Pakaraimas Safari through rough terrain starts March 27
THE eighth annual Pakaraimas Safari will start March 27 and continue through April 3, following its formal promotion on Monday at the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) office, in Sophia, Georgetown.
An ongoing effort to sell Guyana as an adventure destination, the expedition takes participants across Regions Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), more specifically into the Pakaraima mountain range which is mainly inhabited by the Patamunas, one of this country’s nine indigenous peoples.
The journey, that will take those taking part into the village of Karasabai and to the magnificent Orinduik Falls, has been organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, GTA and Rainforest Tours, with sponsorship by Air Services Limited (ASL), Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T), Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) and Geddes Grant.
Guyanese and visitors alike can indulge and expose themselves to the diverse habitats, forest, trails, rivers, streams, breathtaking falls and mountains travelling through 10 indigenous communities, camping out in the open, cooking outdoor and, generally, interacting with nature, in the process making new acquaintances.
Managing Director of Rainforest Tours, Mr. Frank Singh, who was involved from the inception, said the safari is now part of the tourism arena and, every year, it is getting bigger and bigger.
He disclosed that, this year will, for the first time, have people from overseas participating, including from Jamaica, Trinidad and England.
Singh said there is a checklist of things which they and their vehicles need to have and there will be an final inspection of them on March 25, at 13:00 h at the take off venue, Guyoil Service Station, Regent Street, also in the city, to ensure they are properly outfitted with all the necessary requirements.
He said, beginning in the capital, the convoy will head to Karasabai, then to Monkey Mountain and Kato before arriving at its Orinduik destination, over a total of eight days, four days going and four returning, driving 529 miles.
Singh said within the group, there will be a medical team from the Ministry of Health to provide service if needed and ASL would have an aircraft on standby in case of emergency, with adequate communication, too.
The safari would not have been possible without the contribution of major sponsors and, once again, Guyoil Castrol is a major sponsor.
Castrol Brand Manager, Mr. Leonard Khan said his company views this as an ideal opportunity to lend support to the local tourism drive because the event captures huge attention not only locally but overseas.

HIGH QUALITY
He said Guyoil is the sole distributor of Castrol and a trip of this nature, going through rough terrain, requires that high quality lubricant.
Another supporter of the venture for a number of years, as well, is ASL and its representative, Ms. Annette Arjoon said, apart from the standby aircraft, they will also be donating t-shirts, caps and some educational materials to all the communities they transit.
“We think that this safari has tremendous potential for the development of community and adventure tourism and we remain committed and supportive,” she assured.
GT&T Marketing Officer, Ms. Renatha Exeter, whose company is also no stranger to the adventure, said the utility is proud to be associated with it, once more, as it is always a pleasure to get involved and partner with organisations which promote clean fun and entertainment.
“Therefore, I think this adventure is something that is different, something that we want to support and continue to support,” she stated.
Exeter wished those making the trip and the organisers success and a safe journey.
GTA Director, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh said the other sponsor, Geddes Grant will be supplying some of the canned products and expressed his hope that there will be a lot more sponsors next year.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad acknowledged the presence of former Minister of Local Government and Regional Development and safari pioneer, Mr. Harripersaud Nokta, thanking him for all the efforts and pioneering work he did over the years.
“I can safely say that, without him, there, probably, would have been no Pakaraima Mountain Safari,” Prashad said, recalling that, in the early days, there was no real connection between Regions Eight and Nine and people had to trek on foot.
He suggested that Nokta put in a book his thoughts about his exciting adventures in the Pakaraimas, noting that he was fortunate to be on one.
Thanking the sponsors for their contribution, Prashad also challenged others to sponsor persons from the media to go on the safari.
“I think, apart from what the Ministry is doing, the sponsors should get the media involved because, without the media, we wouldn’t get the kind of promotion we need to capture all those exciting moments along the trail.
“So, if it is possible, we can, probably, help to coordinate a vehicle or two for the media and do all the work with it and, maybe, the sponsors can come in and sponsor the cost,” he offered.
Prashad said the Pakaraima Mountain Safari is a big thing, which is attracting more and more people, not only adventurous Guyanese but Guyanese from all walks of life.

REAL BEAUTY
He also encouraged some corporate businesses to come on board and be a part of the safari, to see what they are contributing to and the feeling they would get when they discover the real beauty of Guyana.
Prashad forecast this year’s activity will be as wonderful as the previous ones and pointed out that, two years ago, for the first time, bikers took part in the expedition, breaking new ground.
To date, 18 vehicles have been registered for the trip, each having capacity for between four and five passengers but the organisers are catering for a minimum of 30 vehicles and two ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) are already on board.
A registration fee of $10,000 is charged for each vehicle and other persons who would like to be part of the voyage can pay $140,000, individually, which includes the cost of flying back to Georgetown from Orinduik.
The Pakaraimas Safari is easier facilitated because of the completion of the road to Orinduik, as, previously, there were no roads linking the villages of Region Eight from Maikwak to Monkey Mo
untain.
Similarly, there were no access routes from Karasabai to Yurong Paru in Region Nine and the villages of the Pakaraimas were landlocked and the easy way to commute from them was by air.
Recognising the need, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, headed by Nokta then, developed the project that cut a roadway to connect the regions.
First it was a rough pathway traversed only by two tractors and trailers but, in December 2000, funding was made available to complete the last portion from Morabaiko Creek in Region Nine to its last village, Young Peru, resulting in the safari being able to travel from Karasabai in Region Nine to Orinduik Falls in Region Eight.
Those wishing to participate in the expedition can contact Rainforest Tours, at Lot 232 Middle and Camp Streets, in Georgetown, too, or on telephone number 231-5661.