Rainforest and Savannah Birding Highlights
9 Nights/10 Days
Experience the eco-systems of the rainforest and savannah and the rich birding opportunities they will provide on this fascinating discovery tour. Explore the forest canopy, open savannah, marshes, oxbow lakes, rivers, bush islands and gallery forest.
Day 1 Arrival in Guyana. Transfer to Georgetown. Overnight Cara Lodge.
Day 2 Botanical Garden/City Tour. Morning and afternoon birding at the Botanical Garden. If lucky, the days ornithological highlight will viewing the Blood-colored Woodpecker, an astonishingly colorful Veniliornis found only in the Guianas. During the middle of the day enjoy a Georgetown city. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B)
Day 3 Iwokrama Rainforest/Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Depart on a morning schedule flight across the lush rainforest and extensive Rupununi Savannah of Guyana to Rock View Lodge, which is located where the savannah meets the forest-covered foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. Here we will enjoy lunch. In the afternoon we will travel by vehicle across the savannah into the million-acre Iwokrama Rainforest. We will spend the remainder of the day on the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, observing wild life and bird life from 35 meters above the ground in the tree tops. From this vantage point it is possible to see several species of macaw and toucans returning to roost. This evening remain on the walkway after dark to experience the canopy at night, then walk down to the Atta Rainforest Lodge, our camp near the base of the walkway. Enjoy dinner at the camp. Overnight in Atta Rainforest Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Mori Scrub/Rupununi Savannah. View the dawn chorus from the canopy walkway as the forest comes alive and the bird activity is at its best. After breakfast we continue by 4x4 with a packed lunch, traveling 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. In the afternoon we’ll travel to an area on the southern boundary to known site of the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock lek and with luck we may see both the male and female. Then we continue 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. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Rupununi Savannah/Pakaraima Foothills. With its tropical gardens and flowering trees, the 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. 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)
Day 6 Rupununi River/Karanambu Ranch. This morning we’ll travel by 4x4 across the savannah to Ginep Landing and the Rupununi River, where we’ll embark for travel upstream to Karanambu Ranch. This is the home of Diane McTurk, widely known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned, giant river otters to the wild. Diane and her otters have appeared on National Geographic, Jeff Corwin Experience, Really Wild Show (BBC) and the Calgary’s “Zoo World”. Karanambu has a long history of visiting naturalists and Diane’s father, Tiny McTurk, has welcomed David Attenborough and Gerald Durrell (Three Singles to Adventure).
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 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. Dinner with Diane, will include stories on the history of the family and the Rupununi Savannahs. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B,L,D)
Day 7 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. Double-striped Thick-knees are among the sparse inhabitants of the grasslands, and at widely scattered ponds we may find concentrations of storks and other water birds. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Karanambu Ranch/Georgetown. Enjoy some early morning birdwatching near the ranch buildings. After lunch take a flight back to Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B,L)
Day 9 Day Tour - Kaieteur Falls/Orinduik Falls. Fly by chartered aircraft over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and 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 the Brazilian border and Orinduik Falls, where the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of solid jasper, a semi precious stone. With a backdrop of the rolling grass covered hills of the Pakaraima Mountains, this is truly one of the most beautiful locations in Guyana’s hinterland. Late afternoon, return on our charter aircraft to Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B,L)
Day 10 Depart Guyana. Transfer by vehicle to Guyana’s international airport for your departing flight. (B)
Rates 2010 :
US$3275 for 2 persons
US$3087 for 3 persons
US$2814 for 4 persons
US$2956 for 5 persons
US$2796 for 6 persons
US$2865 for 7 persons
US$2783 for 8 persons
US$2805 for 9 persons
US$2724 for 10 persons
Rates are per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement : US$ 408.00
Rate Includes :
- airport transfers
- double or twin accommodation
- meals as listed
- all road and river transfers
- internal flights in Guyana
- activities as described
- local guides
- VAT
- Kaieteur National Park fee
- Iwokrama Forest User Fee
- Iwokrama Canopy Walkway Fee
Not Included :
- items of a personal nature
- alcoholic drinks except where mentioned above
- departure tax
- international flights
Disclaimer: Please be advised all tour operators and customers must provide us with body weights of passengers booked to travel on tour to Guyana for all internal flights. Failure to provide us with this information or the incorrect information can cause delays to flights and inconvenience to other passengers and in some cases either passengers and/or luggage being taken off the flight. To ensure a holiday that is enjoyable and hassle free, it is imperative that passengers provide us with this information. We appreciate some people are sensitive about providing their body weights, but all customers and their baggage are weighed at check-in. This is procedure by the airline so as to ensure that the weight of the load is within the payload limit for the aircraft, and neither they or Wilderness Explorers will compromise on safety. All passengers are subject to removal of themselves or luggage from the flight if over the weight they provided and/or over the baggage allowance. Passengers are advised to provide a body weight with clothing similar to that which they would expect to travel in on the flight. Wilderness Explorers cannot be held responsible for any passenger denied boarding or luggage not transported if they are over the weight provided. Weights supplied are provided to the airline in advance to ensure the flight is within the allowable payload. Please be advised of internal flights free baggage allowance of 20 lbs per person.
