Micobie is a picturesque Amerindian settlement two hours outside of Mahdia, which can only be accessed by climbing what are among the steepest and most dangerous hills in Guyana or via the Potaro River. The village was named after the lizards that once frequented the area but are seldom seen today.
A large percentage of the 618 residents are of the Patamona tribe. It was not surprising therefore to learn that the name of the village means lizard in the Patamona language. Micobie is said to have been in existence for over 50 years. The very first people to have settled at Micobie originally lived obliquely opposite, across the Potaro, at Tumatumari. Their village had fertile, thriving farms and a beautiful beach, but this all changed when people began mining in the area, leading to the destruction of community life as well as damage to the beach.
Though they moved to what is known as Micobie a little more than 50 years ago, the people kept their farms at Tumatumari and would take their boats across the river every day to tend to them. There was also once a Guyana National Service training base at Tumatumari.
