New eco-tourism savannah tour launched
A new eco-tourism initiative, the Wet Savannah Drive, which involves adventurous two-day trips through the trails to explore indigenous communities, is set to begin on March 12.
The exploration activity, long a dream of Yarrowkabra resident Shane D’Andrade, was launched yesterday in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). The first official trip, which includes an overnight stay in Moraikobai in the Mahaicony, starts at Yarrowkabra, goes to St Cuthbert’s Mission, Mahaica Creek then to Moraikobai and Wiruni, Sand Hills and concludes at Linden.
D’Andrade, who owns a couple of motorbikes, said five years ago he started taking people on trips, especially during long weekends but he never had the resources to make it official. “There are many different trails but you just have to know which ones to navigate and we know the area well,” he told Stabroek News.
He loves the savannah so much that he bought a house at Yarrowkabra so he can make regular trips and even named his daughter Savannah.
He was thankful to his partner, Andre Lumelino, of Triple ‘A’ Automotive, who pushed him to make it official.
Director of the GTA Indranauth Haralsingh, in his address at the launch on the lawns of Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park, said he was pleased to be associated with the Wet Savannah Drive. He said the GTA was keen on promoting and opening up new areas in Guyana and looking for new trails that can be explored.
He recalled that in December after taking up the challenge and driving through the trails to the communities, he realized that Moraikobai is worthwhile as a tourist destination.
According to him, the Wet Savannah Drive and safaris that are conducted with Rainforest Tours help to create accessibility to the indigenous communities. The GTA is looking at ways for people to create more adventures by having getaways with their families.
These activities, he noted, would “help the communities to receive a lot of benefits as they promote community-based tourism.”
On his visit to Moraikobai, he was able to see the entire cassava bread production and he experienced how palm branches are stripped, boiled and made into craft. He also enjoyed a village tour and cultural activities that showcased the talents and the creativity of the people.
He said visitors would have the opportunity to go on boat or canoe trips at nights for wildlife spotting for giant anteaters, caimans and rattlesnakes as well as about 85 different birds.
The GTA is helping with capacity building and would be providing training for tour and birdwatching guides as well as training in catering and hospitality.
Haralsingh said they are looking to make a comprehensive list of about 300 species of birds that can be found in the community.
According to him, the trips would be a boost Moraikobai and other communities as visitors would be paying village fees for accommodation in the guest house or even in hammocks and for meals, tours, transportation and fishing and hunting trips.
He encouraged locals to take foreign visitors on the trips and said businesses can even organize tours to these locations, noting that there would be maps to guide them on their visits.
He said he will be working with Wet Savannah Drive to “explore options and opportunities for quick weekend getaways” and hopes that it would “not just be an exclusive for a few….”
Meanwhile, Toshao of Moraikobai Colin Adrian said the initiative is welcomed by the community as they had always wanted to promote tourism.
He was happy that the GTA recognized some of the tourist attractions. He said the GTA also advised them on what areas need improvement and they would go the extra mile to bring the community fully up to standard.
Adrian welcomes the capacity building training and hopes “to grab some of the opportunities to create jobs for the young people. Tourism has a lot of potential in the community…”