About the Rupununi

The Rupununi Savannahs are found in the south central Guyana is one of the most beautiful areas in Guyana, and one of the richest in biodiversity. This is the largest administrative region of Guyana but is inhabited by only 20,000 people!

This area is criss corssed by rivers of different sizes and majesty, surrounded by forest and is bisected by Kakaku Mountains. The Kanakus divide the savannahs into the north, which is inhabited by the Makushi Amerindians and the South, which is inhabited by the Wai Wai and the Wapishana Amerindians. Part of the reason for the richness in biodiversity in this region is because the area is a watershed for both Amazon and Essequibo catchments. As a result, the giants of El Dorado can be found here, including:

Giant River Otter
Black Caiman
Harpy Eagle
Anaconda
Capybara
Arapaima
Giant River Turtles
Giant Anteater
Jaguar
Giant Armadillo

Getting there

Guyana is quite easy to get to, with several carriers and routes. The main ones, plus a few off beat ideas are below. Flight prices vary dependant on route and carrier, but somewhere between US$800.00 to $1000.00 on average.

· BWIA from Heathrow to Guyana, daily flights, with a change in Trinidad or Barbados.
· Caribbean carriers including, Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, and Surinam Airways.
· Caribbean Airlines from Toronto, New York or Miami.
· You can do the same route to Cayenne in French Guiana from Paris, which Air France fly regularly, then Surinam Airways to Guyana.
· Direct flights from the UK to Caracas, Venezuela, then either flights to Boa Vista in Brazil followed by a one hour flight into Guyana, or overland through Venezuela and Brazil and then onto Guyana, or a combination.
· If you are taking in some Brazilian highlights too, you can route via Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, with flights or overland routes to Manaus, Boa Vista, then on into Guyana.

Georgetown to the Rupununi

There are scheduled flights from Georgetown to interior locations. You can land at Annai for Rock View Lodge, Karanabu or Lethem air strips for Karanambu lodge and Caiman House. Call Trans Guyana Airways to confirm schedule and rates at (592) 222-2525

Intraserv Bus service makes regular routes at a safe and reliable manner and reasonable rate. Contact them at (592) 226-0605

Internal tour operators

Or call an internal tour operator to do it all for you!

Torong Guyana
56 Coralita Avenue
Bel Air Park, Georgetwon
(592) 225-0749
toronggy@networksgy.com

Wilderness Explorers
176 Middle Street
South Cummingsburg, Georgetown
(592) 227-7698, 226-2085
tony@wilderness-explorers.com

Links to sites about Guyana

Lonely Planet
Iwokrama
Smithsonian Guianas
Guyana Tourism GTA