– dubbed “an adventure of a lifetime”

THE 12th Pakaraima Mountain Safari was launched last Friday by Minister of Tourism (ag), Mr Irfaan Ali and the 2014 Safari from April 12th to the 20th is expected to have more than 40 vehicles participating.
There are also plans to increase the participation of locals and promote Amerindian villages and community-based tourism.
This year’s safari is dubbed “an adventure of a lifetime” and is part of the ministry’s ‘Drive Guyana Imitative’ which is one of the most adventurous journeys across Guyana. The aim is to have a convoy of 40 vehicles, inclusive of motorbikes and ATVs, and participation will include persons from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela.
According to Mr. Frank Singh, organiser of the safari, “this year a new Pakaraima Mountain Safari Club will be launched as efforts are afoot to make the event more organised. Those desirous of joining the club will have to pay an annual fee of $25,000.
Singh told reporters “already 10 vehicles have registered with April 02 being the final day for inspections of vehicles which will cover between 529 and 600 miles during this year’s safari and there are quite a few requirements to which the vehicles have to adhere. Details on these requirements can be uplifted from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) office.
Participation of locals
Minister Ali excitingly said, “The difference with this year’s event is to ensure a wide participation of locals in the event. As such the GTA will be providing a 4×4 truck for 30 persons, a small fee will be attached but we have not yet made that public.”
He said “GTA and the ministry have discussed with Fly Jamaica to make packages available for the Jamaicans who may want to participate in this year’s safari and they have signalled their support.”
Ali was particularly passionate about the fact that the event will significantly promote Amerindian villages and Guyana’s very own community-based tourism. Participants will be provided with a list of items to be sold on the route.
The event is also set to coincide with the Rodeo celebration in Lethem, Region 9, affording participants both the option of returning to Georgetown for the Easter Monday celebrations or remaining in Lethem for the Rodeo.
Charter flights
There are also plans in place for persons who may want to join the safari after it has set out on its journey with scheduled flights by Air Services Limited (ASL) and charter flights.
Guyoil Castrol Brand is one of the major sponsors and has yet again indicated they will be providing fuel as well as oil and other products to assist in making this year’s Safari a success. Mr Leonard Khan, Castrol Brand Manager Guyana, said, “every year the company looks forward to supporting the safari because we are afforded the opportunity to give back to our drivers since they would have been utilising our products over the years and we also get an opportunity to support the Ministry of Tourism in its drive to build our tourism package for our country and lastly to have proof that the Castrol brand is the life of the engine.”

Also sponsoring the event this year is the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), which will be outfitting the entire team, Marketing & Distribution, and Mekdeci Machinery and Construction (MMC).

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)