BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Guianan Cock-of-the-rock
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Crestless Currasow
Photo: Ian Thompson






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Crested Doradito
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Ornate Hawk-eagle
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Guianan Red Cotinga
Photo: Dubi Shapiro






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Grey-winged Trumpeter
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Pompadour Cotinga
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Hoatzin
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Rufous Crab Hawk
Photo: Kamal






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Golden-headed Manakin
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Doradito Marsh
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Orange-breasted Falcon
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN White-naped Xenopsaris
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Long-tailed Potoo
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Red-fan Parrot
Photo: Kester Clarke






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Black Nunbird
Photo: Marc Chrétien






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Red-necked Woodpecker
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Giant Anteater
Photo: Waynan Allicock



Guyana


5 - 22 February 2025


Guyana really offers something special - a South American country with Atlantic coast and a richness of unexploited and relatively unexplored habitats, including vast areas of rain forest. A land not so many birders have travelled in. The Guianan Cock-of-the-rock is one of the emblematic birds of the region, that together with Capuchinbird, Harpy Eagle and about 70 endemic bird species makes Guyana an interesting destination. We will do boat excursions, visit the mighty Kaieteur Falls and get plenty of time to to get to know the native people during our tour. Our local bird guides are native and most of the lodges we stay at our natively owned and run. Among the Guyana´s ”Shield endemics”, we will aim for Spotted Puffbird, the almost bizarre Capuchinbird, Red-and-Black Grosbeak, Guianan Red Cotinga, Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo, Crimson Fruitcrow, Rufous Potoo, White-winged Potoo, Crested Doradito, Bearded Tachuri, Sun Parakeet, Red Siskin and Rio Branco Antbird to mention but a few target birds.

Day 1
Arrival to Georgetown (probably in the evening). We land at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, some 40 km south of Georgetown. We will be met up by our local host and taken to our comfortable hotel in the outskirts of town.
Dinner and night at Cara lodge Hotel. This night´s dinner is not included in the price.

Day 2

We start our Guyana-tour by heading east along the Atlantic coast to look for Scarlet Ibis on the coastal mudflats. We continue to Mahaica where a boat will take us out on the river where Hoatzins and a lot of other local birds are available; Rufous Crab Hawk, Black-collared Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Long-winged Harrier, Barred Antshrike, Silvered Antbird, Striped Cuckoo, Little Cuckoo, Green-tailed Jacamar, Golden-spangled Piculet, Mangrove Rail and Mangrove Cuckoo. Depending on the tide some herons, terns and waders can be seen here too.

After lunch and a well earned mid day rest, we visit Georgetown Botanical Gardens - a green area with lawns, ponds and trees. Here we hope for Blood-colored Woodpecker, White-bellied Piculet, the almost ugly looking, little Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Southern Beardless- and Yellow Tyrannulets, Lesser Kiskadee, Black-capped Donacobius, Yellow Oriole, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Wing-barred Seedeater, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Black-collared Hawk and most likely several Snail Kites. In the treetops we look for parrots like Red-shouldered Macaw, Orange-winged-, Yellow-crowned- and Mealy Amazons, with some luck even Festive Amazon, a scarce species threatened by illegal collecting and trade. If the trees are in bloom we should see hummingbirds like Black-throated Mango, White-chested Emerald and Plain-bellied Emerald.
Dinner and night at Cara lodge, Georgetown.

