AS Guyana continues to celebrate Tourism Month 2023, the Guyana Tourism Authority has highlighted one tourist destination in the Rupununi River in beautiful Guyana.
Karanambu Lodge is a small settlement found on the banks of the Rupununi River in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). This settlement has a population of about 30 persons, according to a document received from the Guyana Tourism Authority.
“This settlement is unique simply because it is surrounded by villages of predominantly Macushi Indians, Karanambu also includes a watershed between the Amazon and Essequibo basins, along with important spawning and breeding grounds for a host of flora and fauna,” Sadie Cameron, GTA’s Marketing and Communication Officer shared via press release.
Information about the settlement shared also revealed that Karanambu is known for its mining, logging, and wildlife hunting and is under extreme threat of increasing degradation.
About Karanambu
The settlement of Karanambu was established in 1927 and, over the years, has remained a cattle ranch.
The Karanambu protected area is home to the healthiest population of Giant Anteater, providing visitors with successful sightings in over 90 percent of visits. This has inspired other nearby sites in North and Central Rupununi to offer a similar attraction and the development of giant anteater monitoring and community‐protected areas in the South Rupununi.
Tourists form a tourist cluster between Karanambu, Surama, and Rewa villages.
These areas have developed an internationally competitive and sustainable arapaima sport fishing project in the community of Rewa, which has increased income for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), preserved and protected Arapaima stocks, and improved quality of life for the village and surrounding communities.
The tourism authority has assured that as a member of the board, Karanambu has served as an executive member on multiple occasions and as president for multiple terms, substantively advocated for the creation of the Guyana Tourism Authority.
Cameron revealed that Karanambu has stewarded the development and implementation of mindful policies that prioritise support for community involvement in the tourism value chain and promote purchasing from local communities, have strengthened the link between conservation, sustainable tourism, and village economies, providing a financial incentive for continued support for eco‐tourism and conservation efforts.
The Guyana Tourism Authority is loud in praise for Karanambu as it is being celebrated as one of the success stories among the 2023 Green Destination programme.
Green Destinations is a Netherlands-based organisation working on the assessment, capacity building, and certification of destinations and businesses committed to sustainable tourism.
One of the pioneers of the project, Diane Mc Turk, because of her unwavering commitment to nature and wildlife, led the Karanambu to the Rupununi’s first conservation project in 1985.
Back in 1997, “The Karanambu pioneered Guyana’s first private protected area. This project’s unique focus extends beyond
conservation and emphasises community engagement, education, and inclusivity.
Green Destinations manages several global programmes through a core team of coordinators and programme managers. The organisation leads a global partnership of over 50 representatives, consisting of sustainable tourism experts, consultancies, and non-profit organisations; it works to benefit the Green Destinations community. More than 450 destinations and 50 businesses from 60 countries have participated in one of its programmes. Together with the Green Destinations Community and the association, the organisation aims to make tourism better and more sustainable.
