Iwokrama

On my walk to the Iwokrama River Lodge, I passed children playing in sand for construction at the side of the road,

and jacaranda blossom on the ground,

then through primary rainforest

with its magnificent trees.

The lodge is built on the banks of the Essequibo river in an area previously used solely as a research and conservation station.

Nowadays, eco-tourism, along with sustainable logging, is the main income generator for the reserve, otherwise supported by funds from donor organisations.

There are wood and thatch huts set along the river front and guides lead walks and canoe trips through the reserve.

Iwokrama covers 371,000 hectares of tropical forest in the highlands of central Guyana, and was set up between 1989 and 1996 in a joint mandate between the governments of Guyana and the Commonwealth, to preserve the forests and manage sustainable resource utilisation in the reserve by local and adjoining villages. It's a truly remarkable area, typified by untouched forest, the Essequibo river and isolated hills which offer vistas over the miles of canopy.

Some of the birds, lizards and snakes you're likely to see.

Information board at the lodge.

Monkey ladders in the forest by the road.

Flowering plants in a dense forest.

For further information on rates, transport and activities, visit Iwokrama River Lodge

A double room costing US$185 includes the following:

All meals and accommodation in self contained cabin

Guide of the River Lodge

Qualified and experienced English speaking guides

Forest User Fee contribution towards the development of local communities in the North Rupununi and the conservation efforts of Iwokrama

For all the tours and activities, please click on the above link.

Surama eco-lodge

Walking twenty minutes through the savanna from the village, one reaches Surama eco-lodge, a local initiative supporting and employing the local community and serving as a catalyst for the protection of the region's forests and wildlife. It's one of several small lodges in the North Rupununi district of south-west Guyana, a benchmark for eco-tourism in Guyana, being named by National Geographic Traveler as amongst the best lodges in South America and winning the 2011 Excellence in Sustainable Tourism award from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

View from the lodge to the forested mountains.

Upstairs there's a viewing platform with hammocks, downstairs the dining area.

Local and natural materials are used, blending into the surroundings.

A star-fruit bush at the lodge, excellent for a refreshing juice.

Beauty all around.

Cabbages growing in the shade of palm leaves, in the lodge's vegetable garden.

Peppers, a must have in any Guyanan garden.

Okra, or Ladies Fingers, reflecting the African and Indian influence in Guyana.

Monkeys you are likely to see or hear in the area and in the forests of Guyana.

Cats of the North Rupununi and Iwokrama Forest. I was lucky to see a jaguar crossing the road in the beam of a pick-up at night as we drove from Surama up to Iwokrama.

For those who enjoy climbing.

Next time, I'll be back to use a local guide and explore the area around the Burro Burro river and the Pakaraima mountains.

Surama has an option of different packages, including accomodation, guides, meals, non-alcoholic drinks (excludes transportation to Surama), coming out at around US$100 per night per person. For example, a four day, three night Nature Tour package which includes canoeing on the Burro Burro river, rainforest, mountain and savanna walks and nature watching, a village tour and other activities costs US$332 per person (based on two people in the group). Discounts for larger groups. For further information, please visit Surama eco-lodge (email them to find out about packages and prices).