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All set for 2009 Pakaraima mountains Safari
The annual safari to the Pakaraima mountains kicks off this month-end, and promises participants a chance to experience an adventure of a lifetime.
The safari is organised by Rainforest Tours in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. This year’s sponsors are the Guyana Oil Company and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.
The safari, which takes off on March 28, offers an ideal opportunity to establish links with communities across Regions Eight and Nine. The Pakaraima mountains have some of the most beautiful geological features to be experienced in the Guianas.
A scene from the 2008 safari
This frontier is blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna, and the rich history of our indigenous people is evident throughout the regions, the organisers say.
Amerindians in this part of Guyana are of the Patamona and Makushi nations, who from time immemorial have traversed the area on foot, climbing mountains and crossing rivers, plains savannahs and swamps to reach village after village.
Their journey has become a little bit easier with the construction of roads linking the two regions.
In the past these journeys took days and sometimes weeks. The men, women and children had no choice but to carry their belongings in warishis strung across their backs and tied to their heads.
This may seem adventurous and amusing to coastal people, but was a tedious task for the indigenous people.
The need for an access road linking the villages of Region Eight in the North Pakaraimas and the villages of Region Nine in the South Pakaraimas to Georgetown became a priority in March 2003. The first team was able to travel from Georgetown to Region Nine and then into Region Eight.
Some now have an option of transporting their produce via tractors or other means of transportation, now that there is a road link.
The safari takes the same route and ends at Orinduik Falls, which flows out of the Ireng River forming the border between Guyana and Brazil.
All transportation arrangements for the safari will be the onus of the participants.
Participants who are not desirous of travelling the entire journey overland can fly to Karasabai in Region Nine for the beginning of the official leg of the safari and return to Georgetown from Orinduik by aircraft.
These flight arrangements and expenses would be the responsibility of the participants, Frank Singh of Rainforest Tours told Kaieteur News.
From Karasabai, the safari will be guided by skilled personnel from the two regions involved. The regional facilities will be made available for sleeping.
However, Singh said it is best to pack items for outdoor sleeping, such as tents, sleeping bags, folding cots.
Permission for entry to Amerindian reservations will be arranged by Rainforest Tours. All participants of the safari are advised to be respectful of local cultures and to display a sense of discipline in Amerindian communities.
Cooked food might be on sale in small quantities in some reservations. However, those desirous of participating are being advised to take sufficient rations to last the entire journey.
Water for drinking and cooking should be taken in sufficient quantity, though creek water is an option.
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