DIFFICULTY

Low

MIN. AGE

12 Years

£ 5295

Truly Explore Nature

Visit Kaieteur Falls before travelling to Iwokrama for jungle hikes, boat trips, the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, and the chance to see the elusive jaguar. Stay in the Makushi village of Surama in search of giant otters and black caiman before going into the savannah, the home of giant anteaters. A truly unique and off the beaten track adventure.

Price £5,295 / $6,495

Based on 2 pax. Excludes international flights.

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Upcoming Group Departures

2023: 19-Aug, 09-Sep, 14-Oct, 02-Dec

2024: 24-Feb, 30-Mar, 20-Apr, 17-Aug, 7-Sep, 5-Oct, , 2-Nov, 7-Dec

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Day by Day

We will pick you up at the airport, and then transfer you to your selected hotel.

Overnight at Cara Lodge.

Following breakfast at the hotel we head to the airport at 11:30 for a scheduled flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. At 228 meters, Kaieteur is nearly five times the height of Niagara Falls.

 

Optional Tours:

Birding in Georgetown's Botanical Gardens

0545hrs pick up and transfer to the extensive Georgetown Botanical Gardens. Details at end of itinerary.

Evening Seawall, bars and street food experience

Details at end of itinerary.

Dinner at Aagman Indian Restaurant

Details at end of itinerary.

Overnight at Cara Lodge.

Today after breakfast we take the scheduled flight for journey over miles of tropical rainforest to land in the Rupununi.

Transfer by 4x4 vehicle or 4x4 Bedford Truck to Iwokrama River Lodge.

Explore the trails around the lodge with an Iwokrama Ranger.  Iwokrama is home to many bird species including Capunchinbird, Black Nunbird, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper, Amazonian Antshrike, Brown-bellied Antwren, Spot-tailed Antwren, Todd’s Antwren, Spotted Puffbird, Green Aracari, Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Red Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Bronzy Jacamar, Chestnut & Waved Woodpecker, Gray Antbird, and Strong-billed Woodcreeper.  Three other Neotropical species in the Iwokrama forest of high interest are White-winged Potoo, Rufous Potoo, and Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo.

The forest is also home to many mammals and you may see Red-rumped Agouti and various species of monkey including Red Howler, Black Spider and Wedge-capped and Brown Capuchins

After dark we’ll set out on the river, in hope of finding one of its four species of caiman, and listen for night birds such as Spectacled Owl, White-winged Potoo, Rufous Potoo, Long-tailed Potoo, Zigzag Heron or Blackish Nightjar. You may see one or more of the four species of caiman, and most certainly snakes including Cox boa, tree frogs and if lucky maybe some mammals. Maybe even a puma or capybara.

The Iwokrama River Lodge is set overlooking the Essequibo River.  Accommodation is offered in eight spacious timber cabins with shingle roofs, bathroom facilities, and veranda overlooking the river. Running water and flush toilets are standard; however, water is not heated (and rarely desired in the tropical heat).

Electricity is provided by a combination of solar and diesel generator systems, and wireless internet access is provided for free in the main building. Meals are served buffet-style in the Fred Allicock dining hall, where you can mingle with the rangers, administrative and scientific staff.

Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge.

Making an early start, we’ll embark on the Essequibo and circumnavigate nearby Indian House Island, before returning to the River Lodge for breakfast.

Leave the lodge by boat, bird watching along the way, for the hike to Turtle Mountain.  A well maintained trail winds through the forest before an exhilarating climb up the mountain to its summit at 935ft (approx. 360m).

As the afternoon cools you set out on a boat trip to visit Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyphs (dependent on the water level).

 Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge.

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!  Along the road, we will watch for the myriad of bird species that frequent the forest edge, including Crimson and Purple-necked Fruit-crow, Crimson Topaz, Green Oropendula, Spotted and Guianan Puffbird, Scarlet and Red-and-Green Macaw, Blue-cheeked and Orange-winged Parrot and Gray-winged Trumpeter.

Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge. 

Apart from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway itself you can enjoy wildlife and bird watching walks on the trails around the area. For those interested in botany many of the trails have the key trees species marked. Many bird species, stunning insects, noisy amphibians, and playful primates make the surrounding forest their home and you can be fairly certain to spot some extraordinary wildlife without even trying too hard. Deer and agouti are also regular visitors to the lodge.  Serious birders will want to search the undergrowth for the rarely seen Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo.

Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge. 

The Amerindian community of Surama is located in the heart of Guyana.  The village is set in five square miles of savannah which is ringed by the forest covered Pakaraima Mountains.  Surama’s inhabitants are mainly from the Macushi tribe and still observe many of the traditional practises of their forebears.

