GUYANA:  WILDLIFE AND RORAIMA ADVENTURE

TOUGYWIROAD - 17 days / 16 nights
PRIVATE DEPARTURES with 2 participants MINIMUM

PRIVATE DEPARTURES: ANY DAY

A multi-destination package combining Guyana and Venezuela to eperience the pristine rainforest and abundant wildlife of Guyana before trekking across the Gran Sabana to the top of Mount Roraima in Venezuela. Roraima has also made an impression on western literature and thought, after the publication of Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ there was great public interest in ‘missing links’ and ‘relic species’ preserved by isolation. Roraima’s mysterious summit was an excellent possibility for an area at evolutionary standstill and the last place on earth where dinosaurs could exist. Conan Doyle wrote in 1912 what is considered to be one of the best science fiction novels ever written: “The Lost World.”

HIGHLIGHTS:

Central Rainforests of Guyana
In the heart of Guyana, isolated and undistributed by civilisation, stand the great rainforests of the Iwokrama and Pakaraima Mountains. This seemingly endless forest expanse is home to two uniquely Guyanese locations : Iwokrama and Surama. Iwokrama is the only living laboratory entirely dedicated to the international community for the study of conservation and development of the rainforest. Surama, set in a natural savannah and ringed by forest covered mountains is home to an Amerindian community of the Macushi tribe, who welcome visitors. Surama shares a common border with the Iwokrama International Centre for Conservation and Development along the Burro Burro River. It is here the community have established Carahaa Landing Camp, a hammock camp on the river edge. This camp offers a base for night walks and day break canoe floats on the Burro Burro River, which allow opportunity to observe Giant River Otters, Tapir, Tira, Spider Monkeys and many more species. Guests can also stay in the village guest house, which provides simple, comfortable accommodation with shared facilities and excellent meals prepared from local produce. The Surama community have identified eco-tourism as a sustainable use of their land. It means employment at home, rather than the men leaving to mine or cut timber in other parts of Guyana. Surama and Wilderness Explorers have developed a strategic alliance which fosters the development of eco-tourism in the community. All tours to Surama are managed and operated solely by the Macushi. Wilderness Explorers provide the administration, sales and marketing skills in support of Surama. Apart from the direct employment from eco-tourism, the community also benefits from the purchase of local produce and a portion of every tour goes to a village fund which is used for community development projects.

Iwokrama Forest
The Iwokrama Forest is nearly one million acres (371,000 hectares) of central Guyana in northeastern South America. It is located in the heart of the Guiana Shield, one of the four last pristine tropical forests in the world, (Congo, Papua New Guinea, and Amazonia are the other areas.) and represents an important transition zone in rainfall, landforms, human histories and biological communities. The Forest is bordered to the west by the Pakaraima Mountain range that extends through western Guyana and eastern Venezuela and to the east by the isolated highlands scattered through central-east Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It is also bordered by savannahs in the southwest and northeast of Guyana and southwestern Suriname. The area is covered with lush, lowland tropical forest, and dominated by tall tropical trees with a dense canopy 20-30 metres (66-98 ft.) high. Tropical forests are disappearing rapidly. Their loss will cause the extinction of half the planet's animal and plant species and unknown changes to global climate. The Iwokrama Forest was established as a living laboratory for sustainable tropical forest management.

The Gran Sabana
The Gran Sabana is a grassy savannah-like plateau with an elevation of 900-1200 metres. Millions of years of erosion have made this location one of the world’s richest areas for gold and diamond mining. Abounding in natural wonders such as waterfalls, rapids and tropical rainforest; the plentiful wildlife makes the Sabana a naturalist and birdwatcher’s paradise. Recently tourism, and especially eco-tourism, has made La Gran Sabana the first choice for travellers seeking adventure in the remote areas of its unique geography. Above the Sabana loom the tepuys, or “Table Mountains” of which Mount Roraima is the most famous. The tepuys are estimated to be over 1,700 million years old. On the tepuys’ lunar-like surface are many plants and animals found no where else on earth. The Auyantepuy, located in Canaima National Park, features the Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall.

