Guyana’s Birding Highlights 2010
13 Nights/14 Days
This tour visits a number eco-systems, which maximises the birding opportunities. It visits the coastal plain, the sandbelt forest, the seemingly limitless forests of the interior and the Rupununi Savannah along the Brazilian border.
Fri Arrival in Guyana. Transfer to Georgetown. Overnight Cara Lodge.
Sat Georgetown and Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. This morning we will have an early start at the extensive and beautiful Botanic Garden. If we are lucky, the trip’s ornithological first highlight will be the Blood-colored Woodpecker, an astonishingly colorful Veniliornis found only in the Guianas and even there almost wholly limited to the narrow coastal plain. We will return to the hotel for breakfast before heading out to Ogle Airstrip for a flight to Annai. After lunch at Rock View Lodge we will depart by 4x4 to the Iwokrama rainforest and the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, a series of suspension bridges and decks up to 30 meters above the Iwokrama rain forest floor and 154 meters in length. The Iwokrama Canopy Walkway gives visitors a view of the mid and upper canopy of the forest and allows wildlife to be relatively free from human intrusion. The forest around the walkway contains some important flora and fauna. Among these are endangered and protected species such as the bullet wood tree, greenheart and the waramadan (endemic in Guyana only to the Iwokrama Rainforest). We will stay up on the walkway to experience the canopy at night. Overnight at Atta Rainforest Camp Lodge. (B, L, D)
Sun Mori Scrub/Iwokrama Field Station. This morning welcome the dawn chorus from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Then we will travel by 4x4 along a route through the rainforest. The Iwokrama rainforest is rapidly gaining an international reputation for its healthy jaguar populations that seem not to be troubled by the appearance of curious humans. We will travel to a locality known as Mori Scrub, characterized by an unusual low, sandy forest. This supports an interesting assemblage of bird species, among them Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Black Manakin and Red-shouldered Tanager. We continue on and eventually we reach the Essequibo River and the Iwokrama River Lodge. In late afternoon we’ll take a walk on Screaming Piha Trail near the River Lodge. Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge. (B, L, D)
Mon Turtle Mountain. This morning we set out by boat to the foot of Turtle Mountain. Here we’ll explore the trail for a few hours, visiting Turtle Ponds and climbing to an elevation of about 900 feet for a spectacular view of the forest canopy below. Return to the river lodge for lunch, as the afternoon cools we’ll visit Fair View, a nearby Amerindian village. Finally, after dark, we’ll set out on the river once more, in hopes of finding one or another of its four species of caiman, and listening for the voices of nocturnal birds. Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge. (B, L, D)
Tue Surama. Making another early start, we’ll embark on the Essequibo River and circumnavigate nearby Indian House Island, before returning to the Field Station for breakfast. Then we transfer by 4x4 vehicle and drive to the Amerindian community of Surama. The village is set in five square miles of savannah and surrounded by the densely forested Pakaraima Mountains. Surama’s inhabitants are mainly from the Macushi tribe and still observe many of the traditional practices of their forebears. Our accommodations will be in “benabs” (thatched sleeping shelters) and our meals will feature excellent local produce. Overnight Surama Eco-lodge (B, L, D)
Wed Surama Mountain. Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then the gentle climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air. This is the best time to observe bird life along the trail. Breakfast will be served at a point overlooking the village, whilst looking for Pearl Kite, White-tailed and Savannah Hawk. We’ll return to the village for lunch. Afternoon birding in the savannah and forest. Overnight Surama Eco-lodge (B, L, D)
Thu Burro Burro River/Rupununi Savannah. In the cool of pre-dawn take a 3-mile walk across the savannah and the rainforest to the Burro Burro River. Soon after daybreak set out on the Burro Burro River for a quiet and skillfully guided paddle, hearing the voices of many birds singing in near darkness in the forest, and seeing many of them later when the light grows stronger. We’ll also search the banks for such mammals as Giant River Otter, Tapir, Tayra and Black Spider Monkey and many more species. In the afternoon we’ll travel by 4x4 back toward the Rupununi and Annai, its northernmost community. The Rupununi Savannah is to Guyana what the Gran Sabana is to Venezuela, an extensive area of grassland with termite mounds and scattered or riparian woodland. The birdlife here is markedly different from that of the rainforest. We’ll explore the area on foot, and as the afternoon cools we’ll travel a short distance for birdwatching in the Pakaraima foothills. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. (B, L, D)