This isolated and idyllic location offers an escape from the concrete jungle to a serene and peaceful existence with nature.  The guides have lived their entire lives in the rainforest, and have an incredible understanding of nature and how to utilise its resources.

Overnight at Surama Eco-lodge. 

Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then climb up Surama Mountain for incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains.  This is not a technical climb but can be arduous, especially after rain, and not for everyone. Your guides will happily offer alternative activities if you prefer not to do this climb.

Overnight at Surama Eco-lodge

Enjoy dawn breaking across the rainforest.  You can choose from a forest walk to look for wildlife and birds or relax around the lodge before breakfast and departure. Transfer by 4×4 vehicle or 4×4 Bedford Truck from Surama to Rock View Lodge at Annai.

Overnight at Rock View Lodge.

At dawn take a hike in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains on the Panorama Trail where you might see Cinereous Mourner, Finsch’s Euphonia, Reddish Hermit, Rufous-bellied Antwren, Green-tailed and Yellow-billed Jacamar. The views across the savannah and villages as the sun rises are spectacular.

The North Rupununi of southern Guyana is an extraordinary natural and pristine area. The landscape is an integration of four ecosystem types: wetlands, savannahs, rivers, and forests. The number of species found here is much higher than expected given its size. There are at least 600 species of fish, along with 600 species of bird, and over 200 species of mammals. Karanambu is located roughly in the middle of this beautiful and fascinating biological hotspot where endangered species like the Giant Otter, Black Caiman, Jaguar, Giant Anteater, and Arapaima can be found.

With both the river and the savannahs close at hand there is a wide variety of activities to be enjoyed at Karanambu. You are free to determine what you want to do based on your interests, the time of year and whether the guides have found anything especially unique and interesting to see. Two guided excursions are provided each day — one early in the morning and another late in the afternoon and into the evening. As well as being the coolest times to be out, these are usually the best times to see the different birds and animals. Trips may be on the river by boat, on the savannahs by Land Rover or along forest trails on foot to the different ponds in the area.

Overnight at Karanambu Lodge.

This morning we may make an early start to reach an area of rolling grasslands, which is home to a population of giant anteaters.  An evening visit to a nearby pond to see hundreds of Ibis, Anhinga, Heron and Egret roosting (only in rainy season) is a highlight. If you are interested in bird watching you can explore woodland patches or gallery forest along the river where we’ll hope to find such species as Spotted Puffbird, Striped Woodcreeper, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Golden-spangled Piculet, Bearded Tachuri and Capuchinbird. A feature bird for the area is Agami Heron.

Overnight at Karanambu Lodge. 

In the event you did not see a giant anteater the previous morning, there is time to travel out to search the savannah again.  Or explore the Rupununi River in search of wild Giant River Otters, Black Caiman and Arapaima, making a boat journey along quiet stretches of river.

Overnight at Caiman House. 

Vehicle transfer from Caiman House to airstrip to board scheduled flight for journey over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of tropical rainforest to land at Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

Georgetown the chief port, capital and largest city of Guyana is situated on the right Bank of the Demerara River Estuary.  It was chosen as a site for a fort to guard the early Dutch settlements of the Demerara River.  The city of Georgetown was designed largely by the Dutch and is laid out in a rectangular pattern with wide tree lined avenues and irrigation canals that criss cross the city.

Trip has come to an end.

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY (2023)
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Pioneer Expeditions
Average rating:  
 3 reviews
 by D. Musson
Guyana Nature Experience


What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

That's really difficult because I enjoyed it all. Such a calm friendly

country, undamaged, with birds by the hundreds and fewer but equally

interesting animals. Accommodation fine. Guides mostly excellent.

 

What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Take boots for walking not trainers. Plenty of insect repellent.

 

Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced

environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes. Providing finance for transportation, accommodation and guides to support the economy. All the people we met were proud of their country and ensured it was not damaged.

 

Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent.

Guyana Nature Experience

Just to thank you for arranging a fantastic Guyana trip for us. It was all amazing. I loved the country. Doubtless you have seen our feedback form: all superlatives.
Mapari Wilderness Camp – the add-on we arranged – is out of this world. We plan to go back in a couple of years in the dry season. Thanks to climate change, and the extension of the rainy season, we did not see it at its best but it was still spectacular.
Thanks again for all your help

 by Margot Roza
Thoroughly enjoyable trip

Highlights of the expedition - Kaiteur Falls and meeting people who are passionate about Eco-Tourism.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and though it would have been fantastic to see other birds and animals like the Harpy Eagle and Jaguar this is of course beyond the control of anyone.

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