Wildlife And Roraima Adventure - Private - 17D/16N

photo of a jaguar, courtesy of Tourism Board of GuyanaExperience the pristine rainforest and abundant wildlife of Guyana before trekking to the top of Mount Roraima in Venezuela. The Gran Sabana is a grassy savannah-like plateau with an elevation of 900-1200 meters. 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 travelers 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 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 rumors’ 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 civilization 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 clamor that would be produced by one thousand giant bells striking one another. I believe, it doesn’t exist a bigger and more marvelous 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.”

Included: Airport transfers - Double or twin accommodation - All road, river and internal flights - Meals as indicated(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) - Camping equipment - Guides – Iwokrama Forest User fee – Iwokrama Canopy Walkway fee - VAT.

Not Included: International Airfares - Local payment - Passport and visa expenses - Government arrival and departure taxes - Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is compulsory) - All items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges.

Note: Passenger/s traveling on Domestic Flight are entitled to a weight allowance of 20lbs(9.1KG) Passenger/s exceeding this weight limit will incur a cost of GYD$145.00 equivalent to US$0.75cents

Departures: Daily.

photo of Iwokrama, courtesy of the Tourism Board in GuyanaDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 - Arrive in Guyana and transfer to Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge.
  • Day 2 - 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 - 09:15 hrs transfer for flight from Ogle Airstrip to Rock View Lodge at Annai. After lunch at Rock View Lodge transfer to Surama. (B, L, D)
  • Day 4 - This morning take an early morning boat ride on the Essequibo River for wildlife watching with an Iwokrama Ranger. Overnight at Field Station. (B, L, D)
  • Day 5 - Before dawn take a 4×4 along the road in search of jaguar, which are often spotted crossing the road. The Iwokrama forest is rapidly gaining an international reputation for its healthy jaguar populations that seem not to be troubled by the appearance of curious humans. No promises, but many have been lucky! Journey finishes at the new Iwokrama Canopy Walkway which allows you to experience the rainforest from 35M up in the tree tops. After dinner we’ll return to the walkway to experience the canopy at night. Overnight in Iwokrama Atta Rainforest Lodge. (B, L, D)
  • Day 6 - This morning welcome the dawn chorus from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. After breakfast transfer by 4×4 to Rock View Lodge at Annai. After lunch 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 - Transfer after breakfast by 4×4 across the savannah to Ginep Landing on the Rupununi River. Transfer to a boat for trip to Karanambu Ranch. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
  • Day 8 - 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 - After breakfast take a 4×4 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). Overnight at Camp Yakoo. ( L, D)
  • Day 10 ( 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. (B, L, D)
  • Day 11 ( 5 hours / 12 KMS ) - We trek across rising savannah to the base of the mountain to camp in a meadow alive with multi-colored 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 ( 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 Montana rainforests and crosses the small streams where hummingbirds, orchids and brightly colored 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 Camp Yakoo. (B, L, D)
  • Day 16 - 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 - Fly from Lethem to Georgetown. Transfer by vehicle to airport for departing international flight. (B)

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Also tagged with: Adventure Expeditions, Escorted Journeys, South America, Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Educational, Cultural, Nature / Ecology, Bird Watching, Hosted Tours, Private Tour, Private Escorted Journey


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