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Bonaire
Washington-Slagbaai National Park
Part 2 |
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Notice |
4. Subi Brandaris is
a by-road that ends at a parking lot where you can begin the 1.5-hour
climb (Difficulty Level 3) to the top of Brandaris, which at almost
800 feet high is Bonaire's highest point. The hike starts with a footpath
that soon gives way to a ridge; the ridge route is marked with yellow
circles painted on the boulders. From the top you'll have an excellent
view of the entire island, perhaps to as far south as the salt pans.
Mountains in Venezuela or Mount Christoffel, Curacao's highest peak,
may also be visible.
5. Playa Funchi is home to a subspecies
of lizard found only on Bonaire, the harmless Cnemidophorus murinus
ruthveni. They are quite tame at this spot, well acquainted with bread
crumbs and will even eat out of your hand if you're still enough. Females
and juveniles are brown, while the brightly colored male has a blue
head and greenish-blue hind feet and tail-root. You may also see a flock
of flamingoes in the salina here. Playa Funchi was the harbor for Washington
plantation, as the pier remnants show. Today it is a very popular place
for snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. There is no current inside
the bay, making this a safe place to swim.
6. Boca Slagbaai is one
of the finest snorkeling and swimming beaches on the island. Dive boats
come all the way here from the Kralendijk area, as much as a forty-five
minute run away. Historically always an important harbor, it gains its
name from the Dutch word "Slagten," meaning slaughter. This
is where the cattle on the northern part of the island were processed
and turned into steaks before export. Salt was also exported from here
for a time. Besides being one of the finest swimming spots, this is
another excellent birdwatching site: snowy egrets and flamingoes are
almost always in the salina here.
7. Flamingo Island,
a peninsula in salina Slagbaai which allows you to see flamingoes at
the closest point yet. The square island in the middle of the salina
always contains a few birds, some of which breed there. Slagbaai is
an important feeding area for the flamingoes, which skim the water for
brine shrimp or graze (dive) to a depth of about three feet for their
forage.
Return to
Washington-Slagbaai Park Part 1
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