Georgetown City Tour
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.
Most of the buildings in the city are wooden with unique architecture dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. For the most part the buildings have Demerara shutters and designed fretwork which trim eaves and windows. Main Street Georgetown provides several excellent examples of old colonial homes, a prime example of which is the State House, built in 1852. The State House is set in large gardens and is painted green and white and has hosted many visiting dignitaries.
During your visit to Georgetown there are a number of interesting sights that should not be missed: the most famous being St. George’s Cathedral. The Cathedral is one of the world’s tallest free standing wooden buildings and was consecrated on 1892. The foundation stone was laid on November 23, 1890 and the building was designed by Sir Arthur Bloomfield. The story of the cathedral is told on the interior on tablets and memorials of a historical and sentimental nature: it is the tale of the history of Guyana in general and of the Diocese in particular.
At the beginning of the Avenue of the Republic stands the Public Library housed in the Carnigie 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.
The Famous Stabroek Market, once described as a “bizarre bazaar”, contains every conceivable item from house hold goods and gold jewellery to fresh meat and vegetables brought to town on the river daily. The clock tower can be seen for miles around and is a famous landmark.
No trip to Georgetown would be complete without a visit to the Botanical Gardens and zoo. The Botanical Gardens houses one of the most extensive collection of tropical flora in the Caribbean and are laid out with ponds, canals, kissing bridges and bandstand. Over 100 species of Guyanese wildlife can be observed at the Zoo including a wide variety of tropical fishes and birds.
The National Museum which contains a broad selection of our animal life and heritage should not be missed, nor the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, which explains Amerindian history and life style. The Demerara Harbour Bridge is the longest floating bridge in the world and connects the east and west banks of the Demerara River.
The tour will include walking along the Avenues with an experienced guide who will give you the history, rumour and facts on Georgetown and its citizens. The group will be accompanied at all times by a vehicle, which will be used for travel between areas of interest. Along the way visitors will sample local exotic fruits, snacks and refreshments. During the tour there is always the opportunity to purchase that unusual gift or unique Guyanese handicrafts, or for the daring the chance to delve into the gold and diamond market.
Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls
The Kaieteur Falls which was first seen by a European on April 29, 1870 is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur, one of the world’s natural wonders, flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge - a drop of 822 feet or 5 times the height of Niagara Falls.
There are no other falls in the world with the magnitude of the sheer drop existing at Kaieteur. Amerindian legend of the Patamona tribe has it that Kai, one of the tribe’s chiefs (after who the falls is named), committed self sacrifice by canoeing himself over the falls. It was believed this would encourage the great spirit Makonaima to save the tribe from being destroyed by the savage Caribishi.
Kaieteur supports a unique micro environment with Tank Bromeliads, the largest in the world, in which the tiny Golden frog spends its entire life and the rarely seen Guiana Cock- of-the-rock nesting close by. The lucky visitor may also see the famous flights of the Kaieteur Swifts or Makonaima Birds which nest under the vast shelf of rock carved by the centuries of water, hidden behind the eternal curtain of falling water.
The Orinduik Falls is where the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of solid jasper, a semi precious stone. With a backdrop of the rolling grass covered hills of the Pakaraima Mountains, this is truly one of the most beautiful locations in Guyana’s hinterland.
It’s name is derived from the Amerindian (Patamona) word, Orin, which is the name of an aquatic plant found in theses falls. The Ireng river forms the border between Brazil and Guyana. In contrast to Kaieteur, Orinduik is ideally suited for swimming and you will find natural Jacuzzi’s as the falls tumble down the steps of Jasper.
Guyana’s most popular day trip takes in both of these spectacular falls. The trip departs from Ogle Airstrip and lasts 7 to 8 hours with two hours spent on the ground at each water fall.
Condition of Sale :
- Flights to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls are operated on chartered aircraft and all flights have a minimum passenger restriction. Therefore, any booking to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls is subject to a minimum of 5 passengers being available to travel. In most cases we are able to fill flights, especially if scheduled for a weekend. However, in the rare case that we cannot meet the required numbers we will reschedule the trip to another day during your stay, if this is possible. Wilderness Explorers retains the right to reschedule a flight as a first option. If we cannot reschedule the flight Wilderness Explorers will guarantee a flight, with a minimum of 5 passengers, to Kaieteur Falls only or a combination of Kaieteur Falls and Baganara Island Resort. This means you see the major falls of Kaieteur, but miss Orinduik Falls.
- If a flight is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, we will endeavor to reschedule the flight during your itinerary. If this is not possible then a full refund on the flight will be made.
