Tracker Barrel Trek

Tracker Barrel Trek is the fourteenth level in the third addition to the Donkey Kong Country series, 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 will have to rely on Tracker Barrels in order to cross large gaps. While moving through these helpful barrels, they will find themselves around a large amount of Buzzes, who will often get in their way. Luckily, for a good portion of the level, the Kongs will 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 will turn 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 will begin with the Kongs heading down a long pathway behind a large waterfall. If they move farther into the level, they will find the first Tracker Barrel, which will assist them into grabbing the letter K and crossing a small gap. After this, the group will travel to a couple of Krumples, whom can only be defeated by Kiddy. Heading in front of the large waterfall, the monkeys will move across a rather strait pathway to a small platform behind the waterfall. The platform will lead to a Tracker Barrel, which will blast the heroes over a large abyss, dodging a lone Buzz. Soon, the Tracker Barrel will blast them into a Barrel Cannon, which will then fire them to a higher area of land. There, the apes will need to take the route behind a waterfall to grab the letter O, guarded by a Buzz. After moving around the falls, they will head into another Tracker Barrel, and it will take them over a Buzz to an area with the Star Barrel.

About halfway into the level, the Kongs will curve along a short pathway to find another Tracker Barrel. The barrel will blast them up and down until they reach a Barrel Cannon above them. Still behind the waterfall, Dixie and Kiddy will run out from behind the falls to find an Animal Barrel. Entering the barrel will turn them into Ellie. Ellie will then pass a few Krumples and Re-Koils as she travels down the long pathway. Soon, the elephant will 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 will find herself moving to a separate slant of land and get into a nearby Tracker Barrel over a waterfall. While shooting over the falls, Ellie will find a few Buzzes to defeat. If she manages to avoid the enemies safely, she will get back on land to spot the next Tracker Barrel. Attacking some Buzzes as she blasts over the waterfall with the barrel, she will grab the letter G and some bananas to find another Auto Fire Barrel. It will shoot her to another Tracker Barrel, which she should use to get back on land. After hitting a DK Barrel there, she will hop into another Tracker Barrel and blast over the next abyss. Back on land, the Animal Buddy will use a curvy pathway to travel behind a large waterfall. At the end of the pathway, she will pass the No Ellie sign, turning her back into the Kongs. Once this is done, the apes will need to get back into a Tracker Barrel to the right. This time, they will blast over a large waterfall without any way to defeat Buzzes, who will infest the whole area around the monkeys. Shooting around the several Buzzes surrounding them, Dixie and Kiddy will soon find refuge near a flagpole, which will take 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, should head to the edge of the cliff. At this point, Dixie should use her Helicopter Twirl to reach a hidden Bonus Barrel floating in front of the waterfall. Once she gets in, she will be taken into a Bonus Level, where she and Kiddy will shoot through two Tracker Barrels to grab many stars. Once all the stars are collected, they will be awarded with a Bonus Coin.
 * Right after passing the Animal Barrel, Ellie will need to head behind the nearest waterfall using a slanted pathway. There, she will find a Tracker Barrel. With her trunk full of water, she will have to move towards a wall of two green Buzzes in the Tracker Barrel. The enemies will be 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 should get into it and blast into a Bonus Level. There, the young elephant will need to use a Tracker Barrel to head over a waterfall and defeat several Knik-Knaks. After she beats all the insects, a Bonus Coin will appear on a platform to the right.

DK Coin

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