 |
| Day
One |
We leave Santa Elena by jeep and drive
for about 2 to 3 hours to reach Pareitepuy which is
our starting point for the hike. After registration
at the indian chiefs house and Inparques (National Park
Office) we will hike for about 4 to 5 hours to get to
the Kukenan river. There is 2 refreshing river crossings
and some 30 minutes of stronger uphill walking. The
river crossing at Kukenan river depends on the water
level and can be dangerous! The rocks are extremely
slippery.
If the weather and sight are good we will enjoy the
views of Mount Roraima, Kukenan and many other tepuys
that form the Guyana shield along the way. The terrain
is open savannah mainly.
Dinner at the campsite.
|
|
|
| Day
Two |
| Just after breakfast a long uphill walk starts.
According to the season we might hike across complete
fields with thousands of orchids.
There is 2 hours of good uphill and another 2 to 4 hours
of hiking today before we reach the base camp with running
water coming from the top of " the ever fruitful
mother of the streams - Roraima".
The indian name is adequate as Mothers water feeds the
Amazon,Orinoco and the Essequibo,
the 3 biggest streams in South America!
|
|
|
| Day
Three |
We
slept just at the outside of a thick and lush belt of
humid cloud forest that surrounds the tepuy. After breakfast
it will take us about 2 hours to cross this thick and
beautiful jungle with many neo tropical plants such as
bromeliads, tree ferns and helicons; another 2 hours of
ascent along the ramp on big rocks to reach the top of
the plateau, some might think they have just landed on
the moon, exhausted but what a surprise ! Lunch at campsite
and in the afternoon time for an exploration stroll on
this island in time.
|
|
|
| Day
Four |
The plateau of Roraima is around 70 skm
big,
you could spend weeks on top of it. Strange formed rock
formations, bizarre, flesh eating endemic plants (drosseras)
and black dinosaur looking frogs, after breakfast we
will find our way through this labyrinth of black lichen
tainted rocks and hike for the whole day. We will reach
the valley of the crystals, the obelisk monument Triple
point (border of Venezuela - Brazil Guyana), no passport
required there ! and will hike on to " el Pozo"
, a natural water pit with a small cave system below it, , oh
and if you see a monkey eating an ice cream, an over dimensional
piano or smoking camel, things like that are normal
here, remember we are on the moon of some other galaxy.
Truly Fantastic ! Around 8 hours of walking, lunch on
the way, dinner in the camp. |
|
|
| Day
Five |
Time for some last photographs of the plants
and views and then we start hiking down, saying good-bye
to the giant flying turtle and all the othe r strange
impressions. We will hike to Rio Tek (around 6 to 8 hours),
mostly strong down hill, A refreshing swim in the cool
river will be a supreme reward after the days long trek.
Lunch on the way and dinner will be at the camp. |
|
|
| Day
Six |
| After breakfast it is still some 3 to 4
hours back to Pareitepuy where cold beers and icy refreshments
await us, also be aware, the people of Inparques will
check everybody for crystals and other stuff you are not
supposed to pick up or collect on the mountain. Our jeeps
will drive you back to Santa Elena. |
|
*
|
 |
|