Mount Roraima
Mount Roraima is one of the most acclaimed sights in South America. For hundreds of years the mile high flat topped mountain has been inspiring the tales and rumours concerning what actually exists on its summit above the clouds. In the late sixteenth century, Sir Walter Raleigh first visited the area around Roraima, searching for a civilisation that would make England as rich as the Aztecs had made Spain. He never found one, but he did return home with what were deemed by his peers as wild and outlandish stories about a Crystal Mountain. In his treaties “The Discoveries of the large Rich and Beautiful Empire of Guiana”, Raleigh likened the mountains to “a high church tower. “A large river leaps down from above without touching the mountain’s wall in its descent, as it goes out toward the air and reaches the bottom with a roar and clamour that would be produced by one thousand giant bells striking one another. I believe there does not exist a bigger and more marvellous waterfall in the world.”. Raleigh’s claims were confirmed in the early nineteenth century by Sir Robert Schomburgh, who viewed the mountain while on an expedition to explore the interior of British Guyana. Although Schomburgh was able to get close enough to collect specimens from the south-eastern zone at the base of Roraima, he declared the apex to be unreachable. It was not until 1884 that Roraima was proven to be accessible when explorers Everard Im Thurm and Harry I. Perkins made it to the top. Roraima has also made an impression on western literature and thought, influencing such men as Charles Darwin and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After the publication of Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ there was great public interest in ‘missing links’ and ‘relic species’ preserved by isolation. Roraima’s mysterious summit was an excellent possibility for an area at evolutionary standstill and the last place on earth where dinosaurs could exist. Conan Doyle, fascinated by the descriptions of explorers such as Im Thurm, wrote in 1912 what is considered to be one of the best science fiction novels ever written “The Lost World.”.

ACCOMMODATION:

Cara Lodge
Cara Lodge is the perfect hotel for those who want to soak up Guyanese heritage and culture. One of the oldest wooden buildings in Georgetown, it has in just 6 years become the best known hotel in the country. Built in the 1840s and originally consisted of two houses, it has a long and romantic history associated with it and was the home of the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown. Over the years it has hosted many dignitaries including Edward VII who stayed at the house in 1923 and planted the sapodilla tree in the front garden, to mark the occasion. He was, of course, later to abdicate and marry the American Wallis Simpson. In recent years the home has become a unique hotel that offers all the tradition and nostalgia of a time gone by, complete with all the comfort and services of the most modern of hotels, all in the most congenial family atmosphere. Our restaurant, The Bottle Restaurant, is known as the best in the capital and is open for lunch and dinner daily except Sunday. Cara Lodge is the perfect location for the vacationer wishing to experience a taste of Guyana's past, as well as for the business person who requires today's services in a comfortable and unique place to stay.

Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development
Iwokrama was established to promote the conservation, sustainable and equitable utilisation of tropical rainforest in a manner that leads to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits. The Centre is responsible for the conservation and management of the 360,000ha (1,000,000 acres) Iwokrama Forest for research and development purposes. Half the area will be retained as a Wilderness Preserve. Part of Iwokrama’s mission is to develop new sustainable uses for tropical rain forest ecosystems in order to increase the value of these ecosystems and thereby encourage their conservation. Sustainable utilisation is to be combined with research, training and outreach to develop and demonstrate sustainable rain forest management practises on an operational scale. Iwokrama is located in the heart of Guyana, with accommodation in timber cabins with thatched roofs, on the banks of the Essequibo River. Each cabin has it’s own bathroom facilities. Meals are served in the main dining hall, where you can mingle with the rangers, administrative and scientific staff. The field station is the base for exploratory trips into the forest, where you can sling a hammock at one of the numerous satellite camps. Turtle Mountain offers a challenging hike rewarded by spectacular views across the canopy and river to the distant mountains. Boat trips at night offer close inspection of Spectacled Caiman and by day visit Kurupukari Falls to see Amerindian petroglyphs. There is probably no better place on earth to see Jaguar in the wild with 1 in 3 visitors viewing the big cats at dusk or dawn.

Rock View Lodge
Rock View Lodge is located in the village of Ruperti in the North Rupununi Savannahs at the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains and close to the border with the Iwokrama Forest. The Rupununi River, Pakaraima Mountains and the rainforest, as well as the Amerindian villages of Annai, Kwatamang and Woweta are to be found within a radius of only a few miles of Rock View Lodge and are easily accessible. Guests are accommodated in well furnished and spacious self contained suites and are entertained in the old ranch house. For those on a budget there is also the option of a room in the ranch house with shared facilities or you can simply sling a hammock in the benab. Well trained bilingual staff from the region will look after your every need and the cuisine is an exciting blend of Creole, Guyanese and Brazilian. The Lodge is set in acres of gardens and orchards which attract hundreds of humming birds. You can join the local villagers in a game of volleyball, soccer, cricket or just relax by the only pool in the Rupununi. The roar of the Howler Monkeys can be heard in the early morning hours at the foothills of the Pakarimas. Excursions can be arranged to the forest, savannahs, mountains and Rupununi River. From Rock View it is a short jeep ride to the Amerindian community of Surama. The village is set in a natural savannah, surrounded by rainforest covered mountains. Surama is the base for trips to the Burro Burro River, where dawn boat trips reveal Giant River Otters, Tapir, Monkeys and a host of birds. A slightly longer trip will take you to the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development.

