– participants on 535 miles journey can expect ‘an adventure of a lifetime’
DRIVERS and vehicles participating in a rescheduled Pakaraimas Mountain Safari took part in a final gathering at the GUYOIL Gas Station in Regent Street, Georgetown yesterday prior to the start of the 535 miles journey which gets underway at mid-night tonight. Activities at the gathering included the inspection of participating vehicles and the placement of stickers of the Safari Logo and brand signs of some of the sponsors, in the presence of Officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).
The Safari, the ninth one to be organized by the Tourism Ministry, GTA and  Rainforest Tours, had  been pushed back from last week Saturday due to the heavily swollen state of many of the rivers along the route between Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo)and  Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni).
“Heavy rains had made many of the rivers impassable. We had to postpone the Safari to give the vehicles a better chance at reaching the mountains and getting out back,” explained one of the organizers, Mr. Frank Singh of Rainforest Tours.
He added that a start this weekend seems to be a good choice since  contact persons in both Regions 9 and 8 had reported a cessation of  heavy rainfall and the consequent drop in river levels.
In the rescheduled safari, twenty five vehicles, twenty of them 4×4 Land rovers/cruisers, four ATVs and one motorcyclist (a first timer from Canada) will drive/ride from Georgetown, through Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice), Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and up to Orinduik in the heart of the Pakaraima mountains in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni).
More vehicles are expected to join the Safari along the way.
The Pakaraimas Mountain Safari is an annual adventure tourism event and has been successful to the extent that Tourism Minister, Mr. Manniram Prashad, recently announced that organizers have decided to hold a second safari this year and to hold two Safaris instead of one annually, from next year and onwards.
The tentative date set for the second Pakaraima Mountain Safari 2011 is in August.
The Minister had also expressed his pleasure that the communities along the route have benefited economically from all the Safaris to date.
He said: “The development of the area along the route has been tremendous. We normally take things to the village and we urge the Safarians to buy also and the whole idea is that the local communities can benefit economically from the event.”
This safari will last for eight days.
Participants are expected back in Georgetown on the 9th of April.
Meanwhile it was disclosed that Mr. Harripersaud  Nokta, M.P and former Minister of Local Government and Regional Development will be launching a book on the Safari named ‘Genesis of the Pakaraima Mountain Safari: The Road, a Patamona Dream’ at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, at 18:00 hrs today.