By Naveen Kirpalani
Chiung Falls in Kato Village
Growing up in the capital city , I ’ ve always had a yearning to connect with nature . About two years ago , I was finally able to turn this dream into a reality – albeit a reality that actually felt more like a dream ! Over the past two years , I ’ ve been blessed to realize my passion for nature through numerous off-roading trips into Guyana ’ s rich hinterlands – truly unlocking Guyana ’ s beauty , and in the process , gathering a multitude of experiences worth a lifetime .
Guyana ’ s true wealth exists in its interiors . From the rollingRupununi savannahs , to the peaks and cascading waterfalls of the North Pakaraima mountains , Guyana is a haven for the nature loving adventurer . For the adrenaline seeking traveler , the rigorous and challenging trails of the deep North Parkaraimas is indispensable . Perhaps the most exhilarating in Guyana , this trail takes you from Region 9 into Region 8 through a plethora of scenic beauty . On this journey , you climb countless mountains , drive through rivers and creeks , pass breathtaking waterfalls , connect with rich and diverse flora and fauna , and visit several isolated indigenous villages – home of Guyana ’ s first peoples .
But don ’ t underestimate this trail – it ’ s not for the faint of heart ! You literally drive through no-man ’ s land where signs of mankind are nonexistent for several hours on end , and where you truly lend yourself to the forces of nature . To say the journey is challenging is a severe understatement . Navigating steep rocky terrain , clearing foliage on slush covered rainforest paths , driving onthe edge of narrow mountain ridges , all through dynamic weather conditions ,
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Leaving Kato on the old trail