These are notes that I've put together to help people who want info. on wonderful Guyana.
In my quest as a biologist to see ’everything I’ve read about and seen on wildlife films’, I’ve been lucky to travel to quite a few places in the world and Guyana is, as we say in Wales, extremely tidy! In the interior, people are really lovely and trustworthy. The wildlife is stunning - mammals, birds, herps, butterflies and bugs. Never seen so many parrots/macaws in my life (and I’ve been lucky to see quite a few)!
Check out:
My Guyana wildlife albums (all of my images are geotagged): https://www.flickr.com/photos/hoppy1951/albums
Guyana Wildlife Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/groups/guyananature/
All my ground logistics were organised through a UK company Naturetrek by superb local agents, Wilderness Explorers: http://www.wilderness-explorers.com/
In November-December 2012, I spent over a month in Guyana. My first 2 weeks were with a small Naturetrek group and the second 2+ weeks solo and then alongside a small group of 8. Transport costs are horrendous in the interior, so shared travel is the only way to go, unless you are seriously wealthy, have a lot of time to hustle lifts by river, or are prepared to risk minibuses on the 1 dirt road running from north to the Lethem on the Brazilian border in the south.
Food everywhere was exceptionally good. All villages in the interior have free satellite Wi-Fi, courtesy of carbon-offsetting by Norway! $US accepted as = Guyana $
Brandt Guide is worthwhile: www.bradtguides.com/guyana.html.
My itinerary:
Georgetown – Cara Lodge (very nice place to stay), Botanical Gardens.
Arrowpoint - www.roraimaairways.com/wp/resorts/arrowpoint-nature-resort/ River. Ruby Topaz Hummer.
Kaeiteur Falls on route to Iwokrama - www.iwokrama.org/eco-tourism/iwokrama-river-lodge-and-research-centre/ Flight and road.
Atta Rainforest Lodge - iwokramacanopywalkway.com/atta-rainforest-lodge/ Road. Canopy walkway. Black Spider Monkeys, Cock of the Rock.
Surama - suramaecolodge.com/ Road. Capuchin bird. Howlers.
Rock View - rockviewlodge.com/ Road. Savannah birds e.g. Burrowing Owl, Double-striped Thick-knee.
Karanambu (then left 1st group) - www.karanambutrustandlodge.org/ River. Giant Anteater, Agami Heron.
Caiman House - www.rupununilearners.org/caiman_house/caiman_house.htm River. Giant River Otters and Black caiman capture research!
Atta – to join with 2nd group River then road.
Rock View- Road
Rewa - www.rewaguyana.com/ River. Bearded Saki, Sunbittern.
Karanambu - River
Caiman House - River
Kanuku Mountains rainforest camp - a real wilderness experience, bivouacking in hammocks, washing in the river with huge morpho butterflies fluttering around, burgundy goliath bird-eating spiders, oilbird, sungrebe and Harpy Eagles! - www.rupununilearners.org/r_r_drifters/contactus.htm River.
Caiman House - River
Maipaima - maipaimaecolodge.com/ Road
Lethem – Georgetown. Flight
Georgetown – Cara Lodge, Botanical Gardens.
Rainforest Photography
I used the brilliant Nikkor 300mm f/4 IF-ED AF-S FX with a Nikon TC-17E II X1.7 teleconverter, SB800 flash, a Better Beamer flash extender with/without a carbon fibre monopod and a lightweight ball-head. There are lots of tree trunks to help form a tripod, but watch out for bullet ants, nasty spines etc. first!
Camera and lens protection are important, especially during tropical downpours (even in the 'dry' season) and small boat travel. I use neoprene camo sleeves as impact protection (www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk/retail/acatalog/Neoprene_lens_cover_sets.html) and an all-in-one camera lens cover to protect from water and dust (www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk/...-in-one-camera---lens-cover---Reversible.html). I sure there are plenty of suppliers of similar products.
Useful contacts:
1. My local guide for the first couple of weeks was Wally Prince. He’s an the outstanding guide, research biologist and all round great guy. [email protected]
2. Leon Moore, excellent young Guyanese guide. My guide at Atta, but now freelance: www.facebook.com/leon.moore.923?fref=ts and www.facebook.com/pages/Leon-Moore-Photography/702332319838720?pnref=lhc
email: [email protected]
Leon & Wally co-operate to run journeyguyana.com/
Hope this helps. If I can help in any other way, just ask.