Day 3
After breakfast in a decent hour we head to the domestic airport to catch a chartered flight to the spectacular Kaieteur Falls - supposedly the highest falling single cascade of water in the world - although relatively unknown. An unbroken fall of 228 meter is higher than the Niagara falls and beats even the Angel Falls in Venezuela (that is split up in several steps and cascades). Here we try to get a glimpse of White-chinned- and White-tipped Swifts swirling around in front of the fall. This is where we have our first chance to see Guianan Cock-of-the Rock too. The endemic and rare Golden Tree Frog is to be found inside bromelias that collect rainwater around the viewpoints. After about two hours by the mighty falls, we board the plane again and fly the short way to Fairview Village where we get into land driven vehicles a tiny bit further to Iwokrama River Lodge right in the heart of Guyana’s rainforest. We have lunch and get installed and can have some free time to get aquainted with the area, the big lawns and the Essequibo River that runs just next to the bungalows. Pied Lapwings, Black-collared- and White-winged Swallows should be some of the first birds for us. Other species to look out for here are Spotted Antpitta, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Ringed- and Waved Woodpeckers, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-necked- and Green Aracaris, Guianan Toucanet and mammals like Red-rumped Agouti - a hare-like rodent. This is a delightful place with comfortable bungalows with a river view and we will enjoy our stay here for three nights and do short walks and excursions across and beyond the river.
Dinner and night at Iwokrama River Lodge.

Day 4 - 5

Don´t be surprised if you wake up to the pre-dawn-chorus of Spectacled Owl or Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon. Today we start our quest of exploring the impressive surroundings with the unique rainforest eco-system of the Guyana shield. The Guyana-shield is a two billion year old pre-cumbrian bedrock shield stretching from Colombia in the west to north Brazil in the east and supposedly the oldest of its kind on earth (wikipedia). Here the fauna and flora of the Amazon and Guyana meet and create a biodiversity among the richest in the world.

We will cross the river in boats and bird our way along a sandy road and simply identify everything that comes in our way and also look into a patch of sand forest where different species might occur. In the afternoon we walk the trails around the lodge to look for Capuchinbirds and hope they are in mood for leking. Just to hear their calls is a unique experience in it´s own right.

One of these days we take the boat upstreams the Essequibo-river to Turtle Mountain. We will walk the main trail taking us uphill to Turtle Pond and a wonderful view over the rain forest. The hike to Turtle Mountain goes through pristine rainforest where a number of birds are possible: Red-and-black Grosbeak, Golden-sided Euphonia, Orange-breasted Falcon, Blue-and-yellow- and Scarlet Macaws, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Tiny Tyrant-Manakin, Cinnamon Attila, Black-chinned Antbird, Amazonian Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, Sunbittern and mammals like Brown-bearded Saki Monkey. The walk is a bit strenuous but there are rails on the more steep part of the trail and the reward is the spectacular view - a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Maybe a King vulture will fly by, Swallow-tailed Kite, Short-tailed Hawk or Red-and-green Macaws can also be around, whilst mammals will be represented by Red Howler Monkey and Black Spider Monkey. We return to River Lodge for lunch and in the afternoon you can choose between more birding in the habitat by the lodge or to just relax on your veranda. What we wish for on the walks is to come across some army ants along the trail, that attract Antbirds, or even Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo, Spotted Antpitta or Red-billed Woodcreeper.
After dinner we take a short walk on the road to look for Owls, nightjars and other nocturnal animals like snakes and bats. Bring a good head lamp.
Dinner and night at Iwokrama River Lodge.

Day 6
After an early breakfast we say goodbye to Iwokrama to bird our way towards our next destination; Atta Lodge. Along the way we look carefully for birds like Dusky-throated Antshrike, Chestnut-rumped- and Plain-brown Woodcreepers, Brown-bellied-, Gray- and White-flanked Antwrens, Cinereous Antshrike, Channel-billed Toucan and Yellow-throated Woodpecker. With a good portion of luck maybe even Amazonian Pygmy-Owl. The birding along this road is known to be really good. In a patch of sandy forest we look for Black Manakin, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Cinnamon Attila, not far away we try for Rufous Nightjar and Blackish Nightjar. Jaguars move in this area but are of course very hard to see.

