up dude!

With complete darkness surrounding us, headlights were switched on to make our journey downhill...more mud...more slipping, sliding and laughter. Tired and hungry we reached our vehicles. It was worth the climb.

All aversions to mud, bats and cockroaches were conquered...Janine, did I hear your name?

On to our next adventure..............


Your Bat Dancer & Chief Bat Traffic Controller,
Molly