Guyana: The Rupununi Savannah and its Ranches
15 Nights/16 Days
How to Book Your Birding Trip to Guyana
This tour focuses on the Iwokrama Forest and Rupununi Savannah, and includes visits to four remote savannah ranches. Whilst the accommodation might not be luxurious, there aren’t any special hardships, and the birding is extremely rich. Some of the birds we will look for are: Black Curassow, Marail Guan, Caica Parrot, Blue-cheeked Amazon, Red-fan Parrot, White-winged Potoo, Guianan Puffbird, Black-spotted Barbet, Guianan Toucanet, Green Aracari, Golden-spangled Piculet, Blood-coloured Woodpecker, Golden-collared Woodpecker, Waved Woodpecker, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper, Guianan Streaked Antwren, Spot-tailed Antwren, Todd’s Antwren, Guianan Warbling Antbird (recently upgraded to full species status), Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Rufous-throated Antbird and Rufous-crowned Elaenia. Other species we stand an excellent chance of encountering include Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Guianan Red-Cotinga, Crimson Fruitcrow, Dusky Purpletuft, Tiny Tyrant-Manakin, Black Manakin, Cayenne Jay and Golden-sided Euphonia.
Day 1 Arrival Guyana. Transfer to Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge.
Day 2 Kaieteur Falls/Orinduik Falls. We will fly over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest for a day trip to Kaieteur, the world's highest free-falling waterfall. At 228 metres, Kaieteur is nearly five times the height of Niagara Falls and here we can expect to find vast clouds of swifts which could include both White-chinned and White-tipped Swifts, as well as the Orange-breasted Falcons which hunt the swifts. There is a small lek (i.e. display ground) of the extremely colourful Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock nearby and we stand an excellent chance of seeing this species before re-boarding our plane for the flight to Orinduik Falls, one of the most beautiful locations in Guyana’s hinterland. Here the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of solid jasper, a semi precious stone, on its way to join the mighty Amazon River in Brazil. The last leg of our flight will take us back to Georgetown where we will arrive in the late afternoon. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B, L)
Day 3 Iwokrama Field Station. Following breakfast we will transfer by 4x4 through the rainforest to the Iwokrama Field Station, which is located on the banks of the Essequibo River. In late afternoon, we will take a walk on the Screaming Piha Trail. Some of the birds we hope to find include Cinereous Antshrike, Spot-tailed Antwren, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper and Guianan Toucanet. Overnight at Iwokrama Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Iwokrama Field Station. Making an early start, we will circumnavigate nearby Indian House Island by boat, where we are likely to see Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Black Nunbird and Black Skimmer. After breakfast, we will take a 20-minute boat journey to Turtle Mountain, where there are a number of interesting birds to look for including Black Nunbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Pygmy Antwren and Rufous-throated Antbird. In the late afternoon we will return to the Screaming Piha Trail, searching for species such as Spotted Antpitta, Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo and Guianan Red-Cotinga. After dinner, we will set out on the river again looking for nocturnal birds such as Great Potoo or Spectacled Owl. Overnight at Iwokrama Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Iwokrama Rainforest. This morning we will walk on the Woodcreeper and Greenheart Trails looking for species including White-plumed Antbird, Channel-billed Toucan, Spotted Puffbird and Guianan Red-Cotinga. After lunch, we set off along the dirt road which links Georgetown to Brazil, and where there is a chance of seeng the elusive Jaguar. After we reach Atta Rainforest Lodge, we will make our first visit to the nearby Canopy Walkway, which provides visitors with great views of the mid and upper forest canopy, and species such as Dusky Purpletuft, Waved Woodpecker, Spot-tailed and Todd’s Antwrens and Guianan Puffbird. After dinner, we return to the Walkway and hope to see the rare and poorly-known White-winged Potoo. Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Rupununi Savannah. We will return to the Canopy Walkway for the dawn chorus and additional species we could encounter include Purple-breasted Cotinga, Green Aracari and Caica Parrot. After breakfast, we will leave for the Mori Scrub, which is an area of white-sand forest that holds a number of special birds including Guianan Red-Cotinga, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Black Manakin and the extremely elusive Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo. As we travel to Rock View Lodge, the forests give way to the savannah grasslands of the Rupununi, which are to Guyana what the Gran Sabana is to Venezuela. The birdlife here is markedly different, and we may see Northern (Crested) Caracara, Black-collared Hawk and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture. There is a family party of Burrowing Owls close to the road and if we are lucky we can get great looks at them. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Rock View Lodge. Birds we may see on the grounds at Rock View include Glittering-throated Emerald, Black-crested Antshrike and Yellow-breasted Flycatcher. Nearby there is a trail which goes through some deciduous forest where we may find Green-tailed Jacamar, White-bellied Antbird and Finsch’s Euphonia. If we are extremely fortunate, we may also see the spectacular Toco Toucan or Orange-backed Troupial. We will also explore the nearby savannah grassland looking for Double-striped Thick-knee, Eastern Meadowlark and Red-breasted Blackbird and as the light fades we could see both Least and Nacunda Nighthawks. Overnight at Rock View Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Karanambu Ranch. After some early morning birding, we will make a short transfer across the savannah to Ginep Landing and the Rupununi River, and then travel by boat approximately two hours to Karanambu Ranch. We are likely to see a range of species along the river including Cocoi and Little Blue Herons, Jabiru Stork, Green Ibis, Muscovy Duck, Black-collared and Zone-tailed Hawks, Brown-throated Parakeet and Swallow-wing. We may see Giant River Otter, Black and Spectacled Caimans, and Red Howler, White-faced Saki and Squirrel Monkeys. At Karanambu, we are likely to be met by Diane McTurk, who is widely known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Karanambu Ranch. During our stay here, we will be birding in a wide range of habitats including savannah grasslands, gallery forest, woodland patches and oxbow lakes. Amongst the specialities we are unlikely to see elsewhere on this tour is the odd-looking, coffee-coloured Capuchinbird. Other species we will look for include Rufescent Tiger-heron, Pinnated Bittern, Sharp-tailed Ibis, Aplomado Falcon, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Green-tailed Jacamar, Black-chinned Antbird, White-headed Marsh-tyrant, Finsch’s Euphonia and Rose-breasted Chat. At certain times of year, there is a large breeding colony of Boat-billed Herons, Cocoi Herons and Great Egrets. After dark we can search for at least six species of nightjar and nighthawk including Nacunda, Least and Lesser Nighthawks, White-tailed Nightjar, as well as Double-striped Thick-knee. We may also see a Giant Anteater during our stay. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Manari Ranch. We will journey overland southward to Manari Ranch, stopping at certain wet areas along the road and visiting Pirara Creek. This should be an exciting day of unhurried travel and open-country birdwatching and we could see Pinnated Bittern, Jabiru Stork, Black-collared Hawk, Pearl Kite, White-tailed Kite and Ringed Kingfisher. After dark, we will head out onto the grasslands once again where we could see several species of night birds including White-tailed Nightjar and Pauraque. Overnight at Manari Ranch. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Makusi Village. After breakfast, we will resume our southward travel stopping at some marshy ponds where we are likely to see birds such as White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Lesser Kiskadee and Wattled Jacana, before continuing to Makusi Village. After settling in, we will take a walk to a shallow reedy pond to look for a variety of birds including Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Black-collared Hawk, Yellow-chinned Spinetail and Limpkin. In a nearby narrow strip of light forest we should be able to find Finsch’s Euphonia, White-bellied Antbird and White-fringed Antwren. Overnight at Mountain Point. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Dadanawa Ranch. We will spend this morning birdwatching around the pond and the nearby Sawariwau River before making the short trip to Dadanawa Ranch. After settling in here, we will travel eastward, looking for birds on several shallow ponds before reaching Towa Towan, a high, rounded outcrop of blackened granite with a Jabiru nest near the summit and a small pond at the base with dense mucca mucca, a giant Arum. We will look for a variety of species in the surrounding Curatella glades. Beginning at dusk, we are likely to be able to find various species of nighthawks which could include Least, Lesser and Nacunda. Overnight at Dadanawa Ranch. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Dadanawa Ranch. Leaving early morning, we will explore some of the ranch's outstations and several extraordinarily beautiful sites, with lightly forested mountainsides and high black domes. We are likely to see a variety of raptors and other open-country birds including Savannah Hawk, Plumbeous Kite, Northern (Crested) Caracara, Brown-throated Parakeet, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Plain-crested Elaenia and Finsch’s Euphonia. Our main objective, however, will be to locate the Red Siskin. This stunningly beautiful bird was discovered in Guyana as recently as 2000 and the populations here are now regarded as some of the most important known of this highly endangered species. We may also have time to visit some "bush islands," or isolated patches of heavier forest, which are home to a different range of species including Spotted Puffbird, Lineated Woodpecker, Black-crested Antshrike and White-bellied Antbird. Overnight at Dadanawa Ranch. (B, L, D)
Day 14 Manari Ranch/Lethem. We will have time this morning to explore riparian woodland and thickets near the ranch, as well as the muddy margins of a shallow pond and some paddocks that may contain standing water. New species we may see could include Buff-necked Ibis, Muscovy Duck, Spotted Puffbird and Cayenne Jay. After lunch we will retrace our steps to Lethem, birdwatching en route at several locations near the Takutu River. Overnight at Manari Ranch. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Georgetown. We will spend the morning birding before flying back to Georgetown, where we will have a tour of the city. After that, we will visit the beautiful Botanical Gardens where the trip's ornithological finale will hopefully be the Blood-coloured Woodpecker, an astonishingly colourful Veniliornis found only in the Guianas and even there almost wholly limited to the narrow coastal plain. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B, L)
Day 16 Depart Guyana. Transfer to Guyana's international airport for your departing flight. (B)How to Book Your Birding Trip to Guyana
Itinerary
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