Where we can scan through the canopies we should see a good blend of Parrots, not least the different looking Red-fan Parrot, but also Dusky Parrot, Red-and-green Macaw, Caica Parrot or even Blue-cheeked Amazon and Painted- and Golden-winged Parakeets. Forest edges are the right habitat for Woodpeckers and Lineated-, Waved-, Yellow-tufted-, Golden-collared- and Cream-colored Woodpeckers are all possible. Green-tailed- and Paradise Jacamars, Rufous-rumped Foliage-Gleaner, Guianan Shiffornis, Grey-winged Trumpeters, Black Curassow, and more. What we really wish for here though are top birds like Guianan Red Cotinga or the reddish hummingbird Crimson Topaz, often snapping insects in late or early hours. We will arrive to the slightly more basic Atta Lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon we start to explore the surroundings and at dusk we might make a first attempt to see the mysterious White-winged Potoo.
Dinner and night at Atta Lodge.

Day 7
To spend a night at Atta Lodge is like spending a night completely surrounded by nothing but nature and all the sounds of it. A lovely experience. After dawn we visit a ”Canopy walkway”, where we have the chance to see some tree top species. Species we look for are Guianan Puffbird, Dusky Purpletuft, Paradise Tanager, Opal-rumped Tanager, Guianan Toucanet, Green Aracari, Painted Parakeet, Screaming Piha, Black-headed Parrot, Todd’s Antwren, Spot-tailed Antwren, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Golden-sided Euphonia, Purple Honeycreeper, Black-faced Dacnis and Black Nunbird.

The whole morning is dedicated to the canopy walk and other trails around the lodge. Fruting trees can attract a wealth of species and the area is known for its colourful birds like Pompadour Cotinga, Purple-breasted- and Guianan Red Cotingas, as well as spectacular Crimson Fruitcrows. The surroundings of the lodge hold species like Red-legged- and Variegated Tinamous, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Cayenne Jay, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, Red-billed Woodcreeper, Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Waved-, Chestnut- and Red-necked Woodpeckers, as well as Black Spider Monkey and White-faced Saki Monkey.

After lunch we bird our way through the Iwokrama forest. There are more good birds to see around here like Swallow-winged Puffbird, Rose-breasted Chat, Guianan Trogon, and more. Jaguar and tapir roam the area as well. After dusk we look for Potoos, and several species are possible here; White-winged-, Rufous-, Great-, Common- and Long-tailed Potoos, plus Spectacled- and Crested Owls. Be aware that these are all difficult to see-birds and it all comes down to the right circumstances to see them.
Dinner and night at Atta Lodge.

Day 8 - 9
Early start in 4x4 vehicles to reach the leking site of the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. After that we bird our way towards Surama Eco-Lodge. Depending on how the morning birding went we have lunch on arrival or before departing. Surama is situated in a more open habitat with smaller copses of forest. Forest walks here can produce Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo and Rufous-throated Antbird. After lunch we look for Great Potoo on a day roost. We also look especially for Little Chachalaca, Grassland Sparrow, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, Forest Elaenia, White-throated Toucan, Fork-tailed Palm-Swift och Finch’s Euphonia. The open areas here are good for Raptor watching and the bushy grasslands offer easy walks and other new species. If water levels are right we try for the notoriously difficult Ocellated Crake in the evening. After dusk we drive dirt roads through the grasslands to look for White-tailed Nightjar, Least Nighthawk, Lesser Nighthawk and Owls like Tropical- och Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl.
Dinner and night at Surama Eco-Lodge.

Day 10

Today we spend time visiting the best areas for Harpy Eagle. A 30-minutes drive takes us to ”the Harpy nature trail”. It´s a flat walk through rain forest that leads to a Harpy territory and potentially a nesting site. All depends if there´s an ongoing breeding in the nest. Previous visiting groups have been able to enjoy views of adult Harpys arriving to the nest with prey like parrots or small mammals like monkeys or Agoutis to feed their offspring. If the nest is active it’s worth spending time to wait for delivery.
The hike through the forest often produce other birds like Woodcreepers, Antbirds and other good stuff.
The afternoon is spent around the lodge where more good birding can be found. Once again we hope for Antsworms attracting Antbirds and some other good birds. Capuchinbird, Red-legged Tinamou, Black-spotted Barbet, Green Aracari, Black-necked Aracari, Guianan Toucanet, Green-backed Trogon, Marail Guan, Red-throated Fruitcrow, Golden-collared Woodpecker, Spotted Puffbird, Yellow-throated Flycatcher, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper, Eastern Slaty Antshrike, Tiny Tyrant-Manakin, Golden-headed Manakin, Rufous-throated Antbird, White-plumed Antbird, Scale-backed Antbird, Spotted Antpitta or even Crimson Fruitcrow or Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo.
Dinner and night at Surama Eco-Lodge.

