Guyana offers a fabulous richness of wildlife, unsupassable by any of its South American neighbours.
On this dedicated bird watching tour we use some of the new luxurious lodges near the coast in pristine forest settings, and in the south, several ranches offer comfortable quarters close to varied and interesting savannah habitats. We also plan camping expeditions to truly remote areas of the interior.
Guyana birdwatching tour itinerary
The tour starts with a flight over the Demerara and Essequibo rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to Kaieteur - the world’s highest free-falling waterfall, and Orinduik Falls.
We then head off deep into the interior by 4wd to Iwokrama International Centre. Explore the rainforest with a local ranger.
Some of the birds we will hope to find at Iwokrama are Blue-cheeked Parrot, Crimson Topaz and Guianan Toucanet. Overnight at Iwokrama Field Station.
Explore the rainforest locally.
Before and after breakfast this morning we walk on Woodcreeper and Greenheart Trails, near the Field Station. Drive to nearby jungle canopy walkway, 35 metres up through the treetops. Observe the wildlife and birdlife from this amazing perspective, sleep in a hammock camp – ready for the dawn chorus.
Early morning boats trip and then we head to Mori Scrub, characterized by an unusual low, sandy forest. This supports an interesting assemblage of bird species, among them Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Black Manakin and Red-shouldered Tanager. Afternoon drive across Rupununi Savannah grassland with termite mounds and scattered woodland and a very different type of birdlife. Overnight at Rock View Jungle Lodge
Nearby patches of light forest are home to antbirds and flycatchers, and of course the grasslands support an avifauna of their own. We explore the area on foot, and as the afternoon cools we travel a short distance for birdwatching in the Pakaraima foothills.
Next we travel by canoe up the Rupununi River to Karanambu Ranch. This is the home of Diane McTurk, widely known for her work rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters. In woodland patches or gallery forest along the river we hope to find such species as Spotted Puffbird, Striped Woodcreeper and Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch.
Early birdwatching exploring Karanambu and its varied habitats, travelling by boat and Land Rover to forest patches. Double-striped thick-knees are among the sparse inhabitants of the grasslands, and at widely scattered ponds we may find concentrations of storks and other waterbirds. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch.
After breakfast we journey overland southward to Manari Ranch, stopping at certain wet areas along the road, visiting Pirara Creek and having lunch at Pirara Ranch. This should be an exciting day of unhurried travel and open-country birdwatching, with many herons, storks and raptors.
After breakfast we resume our southward travel as we set out for Lethem, the Rupununi’s principal town, situated just across the Takutu River from Brazil, before continuing toward Dadanawa Ranch, the largest ranch in Guyana, covering 1700 square miles. After settling in we take a walk to a shallow reedy pond and narrow strip of light forest nearby.
We spend this morning birdwatching around the pond and visiting the nearby Sawariwau River. After lunch we make the short trip to Dadanawa Ranch. After establishing ourselves here we travel to Towa Towan, a high, rounded outcrop of blackened granite with a Jabiru nest near the summit. We look for certain flycatchers in surrounding Curatella glades and in late afternoon we hope to see nighthawks on the wing and witness the roosting of Yellow-crowned Parrots.
We make an all-day trip to some of the ranch’s outstations and several extraordinarily beautiful sites, with lightly forested mountainsides and high, black domes. We should see a variety of raptors and other open-country birds, but our particular object is the Red Siskin. We may visit a “bush island”, or isolated patch of heavier forest, home to an interesting aggregation of bird species.
We explore riparian woodland and thickets near the ranch, as well as the muddy margins of a shallow pond and some paddocks that may contain standing water. After lunch we retrace our steps to Lethem, birdwatching en route at several localities near the Takutu River.
Morning birding on the savannah and along the river before flying to Georgetown. This afternoon we take a tour of the city and conclude at the botanic garden.
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