Pob lwc!
Allan
In my quest as a biologist to see ’everything I’ve read about and seen on wildlife films’, I’ve been lucky to travel to quite a few places in the world and Guyana is, as we say in Wales, extremely tidy! In the interior, people are really lovely and trustworthy. The wildlife is stunning - mammals, birds, herps, butterflies and bugs. Never seen so many parrots/macaws in my life (and I’ve been lucky to see quite a few)!
Check out:
My Guyana wildlife albums (all of my images are geotagged): https://www.flickr.com/photos/hoppy1951/albums
Guyana Wildlife Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/groups/guyananature/
All my ground logistics were organised through a UK company Naturetrek by superb local agents, Wilderness Explorers: http://www.wilderness-explorers.com/
In November-December 2012, I spent over a month in Guyana. My first 2 weeks were with a small Naturetrek group and the second 2+ weeks solo and then alongside a small group of 8. Transport costs are horrendous in the interior, so shared travel is the only way to go, unless you are seriously wealthy, have a lot of time to hustle lifts by river, or are prepared to risk minibuses on the 1 dirt road running from north to the Lethem on the Brazilian border in the south.
Food everywhere was exceptionally good. All villages in the interior have free satellite Wi-Fi, courtesy of carbon-offsetting by Norway! $US accepted as = Guyana $
Brandt Guide is worthwhile: www.bradtguides.com/guyana.html.
My itinerary:
Georgetown – Cara Lodge (very nice place to stay), Botanical Gardens.
Arrowpoint - www.roraimaairways.com/wp/resorts/arrowpoint-nature-resort/ River. Ruby Topaz Hummer.
Kaeiteur Falls on route to Iwokrama - www.iwokrama.org/eco-tourism/iwokrama-river-lodge-and-research-centre/ Flight and road.
Atta Rainforest Lodge - iwokramacanopywalkway.com/atta-rainforest-lodge/ Road. Canopy walkway. Black Spider Monkeys, Cock of the Rock.
Surama - suramaecolodge.com/ Road. Capuchin bird. Howlers.
Rock View - rockviewlodge.com/ Road. Savannah birds e.g. Burrowing Owl, Double-striped Thick-knee.
Karanambu (then left 1st group) - www.karanambutrustandlodge.org/ River. Giant Anteater, Agami Heron.
Caiman House - www.rupununilearners.org/caiman_house/caiman_house.htm River. Giant River Otters and Black caiman capture research!
Atta – to join with 2nd group River then road.
Rock View- Road
Rewa - www.rewaguyana.com/ River. Bearded Saki, Sunbittern.
Karanambu - River
Caiman House - River
Kanuku Mountains rainforest camp - a real wilderness experience, bivouacking in hammocks, washing in the river with huge morpho butterflies fluttering around, burgundy goliath bird-eating spiders, oilbird, sungrebe and Harpy Eagles! - www.rupununilearners.org/r_r_drifters/contactus.htm River.
Caiman House - River
Maipaima - maipaimaecolodge.com/ Road
Lethem – Georgetown. Flight
Georgetown – Cara Lodge, Botanical Gardens.
Rainforest Photography
I used the brilliant Nikkor 300mm f/4 IF-ED AF-S FX with a Nikon TC-17E II X1.7 teleconverter, SB800 flash, a Better Beamer flash extender with/without a carbon fibre monopod and a lightweight ball-head. There are lots of tree trunks to help form a tripod, but watch out for bullet ants, nasty spines etc. first!
Camera and lens protection are important, especially during tropical downpours (even in the 'dry' season) and small boat travel. I use neoprene camo sleeves as impact protection (www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk/retail/acatalog/Neoprene_lens_cover_sets.html) and an all-in-one camera lens cover to protect from water and dust (www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk/...-in-one-camera---lens-cover---Reversible.html). I sure there are plenty of suppliers of similar products.
Useful contacts:
1. My local guide for the first couple of weeks was Wally Prince. He’s an the outstanding guide, research biologist and all round great guy. [email protected]
2. Leon Moore, excellent young Guyanese guide. My guide at Atta, but now freelance: www.facebook.com/leon.moore.923?fref=ts and www.facebook.com/pages/Leon-Moore-Photography/702332319838720?pnref=lhc
email: [email protected]
Leon & Wally co-operate to run journeyguyana.com/
Hope this helps. If I can help in any other way, just ask.
Pob lwc!
Allan
