Tracker Barrel Trek

Tracker Barrel Trek is the fourteenth level in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! It is also the fourth area of Cotton-Top Cove.

As the Kongs progress upwards through a series of waterfalls in this level, they have to rely on Tracker Barrels in order to cross large gaps. While moving through these helpful barrels, they find themselves around a large amount of Buzzes, who often get in their way. Luckily, for a good portion of the level, the Kongs get to play as Ellie, who can suck up water from the waterfall to shoot at her foes. This can be a big advantage when dodging the Buzzes around the area. When Ellie reaches the No Ellie sign, she turns into a Steel Keg, giving the Kongs one chance to nab the DK Coin from Koin. Enemies in this level include Krumples, Re-Koils, Buzzes, and Bristless. Several Knik-Knaks appear in a Bonus Level as well.

Level Layout
The level begins with the Kongs heading down a long pathway behind a large waterfall. If they move farther into the level, they find the first Tracker Barrel, which assists them into grabbing the letter K and crossing a small gap. After this, the group travel to a couple of Krumples, whom can only be defeated by Kiddy Kong. Heading in front of the large waterfall, the monkeys move across a rather straight pathway to a small platform behind the waterfall. The platform leads to a Tracker Barrel, which blasts the heroes over a large abyss, dodging a lone Buzz. Soon, the Tracker Barrel blasts them into a Barrel Cannon, which then fires them to a higher area of land. There, the apes need to take the route behind a waterfall to grab the letter O, guarded by a Buzz. After moving around the falls, they head into another Tracker Barrel, and it takes them over a Buzz to an area with the Star Barrel.

About halfway into the level, the Kongs curve along a short pathway to find another Tracker Barrel. The barrel blasts them up and down until they reach a Barrel Cannon above them. Still behind the waterfall, Dixie and Kiddy run out from behind the falls to find an Animal Barrel. Entering the barrel turns them into Ellie. Ellie then passes a few Krumples and Re-Koils as she travels down the long pathway. Soon, the elephant take a small pathway stretching behind a waterfall to grab the letter N and shoot through an Auto Fire Barrel. Once she lands in a higher area, she finds herself moving to a separate slant of land and get into a nearby Tracker Barrel over a waterfall. While shooting over the falls, Ellie finds a few Buzzes to defeat. If she manages to avoid the enemies safely, she gets back on land to spot the next Tracker Barrel. Attacking some Buzzes as she blasts over the waterfall with the barrel, she grabs the letter G and some bananas to find another Auto Fire Barrel. It shoots her to another Tracker Barrel, which she must use to get back on land. After hitting a DK Barrel there, she hops into another Tracker Barrel and blasts over the next abyss. Back on land, the Animal Friend uses a curvy pathway to travel behind a large waterfall. At the end of the pathway, she passes the No Ellie sign, turning her back into the Kongs. Once this is done, the apes need to get back into a Tracker Barrel to the right. This time, they blast over a large waterfall without any way to defeat Buzzes, who infest the whole area around the monkeys. Shooting around the several Buzzes surrounding them, Dixie and Kiddy soon find refuge near a flagpole, which takes them out of the level once its flag is raised.

Bonus Levels

 * Just before the letter O, the heroes, with Dixie Kong in the lead, must head to the edge of the cliff. At this point, Dixie needs to use her Helicopter Spin to reach a hidden Bonus Barrel floating in front of the waterfall. Once she gets in, she is taken into a Bonus Level, where she and Kiddy shoots through two Tracker Barrels to grab many stars. Once all the stars are collected, they are awarded with a Bonus Coin.
 * Right after passing the Animal Barrel, Ellie needs to head behind the nearest waterfall using a slanted pathway. There, she finds a Tracker Barrel. With her trunk full of water, she has to move towards a wall of two green Buzzes in the Tracker Barrel. The enemies are blocking a Bonus Barrel, but if Ellie manages to shoot them with her water projectiles, she can defeat the wasps. Once the way to the Bonus Barrel is open, Ellie must get into it and blast into a Bonus Level. There, the young elephant needs to use a Tracker Barrel to head over a waterfall and defeat several Knik-Knaks. After she beats all the insects, a Bonus Coin appears on a platform to the right.

DK Coin

 * At the end of the level, Ellie the Elephant meets the Koin in front of a waterfall. The enemy has the DK Coin, but he will not give it up without a fight. So, Ellie has to cross the nearby No Ellie sign to turn back into the monkeys. Once this is done, the heroes are awarded with a Steel Barrel. With the barrel, they must head back to the Koin and stand on the platform above the foe. If they throw the barrel into the wall on the left, the Koin keeps his attention on the apes above him while the keg rolls over the pathway. Soon, the barrel hits into the wall and bounce back at the Kremling. This hits and defeats the enemy, thus giving the Kongs the DK Coin.