THOUGH being only its second time, the South Rupununi Safari has been described as a pleasant success. The event, which saw a total of 50 persons participating, included delegations from Suriname and Trinidad, as well as one participant each from Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and Holland.The convoy left Georgetown in the wee hours of November 26, as they started the journey along the East Bank of Demerara heading to the mining town of Linden, then into Guyana’s rough but welcoming terrain leading to the South Rupununi, in Region 9. The event culminated on Saturday evening.

With much to see and explore, the participants, most of whom were on this expedition for the first time, were in awe of Guyana’s vast landscape and scenic views. Despite the obstacles at times, it all added to the adventure and thrills of what a safari should offer.
What was even more surprising to the participants was the warm traditional welcome they received at each Amerindian village they stopped at. These villages included Shea, Maruranau, and Aishalton. At Shea, the ‘Shea Rock’, which is often mistaken for a small mountain, evoked a lot of interest. Participants were able to see wildlife species including many birds.
During their stops, the participants were pleasantly surprised as they were greeted with cultural groups dressed in traditional wear and performing songs and dances. At each of these villages participants of the safari were given guided tours as the residents sought to showcase their produce, including art, craft and food.
The children of these villages in return were presented with gifts from the safarians who interacted with residents in several other villages, including Dadanawa and Achuwib.

However, still looking for more of Guyana’s rich culture, the safarians headed to Lethem on Saturday evening to be part of the grand Rupununi Expo. Both the Rupununi Expo and the South Rupununi Safari are events for Tourism Awareness month 2014.
At the Expo, the first timers were treated to the annual pageant, traditional dances, songs, arts, craft and local cuisine.
A few participants said they signed onto the event for the experience and were not disappointed. Some even promised to make this event a part of their yearly activities.
Meanwhile, summing up the safari, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh said given the feedback from participants, it was successful, and 2015 should be bigger in terms of participation. He also pointed out that the Rupununi Expo 2014 was also a success as there was a large turnout by tourists and locals.
One of the highlights of this event was the second Rupununi Business Forum which was facilitated by the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Conservation International. Haralsingh said Conservation International signed an agreement with the GTA which will see the establishment of a Visitors’ Information Centre in Lethem, Region 9.

This facility will be temporarily located at the Conservation International Office until a permanent site is located. This centre is intended to provide foreigners with information on Guyana’s tourism products and services.

The second South Rupununi Safari, the Rupununi Business forum and the Rupununi expo were some of the activities which marked the conclusion of Tourism Awareness month 2014, which ended on November 30. Some of the other activities included the Annual Tourism Awards, the Duck Curry competition, and the inaugural ‘Restaurant Week’. (GINA)