Day 11

The tour goes on towards the Rupununi Savannah. We will see wetlands with birds like Herons, Ducks, Jabiru, try for the difficult Pinnated Bittern, Great-billed Seed-Finch, Bicolored Wren, Grey Seedeater, Grassland Yellow-Finch, Yellowish Pipit, White-fringed Antwren, Crested Bobwhite, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, colourful Orange-backed Troupial, and handsome Aplomado Falcon. This is also the territory of Giant Anteater in the open landscape. Small puddles can hold Azure Gallinule, White-faced Whistling-Duck, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, White-browed Antbird, Buff–breasted Wren, Pale-tipped Inezia, Blue-backed Manakin, Striped Woodcreeper or even Undulated Tinamou. An evening excursion can give us views of White-tailed Nightjar, Spot-tailed Nightjar, Nacunda-, Least- and Lesser Nighthawks.
Dinner and night at Rock View Lodge.

Day 12
After a start with good brazilian coffee we take 4x4 -jeeps out on the Rupununi-savannah again. We will scan the open landscape and it´s wetlands thoroughly for Bearded Tachuri, Sharp-tailed Ibis, Yellowish Pipit, Pinnated Bittern, Brazilian Teal, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bicolored Wren, Double-striped Thick-knee, Burrowing Owl and Maguari Stork. We also visit the place where the rare and very local Crested Doradito recently was discovered. Around here are the best chances to see Giant Anteater and the also very local Savannah Fox. In the afternoon we make a boat excursion on the Rupununi River. Depending on the water levels we try to reach an area for Lesser Razor-billed Curassow.
Here we also look for Green-and-rufous- and Amazon Kingfishers, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Agami- and Capped Herons, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Pied Lapwing, Boat-billed Heron, Common Potoo, Band-tailed Nighthawk, Bare-necked Fruitcrow and Spot-breasted Woodpecker. The river is the home to animals like Giant River Otter, Capybara, Black Caiman, Spectacle Caiman, several monkey species and snakes like Emerald Tree Boa and Amazonian Tree Boa that comes out to hunt in the evening.
After our sundown-experience we enjoy a nice dinner at Rock View Lodge.

Day 13

We continue our journey towards Karassabai Village, an isolated village between the Rupununi Savannah and the Pakaraima Mountains along the Brazilian border. Here our full focus is on the endangered Sun Parakeet. In the 1990´s it was on the brink of extinction when local people took action to stop illegal catching of and trading with these attractive birds. From as few as seven (!) individuals the conservation efforts and activities have lead to an increase of about 300 birds. Karassabai is far beyond the beaten tourist tracks and only offers a humble guesthouse for accomodation, but hospitality is good and we will enjoy the local, hearty, well-cooked food for lunch. We will see some other birds during the day but Sun Parakeet is definitely our main target. After lunch we leave Karassabai to reach Manari Ranch near Lethem in the afternoon, to rest and rewind with some short walking around the lodge.
Dinner and night at Manari Ranch.

