Guyana's Savannas

Arrive in Georgetown and meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. As the capital of Guyana, this vibrant city is known for its unique wooden colonial architecture and lively garden-city atmosphere. Check into your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day to explore the city at your own pace. You stay overnight in Georgetown.

Early this morning, you transfer to the airport for a flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers, soaring over hundreds of miles of tropical rainforest. After landing at Lethem, you travel across the savannah to Karanambu Lodge, a 110-square-mile former cattle ranch in the North Rupununi. This area was the home of the late Diane McTurk, a world-renowned expert on giant river otters, and remains a primary habitat for giant anteaters, black caiman, and over 600 bird species.

Late in the afternoon, you board a boat to search for wild giant river otters along the river. As dusk falls, you visit nearby ponds to witness the Victoria amazonica, Guyana’s national flower and the world’s largest water lily, bloom in the evening light. On the return trip, your guide uses spotlights to find black caiman and other nocturnal creatures before you overnight in a traditional clay brick cabin.

With both the river and the savannah at your doorstep, you enjoy a variety of activities tailored to your interests and the season. Itineraries at Karanambu are flexible and typically feature two guided excursions each day. You often head out at dawn and again in the late afternoon to take advantage of the best wildlife viewing hours.

You travel across the rolling grasslands to track giant anteaters as they forage among termite mounds or explore the Rupununi River by boat in search of family groups of giant river otters. Your days may include fishing for Peacock Bass at Simoni Pond, walking forest trails to spot the elusive Agami Heron, or boating through flooded forests to witness the diversity of the wetlands. Each evening, you visit nearby ponds to watch the Victoria amazonica water lily bloom at dusk before spotlighting for black caiman and nocturnal birds on your return. You overnight in traditionally crafted clay brick cabins where you can relax on your private veranda and soak in the history of this renowned conservation site.

After breakfast, you have the option to choose from a boat trip on the river, a visit to nearby ponds, a trail walk, or a Land Rover excursion into the savannah to explore a bush island. Following this activity, you transfer by boat on the Rupununi River to Ginep Landing. This stretch of river is home to several family groups of Giant Otters, providing an excellent opportunity for sightings depending on water levels. From the landing, you continue by vehicle through the savannah and the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. You may spot Jabiru Storks and various savannah birds before the landscape transitions into the rainforest.

As you travel the only north-south road in Guyana toward the Iwokrama River Lodge, keep a watch for the elusive Jaguar, as well as Agouti, Tapir, and Black Curassow. The Iwokrama Rainforest is a vast protected wilderness of one million acres within the Guiana Shield, managed in partnership with the local Makushi people. Upon arrival, you can explore the surrounding trails with a ranger to seek out species such as the Guianan Red Cotinga, Capuchin bird, and various monkeys, including Red Howlers and Black Spiders. After dark, you head out onto the river by boat to search for four species of caiman, tree frogs, and nocturnal birds like the Spectacled Owl and Zigzag Heron.

After making an early start, you travel by boat around Indian House Island on the Essequibo River before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Afterward, you depart by boat, birdwatching along the riverbanks as you head toward the trailhead for Turtle Mountain. A well-maintained forest trail leads to a summit of 935 feet. The hike takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes, offering views over the forest canopy and opportunities to spot Green Aracari, White Bellbird, or various eagle species. The trail is also a frequent haunt for Black Spider and Red Howler monkeys. If you prefer a less strenuous morning, you may opt for an alternative boat trip to Stanley Lake to search for Giant River Otters and Black Caiman.

As the afternoon cools, you depart by boat to visit Kurupukari Falls to view ancient Amerindian petroglyphs, depending on local water levels. Later, you explore the forest trails surrounding the lodge with an Iwokrama Ranger to observe the diverse flora and fauna of the reserve.

You start the day with a vehicle transfer through the reserve, keeping a close watch for wildlife along a stretch of road famous for sightings of Guyana's six cat species. Your destination is Atta Rainforest Lodge, the site of the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Here, you traverse four suspension bridges and three platforms, reaching heights of over 30 meters for a unique perspective of the forest mid-story and canopy. After experiencing the walkway, you return to the lodge for lunch.

Your afternoon continues with a drive toward Rock View Lodge, including a stop at Corkwood. You take a short trail through pristine rainforest to search for the brilliant Guianan Cock-of-the-rock and learn from your guides about the traditional medicinal uses of various forest plants. You eventually arrive at Rock View Lodge, situated where the savannah meets the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. The grounds feature tropical gardens and a swimming pool, attracting a variety of nectar-feeding birds. You can spend the evening relaxing in a hammock on your private patio before dinner is served under the mango trees.

set out at dawn for a hike along the Panorama Trail in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. As the sun rises over the savannah and distant villages, you search for bird species such as the Cinereous Mourner, Finsch’s Euphonia, and Yellow-billed Jacamar. Following the hike, you transfer by vehicle to the Macushi community of Surama. Upon arrival, you receive a warm welcome and join a local guide for a tour of the village, visiting the school, medical center, and several village houses to learn about the community-owned conservation model.

After lunch in the village, you return to Rock View Lodge for an afternoon focused on local traditions. You observe the labor-intensive process of roasting and cracking cashews, watching as the nuts self-ignite while the acid burns off, and sample the freshly roasted results. You also have the opportunity to see how local handicrafts are made and try your hand at the techniques yourself.

Note: Cashew season typically runs from November through February or March.

The morning is yours to enjoy birding around the lodge grounds or to relax in a hammock before breakfast. A vehicle transfer then leads to the Lethem airstrip for a scheduled flight over hundreds of miles of tropical rainforest. After landing at Eugene F. Correia International Airport, a private transfer provides transport into Georgetown for a hotel check-in.

Later in the afternoon, a trip to the Georgetown Botanical Gardens offers the chance to find the Blood-colored Woodpecker, a vibrant species almost entirely limited to this coastal plain. The gardens also host Snail Kites, Gray Hawks, and Festive Parrots. Trails at the back of the property lead to sightings of the White-bellied Piculet and Ashy-headed Greenlet, and there is an opportunity to take a break from birding to feed the manatees in the garden ponds. The day concludes with a return to the hotel.

Enjoy a final breakfast before your transfer to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for your departing flight, carrying a wilderness of memories with you.