Guyana Nature Experience

Transfer to Georgetown. Guests are met and transferred to their lodge in Georgetown, one of the oldest wooden buildings in the city.

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the in-town airport at Ogle Aerodrome for your scheduled flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land near Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall.

At 228 meters, Kaieteur is nearly five times the height of Niagara Falls. Here you may find many intersting bird species. (B,L). Overnight in Georgetown.

In the morning transfer to Ogle Airstrip for a flight across the rainforest to Annai. Breakfast at Rock View Lodge and then transfer by 4x4 vehicle or 4x4 Bedford Truck (converted with forward facing seats and canopy) to Iwokrama lodge. The Iwokrama Rainforest is a vast wilderness area of one million acres. It is situated in the heart of one of four last untouched tropical forests of the world - The Guyana Shield of North-Eastern South America.

The afternoon is free to explore the trails around the river lodge with an Iwokrama Ranger. Iwokrama is home to many bird species. Finally, after dark, you’ll set out on the river, in hopes of finding one of its four species of caiman, and listen for nightbirds. You will most certainly see snakes, tree frogs and maybe some mammals with some lucks. Maybe even a puma or capybara. (B,L,D)

Overnight at the river lodge.

After an early start you will embark on the Essequibo and circumnavigate the Indian House Island before returning to the River Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, you will leave the river lodge for the journey to Turtle Mountain, and an exhilarating climb up the mountain to its summit at 935ft (approx. 360m).

It takes 3/4hrs to walk up the mountain, but the effort is more than worth it for the breathtaking views over the forest canopy with great opportunities for spotting wildlife. Return to the River Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon set out on a boat trip to visit Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyphs (water level permitting).

Continue by boat for a refreshing drink at Michelles Island overlooking the rapids (clients to pay for own drinks). Return to the lodge (B,L,D) Overnight at the lodge.

At dawn take a wildlife walk with an Iwokrama Ranger close to the River Lodge. After breakfast you'll be transferred by 4 x 4 along the trail which is one of the best places to see the elusive Jaguar. The journey ends at the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway where you can bird watch from the vantage of 30 meters up in the canopy. The trails also have an interpretative walk with the trees named and you can learn about their varied uses in the Macushi culture. (B,L,D)

Overnight in a rainforest lodge.
 

The major attraction in the forest is a 154 metre long canopy walkway which is only 750m from the lodge. The walkway has four platforms, the highest of which is over 30 metres above the ground, and these will allow you to get great looks at a range of canopy species, many of which you would struggle to see well from the forest floor.

Another area where you will want to spend some time is the clearing around the lodge, as this is one of the best places to see one of Guyana’s “must see” birds, the Crimson Fruitcrow. (B,L,D) Overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast travel by a 4x4 vehicle or 4x4 Bedford Truck (convert with forward facing seats and canopy) to a trail in the Iwokrama Forest to hopefully see the amazingly brilliant Guianian Cock-of-the-rock. This trail is through interesting forest and the guides can show the use of the plants.

Continue your trip onto the Amerindian village of Surama, situated in a small savannah, deep in the rainforest and surrounded by forest clad hills.Your guide will take you on a tour of the village. Visit the local school, medical centre and church along with some of the village houses. As the afternoon cools a local guide will escort you for a short walk on trails to observe the forest and bird life. 

Tonight enjoy an educational walk to observe wildlife and experience the mystique of the forest after dark. (B,L,D) Overnight at an eco-lodge in the village.
 

Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then the exhilarating climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air at the best time to observe bird life along the trail. Breakfast will be served at a lookout point offering incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains.

Return to the village for lunch and then take a three mile walk across the savannah and through the rainforest to the Burro Burro River. Your guides will then paddle you on the Burro Burro River for opportunities to observe wildlife. Return to village for sunset. (B,L,D)  Overnight in your lodge.

After breakfast depart Surama by 4x4 vehicle or 4x4 Bedford Truck for Rock View Lodge at Annai. The road travels through the savannah and the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains with excellent opportunities for savannah birding. Eventually you'll reach the Rupununi and Annai, its northernmost community.

With its tropical gardens and flowering trees, your lodge resembles an oasis in the savannah, and attracts many species of birds, particularly nectar feeders and frugivores. Nearby patches of light forest are home to certain ant birds and flycatchers, and of course the grasslands support an avifauna of their own. (B,L,D). Overnight in the lodge.

At dawn take a hike in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains on the Panorama Trail where you might see many wildlife species. The views across the savannah and villages as the sun rises are spectacular. Today you can visit a nearby Amerindian village. Enjoy an explanation and demonstration of traditional cashew nut roasting. Finish the day with drinks around the pool. (B,L,D). Overnight at your lodge.

After breakfast transfer by 4x4 vehicle or 4x4 Bedford Truck along the road through the savannah and at the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. Depending on the river level, this trip offers an excellent opportunity to look for giant otters as there are several family groups which live along this stretch of the Rupununi River.

The journey ends at Karanambu Lodge, the home of Diane McTurk, widely known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned, giant river otters. Late in the afternoon you will travel by boat to look for wild giant river otters and as dusk falls to the ponds to see the giant Victoria Regis waterlily bloom at dusk. On the  way back you will spot black caimans and creatures of the night. (B,L,D). Overnight at the lodge.

This morning you can bird or look for wildlife around the lodge. If you are interested in birdwatching you can explore woodland patches or gallery forest along the river. (B,L,D). Overnight at the lodge.

This morning travel out onto the savannah to search for a giant anteater. After breakfast explore the Rupununi River in search of wild giant river otters, black caiman, Arapaima and bird watching along the way whilst being transferred by boat to the Amerindian village of Yupukari and Caiman House, the hub of several participatory development projects, including the introduction of classroom libraries in all three village schools and an internet-enabled public library. 

As a guest you have the unique opportunity to support and participate in an ongoing field study of the black caiman. Guests will observe the capture from a separate boat, but will be offered the opportunity to assist in data collection. Caiman are weighed, measured, sexed and tagged before being released back into the river. The research has already discovered interesting information on caimans’ nests that was previously unknown.(B,L,D). Overnight at Caiman House & Research Center.
 

This morning you will have some time to visit the village or go birdwatching. After breakfast take a flight back to Georgetown. Enjoy an afternoon Georgetown city tour. (B). Overnight in a lodge.
 

Transfer to the airport for your departing flight. (B)