- After my visit of Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, I cycle along the Commewijne river to Alkmaar, visit the plantation of Katwijk, head south, and ride the busier Paramaribo to Albina Road with the wind in my back right to the entrance of Peperpot Nature Park. It takes its name from nearby Peperpot Plantation (although pepper was never grown here), and it is the closest you can get to a nature experience in the vicinity of the capital. According to my information, the park already closes at 3pm, but when I arrive at exactly that time, the friendly ladies take their time to make me feel welcome and explain how the park works. They tell me they are flexible, and I can exit any time I want, also on the other side of the park. I buy my ticket, see the small exhibition on the nature of Surinam, and pictures of some of the mammals that live here. I am surprised to see a leopard, and one of the ladies tells me that if I am really lucky, I might see one. I am skeptical.
- It is possible to take your bike in, and I ride the Mopentibo trail towards the south, until I find the Felter trail. It is partly swampy, and overgrown by thick grass, so I take my bike for a walk, parking it wherever I want to stop and walk. The forest around me is thick and seems almost impenetrable. Still, I can hear the road I was cycling on before in the background. When I am back at the Mopentibo trail, I decide to sit on a bench, and wait for the sun to go low. I am here mostly to see wildlife, and chances to see that are, of course, better later in the day. Meanwhile, I listen to the many birds flying around, with their distinctive singing and bright colours. It turns out to be difficult, or impossible, to take their picture: they are too fast, and the foliage too thick. After waiting for more than an hour, just enjoying the sounds of the forest, I decide it is time to move on.
- The Mopentibo trail runs straight for more than 3km, and at times, I go through a tunnel of bamboo or other plants or trrees. I stop frequently, to listen to the birds, and trying to spot wildlife. At one point, I hear a troop of monkeys, but no matter how I search the trees, I cannot spot them. Those darn trees! I imagine they surely see me, and that they are mocking me for not being able to spot them. I see butterflies, lizards, and other small animals, but most others remain elusive, even though I try to cycle as slowly as possible. When I finally reach the end of the Mopentibo trail, I find the gate locked, and there is no way to cross it with the bike. The only option is to cycle back, which gives me another chance to spot animals. Apart from birds, I only see a large iguana crossing the sandy path. I do see coffee plants, and the kofimama, a tree that was used to protect plants from the scorching Surinam sun. I am happy to find the gate on the north side open, and cycle back to Paramaribo over the Wijdenbosch bridge which offers me great views over the city, before I indulge in a well-deserved dinner.