Karanambu Ranch
Karanambu Ranch is situated where the north savannah grassland, swamp and flood forest meet on the Rupununi River and the horse flats stretch towards the Pakaraima Mountains and into Brazil. The settlement has the flavour of an Amerindian village, with its clay brick and palm thatched cabanas set in a compound between the bush and the open range. Diane McTurk, well known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters to the wild, can accommodate guests in five cabanas with verandah, twin bedded rooms and ensuite bathrooms. Meals are served around a large dining table in the open hammock-swagged living room of the main ranch house. Outstanding tropical freshwater fish and teeming bird life abound. Bird watchers intrepid enough to brave the flood and insects of the wet season (June - August) are rewarded with water birds breeding in the nearby nursery. The area is also a last refuge for the Giant River Otter and Diane often has orphans in residence. The river reveals Black Caiman and for the lucky the huge Arapaima, the worlds largest fresh water fish. Diane has started the Karanambu Trust in an attempt to create a private protected area at Karanambu. The primary purpose of the protected area will be the protection of the habitat for the otters and ensuring their survival. This project has created such interest that filmmakers from around the world, such as BBC, Yorkshire Television and Wild Things, have traveled to Karanambu to film Diane's work. As a visitor you can join in with Diane's efforts and help her in the daily feeding and care of the otters, and even swim with them in the Rupununi River. Your overnight rate also helps in funding Diane's work. Guyana's best inland fishing is close by at Simoni Pond, where Peacock Bass is a favourite catch. Boating through the flooded forest offers unparalleled opportunities to observe the unique ecosystem. Excellent bird watching is available on the savannah, in the gallery forest and in particular in Crane Pond.

Your Itinerary

Day 1    Georgetown
Arrive in Guyana and transfer to Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge.

Day 2    Georgetown
This morning enjoy a city tour of Georgetown, highlighting the unique architecture, markets, zoo and much more. Afternoon to prepare equipment for interior expedition and relax at leisure. Overnight at a Cara Lodge. (B)

Day 3    Iwokrama
0945 transfer for flight from Ogle Airstrip to Rock View Lodge at Annai. After lunch at Rock View Lodge transfer to Surama. Take a walking tour of the village, meet the village counsellors, visit the school and the Amazon Project. The Amazon Project is designed to give employment to the women of the community by growing cassava and then manufacturing food items. From Surama transfer by 4x4 to Iwokrama Field Station. Afternoon free to explore the trails around the field station with a ranger. (B,L,D)

Day 4    Iwokrama
This morning take an early morning boat ride on the Essequibo River for wildlife watching with an Iwokrama Ranger. After breakfast travel down river by boat and then walk through the rainforest to Turtle Mountain, which offers fantastic views over the canopy of the rainforest. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest. On the return trip visit Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyphs (dependent on water level). Then visit the small Amerindian village of Fair View before returning to the Field Station. Overnight at Field Station. (B,L,D)

Day 5    Rock View Lodge
Before dawn take a 4x4 along the road in search of jaguar, which are often spotted crossing the road. Journey finishes at the new Iwokrama Canopy Walkway which allows you to experience the rainforest from 35M up in the tree tops. After lunch take a 4x4 onto Rock View Lodge. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 6    Rock View Lodge
Today you can enjoy exploring the farm and surrounding Amerindian villages or hike out to the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 7    Karanambu Ranch
Transfer after breakfast by 4x4 across the savannah to Ginep Landing on the Rupununi River. Transfer to a boat for trip to Karanambu Ranch. Your hostess here is Diane McTurk, famous for her work in rehabilitating orphaned, giant river otters to the wild. She has been filmed by National Geographic and visited by the Calgary Zoo. Dinner with Diane will include stories on the history of her family and the Rupununi Savannahs. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B,L,D)

