Hi Bedtime History fans, Breck here.
I'm thrilled to share something new I've been working on, an exciting addition to the Bedtime History family.
It's called Bedtime Safari.
In each episode, we'll journey to a different corner of the world where we'll learn about the ecosystems, animals, cultures, and the fascinating history that makes each place unique.
In the first episode, we'll start in the Serengeti of Africa, where we'll explore the vast grasslands and meet its amazing wildlife.
Then it's off to the misty cloud forests of Costa Rica and beyond, from the snowy peaks of Switzerland to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. We'll even travel through time to discover ancient places of the past. Don't worry about Bedtime History, we'll keep releasing weekly, but if you enjoy Bedtime History, I think you're going to love Bedtime Safari.
Safari. To find the show, just click the link in the show notes.
To introduce you to Bedtime Safari, we're going to include an episode here.
I hope you enjoy it.
Welcome to Bedtime Safari.
Imagine you're standing at the edge of a deep, green forest. It's quiet, but not empty.
The air is warm and damp, and it smells like rain, mud, and growing things.
Big trees stretch high into the sky and leaves rustle softly above your head.
You've just arrived in the Congo Basin, one of the largest tropical rainforests in the world.
It stretches across Central Africa, mostly through the country of Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also into Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea.
The Congo Basin is second only to the Amazon in size.
It covers more than 500 million acres of forest and includes rivers, swamps, mountains, and jungles.
At its heart flows the Congo River Winding like a giant snake through the land The rainforest here is thick and rich Full of sounds and shadows and life Hiding in the trees As you walk gently along a narrow path The canopy above blocks most of the sunlight It feels cool and quiet under the trees Ferns brush against your legs And vines hang like ropes from the branches branches insects buzz and hum and in the distance you hear a soft hooting sound it's a monkey calling from the treetops suddenly there's a movement in the leaves above you look up and spot a colobus monkey swinging gracefully from branch to
branch it has long silky black and white fur and its tail flows behind it like a ribbon colobus monkeys love to stay high in the the trees, using their strong limbs to leap from one branch to the next.
They live in groups and eat mostly leaves, chatting and grooming one another as they move through the canopy.
Nearby, you see a troop of mandrills, some of the most colorful monkeys in the world.
The males have bright blue and red skin on their faces, and their noses almost look painted.
They They walk on all fours through the underbrush, their noses close to the ground, sniffing for roots, fruit, and insects.
Mandrills are shy in the wild, but when you see one, it feels like a flash of color among the green.
As you keep walking, you reach a small clearing where the sunlight shines through the trees.
There, towering above the bushes, is a forest elephant.
elephant. These elephants are smaller than the ones on the savannah, but they have straight tusks and rounder ears.
They move quietly for their size, their large feet patting gently over the forest floor.
This one reaches up with its trunk to grab some fruit from a tree and then sways its ears to keep cool.
You stay very still, watching it munch, its calm eyes blinking slowly in the the sunlight.
The Congo Basin is full of animals that are found nowhere else on Earth.
Deeper in the forest, you may come across the secretive okapi.
It looks like it has zebra legs, but its body is shaped more like a horse, and it's actually a close cousin of the giraffe.
The okapi is shy and quiet, using its long tongue to pull leaves from trees.
It moves slowly through the underbrush, Its stripes helping it disappear Into the dappled light of the forest The sounds of birds fill the air Sharp calls, musical chirps, and high screeches The Congo Basin is home to hundreds of bird species You might spot a great blue turaco Gliding between trees With its large wings and crested head Or hear the loud call of a hornbill With its giant curved beak and wings that flap heavily as it flies.
Some birds never touch the ground, spending their whole lives in the canopy above.
Now and then, the ground shakes slightly, just a thud.
You freeze and listen.
Then through the trees, you see them.
Gorillas. A whole family slowly moving through forest. There's a big silverback male in the front.
He's huge with a broad chest and silver hair across his back.
He watches everything, keeping his group safe.
Behind him, mothers carry babies on their backs, and younger gorillas tumble and play, wrestling and pounding their chests.
Gorillas are gentle and smart.
They eat leaves, fruit, and stems, and they use soft grunts and calls to talk to each other.
You sit quietly to watch them, trying not to make a sound.
One young gorilla notices you and stares for a moment before returning to its play.
It's a peaceful moment shared between two worlds.
Gorillas are one of the most endangered animals in the forest and people work hard to protect their homes.
You continue your journey through the trees and hear a rustling nearby.
A group of chimpanzees swings above you.
They hoot and chatter using sticks to poke at a termite mound.
Chimps are incredibly smart.
They use tools, remember faces, and form strong friendships.
Some are quiet, others playful, but all are full of energy.
They're closely related to humans and can even recognize themselves in a mirror.
Down by a slow -moving river, the forest changes.
The air is wetter, the plants thicker.
You hear the croak of frogs and the splash of fish.
A dwarf crocodile slips quietly into the water, barely making a ripple.
It hides in the shallows, hunting at night and resting during the day.
You spot a sitatunga, a kind of swamp antelope, stepping softly through the water on wide, splayed hooves that help it walk on muddy ground.
The rivers and streams here are full of life too.
Tiny fish, colorful frogs, and even electric eels.
Some frogs are bright green or red, warning others that they're not safe to eat.
Dragonflies zoom just above the water, and turtles rest on logs, blinking slowly in the sun. Suddenly rain begins to fall.
Not a storm, just a warm, steady shower that drips through the canopy and lands gently on your shoulders.
The forest welcomes the rain.
Everything here depends on it.
Rain fills the rivers, waters the trees, and gives life to every plant and animal.
The leaves glisten and the scent of the forest grows stronger.
As the rain falls, you find a large tree to rest under.
Its trunk is wide and strong, covered in moss and tiny ferns.
You listen to the drops tapping on leaves and hear a distant rumble of thunder.
It's peaceful here, even with all the life moving around you.
The Congo Basin is a place of balance where everything has a role, whether it's a buzzing insect, a climbing monkey, or the thick roots The people who live in and around the Congo Basin know this forest well.
They use its plants for food, medicine, and shelter, and many live in harmony with the land.
The forest is part of their stories, their songs, and their lives.
As the sun begins to set, the forest starts to change.
Birds quiet down, and night creatures begin to stir.
Fireflies blink in the shadows, and soft sounds rise from the trees.
A bush baby leaps from branch to branch, and a nightjar calls out into the dusk.
The whole forest seems to take a deep breath.
You take one more look around before heading back.
The forest feels ancient, alive, and full of wonder.
Every tree, every animal, every drop of rain is part of something greater greater.
The Congo Basin isn't just a place on a map.
It's a living, breathing world.
We hope you enjoyed exploring the Congo Basin.
Be sure to tune in next week for a new adventure.
