Tourism Guyana 2022/23 | Page 70

The Mighty Jaguar @ Matt Hallet
By Iwokrama International Centre
Taramandua ( c ) Shara Seelall
Located in the center of Guyana , and referred to as the “ Green Heart of Guyana ”, the Iwokrama Forest is one of five protected areas in Guyana and homeland to the Makushi people who have used the forest for generations . The Iwokrama International Centre manages this 371,000H a Forest to show that conservation , wise use , sustainable businesses and research are key to sustainability and real community benefit .
This protected area is famous for its extraordinary biodiversity and home to some of the world ’ s largest animals referred to as the “ Giants of El Dorado ”. They include the Giant River Otter , Black Caiman , Harpy Eagle , the Arapaima ( the world ’ s largest freshwater scaled fish ), the Capybara , Giant River Turtle , Anaconda and South & Central America ’ s largest cat- the elusive Jaguar can be found there .
Join us , support conservation and our sustainable businesses by visiting the Iwokrama Forest – described as one of the last frontier forests , come explore the tropical rainforest for the chance glimpse of one or more of 130 species of mammals , 150 species of reptiles and amphibians , 420 species of fish , and 86 species of bats . With more than 450 bird species including some of the rarest species such as the crimson topaz , cappuchin bird , orange-breasted falcon and Guinan cock-of-the-rock , the forest is a mustvisit destination for birders .
To ensure you are well-positioned to enjoy your adventure , a visit to our world-rated Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is a must . Suspended 100ft above the forest floor are three walkways that extend to four platforms which allows you to have a bird ’ s eye view of the forest . A trip to Turtle Mountain offers a diverse landscape and river experience that will bring you closer to the Giant River Otters , turtles , and offer another view of the forest from above with the possibility of seeing spider monkeys .
Our experienced tour guide Marcy will
68 | TOURISM GUYANA 2022