I had the privilege of staying at Karanambu Lodge a year ago April as part of a two week trip to Suriname and Guyana with five others including three longtime travel buddies . A nature trip was not my usual . As an art historian , my travels usually focus on art and architecture . This , however , looked like a fun and adventurous trip . Karanambu covers approximately 110 square miles of savannah , swamp , forest , and 30 miles of the Rupanuni River . I felt honored and humbled to be a guest in the realm of the late Diane McTurk , a conservationist and expert on giant otters as well as so many famous literary giants and naturalists including Gerald Durrell . The McTurk name and legacy continues today with Melanie , Ed , their family and dedicated staff , deeply committed to the environment and preservation of the wildlife that surrounds them .
22 | TOURISM GUYANA 2024
Our foursome came from Rock View at Annai where we were regaled by the legendary Colin and his family but most especially by Piccolo , the resident monkey . On he morning of April 10 , 2023 we took a hike in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains on the Panorama trail before packing up to head to Karanambu . I sprained my right ankle very badly and couldn ’ t put any weight on that foot . I was both afraid and in agony . The McTurk ’ s were alerted ahead of time . I thought to myself , “ Great , no one is going to want me there . My friends will leave me to go off and have fun and the hosts won ’ t have time to deal with me .” How very wrong I was .
From Rock View Lodge we drove about two hours to a boat that continued for another three hours . On arrival at Karanambu , Ed McTurk scooped me up out of the boat and placed me gently on
a seat in the truck to drive a short distance to the lodge . Lunch was brought to my bedroom . Melanie came in to check on me and brought me a soft boot to wear . She made it her business to see
Mel and Ed McTurk
that I was ok and to offer me help as needed . I breathed a sigh of relief . It was clear to me that things had to be done in a certain way “ to keep the clock ticking accurately ” and she was the one to run them . Her managerial ( and nursing ) skills weren ’ t lost on any of us .