The Safari will now be officially known as The Pakaraima Mountain Safari.
The Pakaraima Mountain Safari Number 8 commences on Saturday,27th March 2010 at the Guyoil Gas Station on Regent Street and ends on the evening of Saturday 03 April,2010 at (Returns to Georgetown). This is the official leg of the Safari.

The Pakaraima Mountain Safari offers an ideal opportunity to establish links with Communities across Regions 8 and 9. The Pakaraimas have some of the most beautiful geological features to be experienced in the Guiana’s. This frontier is blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna and the rich history of our Indigenous people are evident through out the region.

This is an opportunity you will not want to miss.

CONTACT: Rainforest Tours
Frank Singh
Telephone: 231-5661
Mobile: 624-3298

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Roads linking the villages of Region 8 from Maikwauk to Monkey Mountain never existed. Similarly they were no access roads from Karasabai to Young Peru in Region 9. The villages of the Pakaraimas were land locked and the easy way to commute was by air, flights were accessible to those who were in close proximity to an airstrip. Amerindians living in this part of Guyana are of the Patamona and Makushi tribes who traversed the area on foot, climbing mountains, crossing rivers, plains Savannahs and swamps to reach village after village. These journeys took days and sometimes weeks, men women and children had no choice but to carry their belongings on Warishee s strung across their backs and tied to their foreheads. This may seem adventurous and amusing to the coastal people, but was a tedious task for the Indigenous people. The Amerindians, who primarily do farming, hunting, mining and fishing, suffered Social and Economic stagnation due to a lack of market for their produce. They live and survive by eking out their own subsistence.

Traveling in to the Pakaraimas from the coastal belt by chartered aircrafts is difficult as it is traveling out; hence you were either locked-in or locked out. Recognizing the need for an access road linking the villages of Region 8 in the North Pakaraimas, Karasabai in the South Pakaraima in Region 9 and to Georgetown was becoming a priority. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development started an exploration for a road link with the help of the residents of all the villages in locating a friendly terrain. Construction of an access road commenced and this venture utilized local labour and simple agricultural tools to clear the alignment. First it was a rough pathway traversed only by two tractors and trailers provided to Region 8 through central government. In December 2002, monies were available to complete the last portion of jungle access road from Morabaiko Creek in Region 9 to Young Peru, the last village.

On Saturday 22nd of March, 2003, a Safari with four Land Rovers, two tractors and trailers with passengers started a historic two and a half day journey from Karasabai to Orinduik. The Safari was led by Mr.Harripersaud Nokta M.P,Hon.Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, accompanied by Dr. Bheri Ramsarran M.P, Regional Chairman of Region 8, Regional Executive Officer and District Development Officers of Regions 8 and 9 along with the commander of the Lethem and Karasabai Police Stations and twenty-one other persons. Before the actual Safari began, there was a memorial service in Honour of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Residents in Karasabai constructed a monument honouring Dr.Jagan s contribution to the development of Regions 8 and 9.

Among those present at the service and the Safari were; The Prime Minister Hon. Samuel Hinds, Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues and other officials. Dr. Jagan is fondly remembered in this region for the Revolving the Heifer Scheme which was established in the 1960’s when he was Premier. The scheme is a process where one heifer was sent to a ranch; when the heifer delivers a calf, the heifer was sent to another village or ranch and this continued. Karasabai was one of the first villages to receive cattle from this scheme? Over the years the herd has developed and expanded and to date the village is still benefiting. The Journey was historic; travel in the region by road was not possible before, Mr. Nokta and his team was the first to traverse the completed road.