Day 14
Today we leave the lodge really early at about 03.00 to drive a slowly winding, traffic-less dirt road through an open, hilly savannah-like landscape some 90 km with several spontaneous birding stops. We might scan small wetlands for Maguari Stork, Brazilian Teal, White-tailed Hawk and Double-striped Thick-knee, plus Bearded Tachuri. Along the way we pass Amero-indian societies with traditional villages reminding us how far down into South America we have reached. Here we meet up with local Guianan guides who have studied the rare Red Siskin - a species encountered in Guyana as late as the year 2000. Red Siskin, Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin and Sharp-tailed Ibis are all three top target species for birders and we will focus on finding these birds. In the process we will also see birds like Little Chachalaca, Black-collared Hawk, Amazonian Scrub Flycatcher, Plain-crested Elaenia, Pale-tipped Inezia, Brown-crested Flycatcher, White-naped Xenopsaris, Burnished Buff Tanager, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Glittering-throated Emerald, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Hooded Tanager, Vermilion Flycatcher and Flavescent Warbler. We will enjoy a local lunch at Dadanawa Ranch before we go back to our last night at Manari Ranch.
Dinner and night at Manari Ranch.

Day 15
A last early morning for birdwatching, this time along the rivers Takatu and Iring. Once again our 4 by 4´s will come in handy since we will visit a slightly inaccessible area where the two poorly known species, Hoary-throated Spinetail and Rio Branco Antbird breed. These two species are our first aim, then we spend the rest of the morning in different habitats within reach, in dry desert as well as rich wetlands. Here some more good birds are to be found and maybe even some new to the trip. Pinnated Bittern, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Masked Duck, Maguari Stork, South American Snipe, Pied-billed- and Least Grebe, Crested Bobwhite, Pearl Kite, White-tailed Kite, Savanna Hawk, Aplomado Falcons, Brown-throated Parakeet, Red-bellied Macaw, Pale-legged Hornero, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Sooty-capped Hermit, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-bellied Piculet, Black-crested Antshrike, Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet, Yellow-olive- and Ochre-lored Flatbills, Vermilion-, Short-crested- and Fork-tailed Flycatchers, Yellowish Pipit and Orange-backed Troupial. With some good species on our list we can start to wind down for a last lunch at the lodge before we take the internal flight from Lethem back to where we started the tour - Georgetown.
Dinner and night at Cara lodge, Georgetown.

Day 16

Homebound flights from Georgetown.

Tour leader: Daniel Green
Local guide: Kenneth

The journey is a collaboration between Birdsafarisweden and Karlmark Travel. (Karlmark Travels holds the travel warranty insurance that covers this trip)

When: 5 - 22 February 2025

Price: 70.700 SEK/person (excluded international flight) We offer to book you the air-ticket. It´s important for us to arrive at the same time.

Single room suppl.: 4.500 SEK

Note! the price of this tour can be adjusted due to currency changes and increased local costs. Smaller adjustments of the tour dates can also sometimes be necessary but will be communicated when it's time to book flights.

Included: Full board accommodation in double room, English spoken tour leader and local bird guide the whole trip, all transports, all entrance fees to national parks and reserves.

Not included: Air ticket, transfer to the airport, insurance, alcohol, souvenirs or other personal expenses, tips, etc.


Max number of participants : 12

Application fee: When you´ve applied we send you an invoice on 3.500 SEK, when that is paid you are guaranteed a seat on the tour.

Other: This is a "mixed group" trip where Swedish- and English-speaking travelers are welcome.





booking form / interest


BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Spotted Puffbird
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Capuchinbird
Photo: Kester Clarke






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Harpy Eagle (male)
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Bearded Tachuri
Photo: Cal Martins






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN White-winged Potoo
Photo: Mark Sutton






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Sun Parakeet
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Red-and-black Grosbeak
Photo: Nick Athanas






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Black Hawk-eagle
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Blood-coloured Woodpecker
Foto: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Guianan Puffbird
Photo: Airse Gartner






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Black Currasow
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Crimson Fruit-crow (female)
Photo: Waynan Allicock






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Rio Branco Antbird
Photo: Josef Widmer






BIRDSAFARISWEDEN Rufous Potoo
Photo: Waynan Allicock