Wildlife Safari

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Set off on a wildlife adventure through the Guyana rainforest. Spot jaguars, the largest and most elusive predator in the Americas and look for giant anteaters and giant river otters.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Guyana
On arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel, located in the center of the Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.

Day 2: Georgetown City Tour
Morning city tour of Georgetown. Most of the buildings in the city are wooden with unique architecture dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The main street in Georgetown provides several excellent examples of old colonial homes, a prime example of which is the State House, built in 1852. The most famous building is St. George's Cathedral, which is one of the world's tallest freestanding wooden buildings and was consecrated on 1892. At the beginning of the Avenue of the Republic stands the public library housed in the Carnegie Building. Other historic buildings along this promenade are the Town Hall, a splendid example of Gothic architecture, and further along are the Victoria Law Courts and St. Andrews Kirk. St. Andrew's is the oldest surviving structure of any church in Guyana. Visit the Botanical Gardens and zoo, the seven ponds, canals, kissing bridge and the bandstand. Then continue to the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The Demerara Harbour Bridge is the longest floating bridge in the world and connects the east and west banks of the Demerara River. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Day 3: Kaieteur/Orinduik Falls
Morning departure from your hotel to airport for our chartered flight to Kaieteur Falls, a natural wonder with a sheer drop of 741 feet (5 times the height of Niagara Falls). Kaieteur National Park is situated on the Guiana Shield, a plateau that is one of the world's oldest and remotest geological formations. The entire National Park is located within one of the largest and most biodiverse rainforests in the world and is home to the tiny golden frog, which spends it entire life in the large tank bromeliads. The park is also home to White-chinned and White-collared swifts, red and green macaws, Morpho hecuba, South America's largest butterfly, the Ocelot, and the Cock-of-the Rock. After an extremely fascinating tour of Kaieteur Falls, fly to the jasper-lined Orinduik Falls located in the Rupununi savannahs and at the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. The falls is ideal for swimming. Late afternoon return to Georgetown. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Day 4: Karanambu Ranch
Karanambu is one of Guyana's leading ecotourism destinations. Located in the Rupununi, Karanambu offers a sense of serenity and is a home away from home. Typically there are two guided excursions 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. Activities usually include:

• Searching for wild otters along the river and among the ponds
• Tracking a giant anteater across the savannahs
• Sipping rum punch while watching the giant Victoria Amazonica lily blossom before your eyes
• Boating through the flooded forest in the wet season
• Enjoying the flora and fauna along the walking trails among the forest ponds
• Spotting all sorts of amazing animals when they come out of hiding at night

Wildlife usually seen along the rivers and ponds include Black Caiman, Capuchin monkeys, Red Howler monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, Black Spider Monkeys, Capybara and Giant River Otters. Bird life is rich and varied; both on the savannah and along the rivers and ponds where you may have exciting encounters with Jabiru stork, the Great Egret, the Agami Heron and the Great Blue Heron, as well as different species of Kingfishers, Green Ibis, Snowy Egrets, Boatbill heron, the Purple Gallinule and the Wattled Jacana. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 5: Karanambu Ranch
Around the scrub bordering the river we may see the Great and the Lesser Ani (the local old witch). Other birds include the Red Cap Cardinal, the Pale Vented Pigeon, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Quail running quickly in and out of the trail, the Southern Lapwing and Savannah Hawk.  (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 6: Surama Village
After breakfast transfer by 4x4 to Surama Village located in the heart of Guyana where eight square kilometres of savannah are surrounded by the forest-covered Pakaraima Mountains. Surama's inhabitants are mainly from the Makushi tribe who still observe many of the traditional practices of their forebears. Surama Eco Lodge features four simple cabins with ensuite bathrooms and a central dining room, bar and lounge area offering fantastic views across the savannah, rainforest and mountains. Surama village has embarked on a community tourism project that offers employment opportunities to many of its inhabitants and benefits the village as a whole. On arrival in Surama receive a welcome from a village councilor and settle into your accommodation. A local guide will escort you for a short walk on trails to observe the forest and bird life. As the afternoon cools your guide will take you on a tour of the village. Visit the local school, medical center and church along with some village houses. Tonight enjoy an educational walk to observe wildlife and experience the mystique of the forest after dark. After lunch, enjoy a walk across the savannah and then a short challenging climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air. This is the best time to observe bird and wildlife along the trail. Breakfast will be served at a lookout point, which affords incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains. Return to village for lunch (Meals; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 7: Surama Village
Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then a short challenging climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air. This is the best time to observe bird and wildlife along the trail. Breakfast will be served at a lookout point, which affords incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains. Return to village for lunch and then take a 3-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 Giant River Otters, Tapir, Tira, Spider Monkey and many more species. Return to the village for sunset and to overnight at Surama Eco-lodge. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 8: Iwokrama
Depart Surama by 4x4 to Iwokrama. On your way visit the Canopy Walkway and spend some time enjoying this spectacular and exhilarating experience of the tropical rainforest canopy. Observe the wildlife and birdlife from 35m up in the trees. The walkway is the only one of its kind in the Guiana Shield. Afterwards, continue to the river lodge for overnight. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 9: Iwokrama
At dawn, enjoy a boat ride around Indian House Island. After breakfast, leave the Field Station traveling by boat for half an hour to the foot of Turtle Mountain then commence a leisurely stroll up the mountain to its summit at 953ft (approx. 106m). This mildly challenging stroll takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to walk up the mountain, but the effort is more than worth it for the breathtaking views over the forest canopy. Return to the Field Station for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyphs (dependent on the water level), then visit the small indigenous village of Fair View. After dinner, enjoy a relaxing evening in the beautiful setting on the bank of the Essequibo River.  (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 10: Rock View Lodge
After breakfast, transfer by 4x4 to Rock View Lodge. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. Take some time to relax or visiting nearby villages at an additional cost.  (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 11: Georgetown
Return to Georgetown in the afternoon. (Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Day 12: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.