The Ministry of Tourism plans to facilitate another Pakaraimas Mountain Safari based on the enthusiasm of adventurers who recently returned from the ninth safari that explored several pristine areas in regions eight and nine.
A convoy of 19 4x4s, three ATVs, a Land Rover and a motorcycle completed the 529-mile journey having left the city in the early hours of Saturday, April 2, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. “With spirits high, they journeyed on,” through roads made impassable due to recent rainfall, navigated rough terrain, forded rivers and creeks, got stuck in ruts along the trail and camped in tents and hammocks, all in pursuit of the ultimate thrill.
The convoy stopped at several villages such as Karasabai; Tipuru; Yurong Paru; Monkey Mountain; Tuseneng and Kato culminating at the Orinduik Falls where they were left enthralled at the water cascading over jagged jasper on the Ireng River at the border with Brazil. The adventurers also engaged several villagers, sampled indigenous beverages and of course ate cassava bread and presented gifts to the children.
Several of them were left exhilarated by the experience and vowed to join the next safari. This is the third time that Cecil Beharry, a Guyanese who lives in Jamaica, has participated in the safari. “I am looking forward to coming back next year with the same Land Rover or maybe a Toyota Hilux vehicle and I am looking forward to the rest of it. I must mention the camaraderie, the hospitality was fantastic, that is almost like a bonus to the Safari,” he said.
For Errol Van Lange, it has been “profitable…no drawbacks. I think we should encourage a lot more people to come.
We should have a lot more people doing this trip and enjoying Guyana.” Farham Haniff, a biker who has resided in Canada for 36 years said he had heard of the Safari and decided to give it a try. “It’s quite a tough ride because of the weather but overall it was very enjoyable. It’s an experience that I will always remember and I think it is one of the best kept secrets in Guyana and so I am encouraging anybody to try it but make sure the weather is good.”
“This is my fourth year on the Safari and for those four years this one was very enjoyable, it was the best. I am looking forward for another Safari as it offers me an opportunity to see some of the wonders Guyana holds,” Rudolph Johnson said. For Lauretta Gibberson, “It was a challenging ride, we bumped around a lot. We had to slide down a lot of hills and pull vehicles up using other vehicles but all in all it was an exciting couple of days and staying at the communities was really nice.”
In an attempt to bridge the two regions, the first attempt at a safari was made in 2003, an initiative of former Minister of Local Government Harripersaud Nokta. Since then, several links between communities in the two regions have been developed. Government also plans to help these communities realise their potential by allocating sums for building a road network.
The safari is a collaborative effort by the tourism and local government ministries, the Guyana Tourism Authority, the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL/CASTROL), Rainforest Tours, Air Services Limited, Geddes Grant, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, and the region eight and nine administration.