Day 8    Karanambu Ranch
Today join Diane as she tends to the resident orphaned otters. Explore the Rupununi River in search of wild Giant River Otters, Black Caiman and Arapaima. Visit Simoni Pond for some of the best inland fishing in Guyana including Peacock Bass or explore the flooded forest or savannah with Diane. An evening visit to Crane Pond to see hundreds of Ibis, Anhinga, Heron and Egret roosting is a highlight. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B,L,D)

Day 9    Santa Elena
After breakfast take a flight to Lethem. This morning cross border to Bon Fim in Brazil to catch the 10.00 am bus to Boa Vista. Then take a bus from Boa Vista to Santa Elena. Reception at Brazilian border town (La Linea) by your tour leader. Transfer to Santa Elena de Uairen (Venezuelan border town with Brazil). Santa Elena is a gold mining town founded in 1922 by Sr. Pena – a gold prospector who named the town after his first daughter. It’s approx. 20 minutes ride from the Brazilian border. Overnight in Temiche Lodge. (L,D)

Day 10     Roraima Trek    ( 4 hours / 8 KMS )
Drive to Canaima National Park, which is inhabited by indigenous people of the Pemon Linguistic Group. The Canaima National Park is 30,000 sq. km. and is the seventh largest National Park in the world. Visit the Japer waterfalls, where you will be able to appreciate the different tones of color of this semi-precious rock. Drive to Paritepuy de Roraima, a small indigenous community of the Pemon Indians, where we’ll meet our camp porters for the trek. We begin our trek across rolling grassland of the savannah. Crossing several streams we ford the Tek River and later on the Kukunan River. We camp at the Kukunan campsite, having a fantastic view of the stark face of Roraima ahead and Kukunana Tepuy to its left. Kukunan Falls, the second tallest in the world (640 metres), should be clearly visible. From here we can also see the pinnacle of rock next to Roraima, like the one by which Conan Doyle’s heroes climbed to the top. (B,L,D)

Day 11     Roraima Trek    ( 5 hours / 12 KMS )
We trek across rising savannah to the base of the mountain to camp in a meadow alive with multi-coloured birds and fireflies at night and is considered in guidebooks as being one of the best campsites in the world! The Roraima wall is extremely impressive here rising 3,000 feet directly in front of the camp, with the quartz in the rock glittering in the late afternoon sun. (B,L,D)

Day 12     Roraima Trek    ( 5 hours / 3 KMS )
In the morning we set off up the route that leads diagonally across the face of the Roraima wall. The narrow trail winds through the montane rainforests and crosses the small streams where hummingbirds, orchids and brightly coloured flowers are abundant. Higher up, the vegetation changes to pre-historic tree ferns and the trail leads under a waterfall descending from the cliff edge hundreds of feet above. After 4 -5 hours we arrive at the entrance to the summit, guarded by massive grey rocks and emerge at the top – looking back for an incredible view. We visit the Valley of Crystals, the river-valley of the Arobopo River shaped like an amphitheatre around which are grouped large dark rounded stone columns. The river itself runs over a bed of crystals and crystal fragments. We visit the northern point of Mount Roraima for stunning views from various points on the edge. (B,L,D)

Day 13     Roraima Trek    ( 9 hours )
We explore Roraima’s summit trekking a long circular route to the triple border point, where Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil meet. We walk through strange rock formations, surprisingly lush valleys and places where the ground is covered with sparkling quartz crystals. There are rock pools everywhere and in them you may be lucky enough to see the strange black toads, unique to Mount Roraima. The plant life is bizarre, as over half the species are unique to Tepuys or to Roraima alone, including several species of orchids and carnivorous plants. We also visit the Oil Bird cave (Guacharo bird). (B,L,D)

Day 14     Roraima Trek    ( 8 hours / 14 KMS )
In the morning there is still time to explore some more before we descend to the base and continue to Tek River where we overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 15     Santa Elena    ( 4 hours / 8 KMS )
We complete the return to Paratepuy to be met by our driver with fresh supplies of beer, soft drinks and a large lunch. We say good-bye to our camp porters and set of to Santa Elena de Uairen where we stay again at Temiche Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 16    Lethem
You will transfer to Brazilian border town La Linea where you will continue your return trip to Lethem, Guyana. Overnight at Savannah Inn. (B,D)

Day 17    Return
Fly from Lethem to Georgetown. Transfer by vehicle and boat and to airport for departing international flight. (B)

INCLUDED:

Not Included:

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