Click on the sleepy Jaguar to return to Wilderness Explorers Home PageGuyana Photo Tour

      Back

Email us..

 






photos by
 & Wilderness Explorers

website developed in Guyana by

Please be patient - given the topic, there are a lot of images on this page!



Photographer's Tour

FotoNatura photographers travelling light

Wading through a creek for the best shot The Photographer's Tour is for the budding amateur photographer keen to sharpen skills and capture that perfect image. Led by a professional photographer from the Dutch company FotoNatura, the group will receive advice on all aspects of photography. FotoNatura have been photographing in Guyana for a number of years and have unbeatable skills in wildlife photography in particular.

This is how you get the "close up" of the Caiman

Day 1: Arrive in Guyana. Transfer to Georgetown hotel.

Day 2: Today photograph 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.

Overnight at Georgetown hotel. B.

Day 3: 0445 pick up at the hotel for transfer to Ogle airport.  Flight to Lethem, which is the largest town in the Rupununi savannahs. From there you will transfer by open backed jeep for a rough but exciting 60 mile trip through the savannah to Dadanawa Ranch. Your accommodation at Dadanawa is in the ranch guest house which stands high on stilts. B, L & D.

Photographers on jungle safari

Deep in the Southern Rupununi is Dadanawa Ranch, established in 1906 it is Guyana's largest and most isolated cattle ranch. A four to five hour jeep trip from Lethem across the savannah, following the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains, will lead you to the Rupununi River. Here the weathered ranch houses stand high on stilts to protect them from the flooding river during the wet season and offering unforgettable views of the red sun rising across the open savannah. You will find vacqueiros (cowboys) flying across the plains, barefoot in the stirrup in search of cattle - and jaguar venturing from the mountains in search of the same prey.

Meal time is a combination of beef grilled over a huge open pit barbecue and fresh vegetables. Unusual dishes with Amerindian and regional flavour include baked cassava, tasso and farine are offered. The people of the Rupununi still retain a hospitality long forgotten in other lands.

Day 4: Today you will experience the excitement of Guyana's largest working cattle ranch. Join the Amerindian vaquerios as they round up cattle or work them in the corral or take a more sedate horse ride along the banks of the Rupununi River. The evening meal will feature fresh beef from the ranch, prepared over a wooden fire. B, L & D.

Day 5: The real adventure starts today as you board a boat to begin your exploration of the Rupununi River. If the water level is low you will have to leave the boat at certain points and help portage the boat through the shallow rapids. The overnight camp will be at the Amerindian village of Sand Creek. Here you will enjoy the hospitality of the region and relax in the nearby creek after a hard days boating. B, L & D.

Day 6: Continuing on the Rupununi River the voyage will enter the Kanuku Mountains. The river divides the range into the East and West Kanuku's and the peaks rise up on either side of the river. The East Kanuku Mountains have been recognised by Conservation International as being one of the few remaining pristine Amazonian habitats. You will visit a farm set on the steep slopes of a mountain which is tended by Amerindian families from a nearby village. Here they grow corn, cassava, yams, mango and other fruit and vegetables. Tonight camp will be on the river bank. B, L & D.

Day 7: Today's travel on the Rupununi River will end as you reach Maparri River. This smaller tributary is rich in bird life with Macaw, Heron, Toucans, Parrots and raptors. Sometimes the boat will have to be pulled over fallen trees or paths cut around trunks too big to negotiate. The Maparri Wilderness Camp is set on the banks of the river looking straight onto a set of falls. The camp is a simple bush camp with hammocks, that is in keeping with the surrounding environment. Unlike the black waters of the Rupununi River the Maparri is crystal clear and you can see the sandy bottom, so the swimming here is excellent. B, L & D.

Day 8: Early risers will have the chance of spotting rarely seen wildlife like tayra or even a black jaguar. After breakfast it is time to explore the seeming endless series of small waterfalls that are fed by the steep mountain slopes. In the smaller falls you will be able to enjoy a natural Jacuzzi or for the more adventurous swimming the rapids. Tonight we will spot light the river in search of electric eels and black caiman. B, L & D.

Black Caiman hamming it up for the photographers (click to see large version of this image) Day 9: Today we will trek through the forest, it will be hard going up steep trails as we attempt to reach the summit of one of the nearby mountains. For those requiring less strenuous activities there is fishing or walks on the flatter trails along the river bank. B, L & D.
Day 10: Unfortunately today we have to leave one of Guyana's most remote and beautiful locations, but the consolation is the at the end of a day on the river you will reach Karanambu Ranch. Here clay brick huts with thatched roofs are the accommodation, and your first night back in a bed. B, L & D. Black Caiman hamming it up for the photographers (click to see large version of this image)
Black Caiman hamming it up for the photographers (click to see VERY large version of this image) Day 11 to Day 14:
Your hostess at Karanambu is Dianne McTurk, who is well known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters to the wild. Dianne normally has a couple of otters in residence and you can join her for bathing and feeding time in the Rupununi River. The otters are of such interest that crews from National Geographic and the San Diego Zoo have filmed here. Visits to Simoni and Crane Ponds as well as Simoni are all not to be missed as hundreds of ibis, heron, egret and anhinga come in to roost. B, L & D.

Day 15: After breakfast, transfer by boat along the Rupununi River to Annai Landing. Continue the journey by 4x4 into the village of Surama - a journey of 1 hour. Community tour of the village in the afternoon. Take a walking tour of the village, meet the village counsellors, visit the school and the Amazon Project. The Amazon Project is designed to give employment to the women of the community by growing cassava and then manufacturing food items. Overnight in the Guest House. B, L & D.

Day 16: Morning walk across the savannahs and up the rainforest covered Surama Mountain for fabulous views. Lunch atop the mountain. In the afternoon walk the three mile trail to the Burro Burro River. Overnight at the Burro Burro Camp. B, L & D.

Day 17: Dawn boat trip down the Burro Burro river. Chance to spot a variety of wildlife and birdlife including giant river otters, caiman and jabiru storks. After breakfast transfer to Iwokrama Rainforest Field Station. Introduction at the Field Station. Afternoon opportunity to walk some of the many nature trails with a forest ranger. B, L & D.

Day 18:This morning take an early morning boat ride on the Essequibo River for wildlife watching with an Iwokrama Ranger. After breakfast travel down river by boat and then walk through the rainforest to Turtle Mountain, which offers fantastic views over the canopy of the rainforest. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest. On the return trip visit Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyphs (dependent on water level). Then visit the small Amerindian village of Fair View before returning to the Field Station. Overnight at Field Station. B, L, D.

A little local help in focusing on the birds

Day 19: Early morning boat trip along the Essequibo River, with the chance to see assorted wildlife. Following breakfast take a wildlife walk near the Field Station with a ranger. Afternoon free. After dinner take a boat ride to spot caiman and other wildlife in the river after dark. Overnight at Field Station. B, L, D.

Day 20: Before dawn take a 4x4 along the road in search of jaguar, which are often spotted crossing the road. Return to the field station for breakfast. After breakfast take 4x4 back to Rock View Lodge. B, L & D.

Day 21: After breakfast, a charter flight to Kaieteur Falls, where 4 hours will be spent on the ground. 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 worlds 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.

Late afternoon return to Georgetown and you hotel for overnight. B & L.

Day 22: Depart Guyana.

Rupununi Super Model - Elle eat your heart out

Contact us for tour rates.