Fri Karanambu Ranch. With its tropical gardens and flowering trees, our 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 antbirds and flycatchers, and of course the grasslands support an avifauna of their own. After lunch transfer by 4x4 to Ginep Landing and then by boat to Karanambu Ranch. This is the home of Diane McTurk, widely known for her work rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters. Our birdwatching here will be largely in woodland patches or gallery forest along the river where we’ll hope to find such species as Spotted Puffbird, Striped Woodcreeper, Saffron-crested and Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin. When water levels are appropriate a wooded swamp near the ranch is the site of a surprisingly large colony of Boat-billed Herons, and at any season the river and airstrip provide habitat for no fewer than eight species of nightjars. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
Sat & Sun Karanambu Ranch. Birdwatching from daybreak to nightfall or later, we’ll devote this entire day to exploring Karanambu and its varied habitats, traveling by boat to certain localities up and downstream, and by Land Rover to one or another forest patch for Blue backed Manakin & Capuchinbird. Double-striped Thick-knees and Blue Ground-Dove are among the sparse inhabitants of the grasslands, and at widely scattered ponds we may find concentrations of storks, ibis and other waterbirds. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
Mon Kaieteur Falls/ Baganara Rainforest Resort. After some early morning birdwatching near the ranch buildings we’ll fly by chartered aircraft over hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. At 228 meters, Kaieteur is nearly five times the height of Niagara Falls. Here we hope to find White-chinned and White-tipped Swifts swirling over the gorge, and the astonishingly colorful Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. Reboarding our plane, we travel to Baganara Island Resort, 187 acres of lush green foliage and colourful tropical flowers, that will quickly help you forget how "the other half" lives. Five miles south of Bartica, it is the gateway to the unspoilt rainforest of Guyana and the junction where the great Essequibo and Mazaruni River meet. Take a boat trip to nearby Parrot Island to see hundreds of parrots flying in to roost. Overnight at Baganara Island Resort. BLD
Tue This morning you can take a kayak on a nearby creek that takes you into the rainforest. As you silently paddle you will see many bird species, and possibly monkeys. In the late afternoon take a boat trip to Bartica, the hub of the mining community in the north west of Guyana. The town is a hive of activity as the miners pass through on the way to their claims further in the interior. The township is located at the junction of the Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers and most travel is done by boat. The stelling (wharf) and market are two colourful and exciting locations. At Bartica the pioneer atmosphere is still strong and it is often compared to a wild west town. We now enter the Mazaruni River to see Kyk-Over-Al (See Over All ) which was once the Dutch seat of government in the county of Essequibo. Now all that remains on this island are the ruins of the former stronghold, which guarded the junction of the Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers. Further on up the Mazaruni River we reach the wild Marshall Falls, with its own natural Jacuzzi. From here a short hike into old growth rainforest brings us to two small falls, both spectacular in their natural state, and perfect for swimming. Overnight at Baganara Island Resort. BLD
Wed Georgetown. After watching the day come up over the vast expanse of the river, we’ll spend the morning birding before boarding a powerful motorboat and travel down to Parika at its mouth, here 21 miles in width. We’ll then travel by road following the sea wall eastward, seeing the system of canals and polders that allow sugar and rice cultivation on land below sea level, and reaching Georgetown by crossing the Demerara on the world’s longest pontoon bridge. In the afternoon we’ll take a tour of the city to see its beautiful wooden architecture and to shop in its exciting markets and craft shops. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B, L)
Thu Depart Guyana. Transfer by vehicle to Guyana’s international airport for your departing flight.
2010 Rates : US$ 6015 for 4 persons and escorted by local birding guide.
US$ 4900 for 6 persons and escorted by local birding guide.
US$ 4632 for 8 persons and escorted by local birding guide.
US$ 4180 for 10 persons and escorted by local birding guide.
Rates are per person double occupancy. Single Supplement : US$ 468.00
Rate Includes : - airport transfers
- double or twin accommodation
- meals as listed
- limited local bar at Karanambu Ranch
- all road and river transport
- internal flights
- local guides
- Kaieteur National Park fee
- Iwokrama Forest User Fee
- Iwokrama Canopy Walkway User Fee
- VAT
- Services of a birding guide throughout
Not Included : - items of a personal nature
- alcoholic drinks except where mentioned above
- international flights
- visa’s
- departure tax
