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Aerial view of Rupununi Savannah with red dirt road, wetlands, and forested mountains under cloudy sky Giant anteater foraging in Rupununi grasslands, Guyana wildlife eco-tourism destination Cowboys roping cattle at traditional rodeo in Rupununi Savannah with spectators in grandstand Aerial view of lush green Kanaku Mountains peaks covered in dense tropical forest under cloudy sky in Rupununi Harpy eagle perched on tree branch in Rupununi savannah forest canopy against blue sky Aerial view of Rupununi Savannah wetlands with winding rivers, flooded grasslands and scattered forest patches Starry night sky with Milky Way over silhouetted trees and distant horizon glow in Rupununi Savannah Three horseback riders overlooking vast Rupununi savanna grasslands with mountains in distance Calm river reflecting clouds and sky with dense rainforest along both banks in tropical wetland
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Travel to Rupununi Savanna

Tropical Grasslands Between the Amazon and the Kanuku Mountains

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Location Overview

Rupununi Savanna

Tropical Grasslands Between the Amazon and the Kanuku Mountains

In southwestern Guyana, the Amazon rainforest breaks open into approximately 13,000 square kilometers of tropical grassland rolling toward the Brazilian border, framed by the Iwokrama forest to the north and the Kanuku Mountains bisecting the region east to west. The open plains are dotted with granite outcrops, gallery forests, and wetland basins that flood each rainy season, shared by giant anteaters, jaguars, giant river otters, and harpy eagles alongside an estimated 500 bird species. The Wapishana and Makushi peoples have lived here for thousands of years, and working cattle ranches from the early 1900s host visitors at lodges along the Rupununi River. During peak floods the headwaters of the Essequibo and Amazon drainages meet at a low wetland divide near Pirara, linking Guyana's savanna to the greater Amazon basin.
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Ecovoyager Experiences

Rupununi Savanna Tours

Handcrafted expeditions into the remote corners of Rupununi Savanna — led by local experts, designed for the curious traveller.

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Experiences

Things to Do in Rupununi Savanna

Starting points for your perfect trip

01

Giant Anteater Tracking by Horseback

Ride out with Wichabai Ranch vaqueros at dawn to find giant anteaters foraging for termites in the open grasslands before the heat of the day. Horseback allows slow, quiet approaches, and ranch researchers share what they know about individual animals tracked over years.

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02

Giant Otter Boat Expedition from Karanambu

Spend a day on the Rupununi River with Karanambu Lodge guides searching for the giant otter family groups studied here for decades. Diane McTurk hand-reared more than 40 orphaned cubs over four decades, establishing Karanambu as one of the world's most important sites for giant otter research.

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03

Arapaima Catch and Release Fishing at Rewa

Rewa Eco-Lodge runs a community-managed catch-and-release arapaima fishing programme that has restored the local population to more than 4,000 individuals. Fly-fish or conventional tackle for fish over 6 feet long in ox-bow lakes near the Rewa River.

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04

Makushi Village Visit

Spend time in a Makushi community learning traditional crafts, fishing methods, farine processing, and the seasonal rhythms of savanna life. Overnight stays in village guesthouses support community tourism, and elders share stories of how the Rupununi has shifted across generations.

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Accommodations

Where to Stay in Rupununi Savanna

Ranch and river lodges hosted by conservation-focused families across the North and South Rupununi

Karanambu Lodge

A McTurk family ranch on the Rupununi since 1927, known for giant river otter rescues, anteaters tracked by vaquero scouts, and Victoria amazonica lilies that bloom at sunset.

Wildlife Birding Giant Otters Anteaters
4 Thatched Cabins + 1 Family Cottage (Sleeps 12)
Capacity
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Mapari Wilderness Camp

A riverside hammock camp on a clear-water creek at the foot of the Kanuku Mountains, built for birders and wildlife travelers. An active Harpy Eagle nest sits a three-minute walk away.

Birding Wildlife Remote Wilderness
10 Hammocks in One Open-Sided Shelter
Capacity
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Wichabai Ranch

A working cattle ranch on the open savanna of the South Rupununi, home base of the conservation society tracking giant anteaters and the endangered Red Siskin.

Wildlife Birding Horseback
4 Guest Cabins + 2 Research Station Rooms
Capacity
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Tropical Grasslands Between the Amazon and the Kanuku Mountains

Stories from Rupununi Savanna

Grasslands Framed by Rainforest

The Rupununi covers approximately 13,000 square kilometers of tropical grassland in southwestern Guyana. The Iwokrama rainforest rises to the north and the Kanuku Mountains bisect the region east to west, dividing the wetland-dominated North from the open savannas of the South. Gallery forests line the river courses and granite outcrops rise from the grass like forested islands.

Wildlife diversity here is exceptional. Giant anteaters are regularly spotted in open savanna around Dadanawa and Wichabai. Jaguars and pumas patrol the riverine forests. Giant river otters fish the Rupununi and Rewa in family groups. Black caiman reach 4 meters or more, and arapaima, one of the world’s largest scaled freshwater fish, share the same waterways. An estimated 500 bird species have been recorded, roughly 60 percent of Guyana’s birds, including harpy eagles, jabiru storks, sunbitterns, and the red siskin rediscovered here in 2000.

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Best Time to Visit Rupununi Savanna

Dry season wildlife or wet season wetlands

Dry Season Peak
October – April
88–95°F Low (20–80mm)
Peak
The peak wildlife viewing window on the Rupununi. Grasslands turn golden, wetland basins shrink back to scattered pools, and animals concentrate around the remaining water. Giant anteaters are regularly spotted in open savanna during morning and late afternoon, jaguars patrol the Rupununi River banks, and giant river otters fish in smaller family groups. Roads to Karanambu, Wichabai, Dadanawa, and Rewa are passable, lodges run at full capacity, and daytime temperatures climb into the low 90s. Night skies are extraordinarily dark. Book lodges several months ahead for December and January.
Flood Season
May – August
86–88°F Heavy (180–300mm)
Good
The annual floods transform the Rupununi into a mosaic of shallow lakes and flooded grasslands. Caiman, giant otters, arapaima, and enormous concentrations of wading birds follow fish into the newly flooded basins. Jabiru storks, roseate spoonbills, and scarlet ibis gather in the largest numbers of the year, making this the peak birding window. Canoe access expands, and lodges along the Rupununi River remain reachable by boat even when roads become impassable. Rainfall peaks in May and June. Some overland routes close, so most travelers fly to lodge airstrips during this season.
Late Flood Transition
September
89–90°F Moderate (100–150mm)
Shoulder
The transition month between flood and dry season. Water levels fall rapidly, exposing mudflats and stranding fish in shrinking pools that attract caiman and wading birds in dense concentrations. Some lodges reopen as road access becomes possible again, though travel conditions remain variable depending on the intensity of the preceding wet season. Wildlife viewing is productive but unpredictable, and availability at ranches and river lodges tends to be good as the peak season has not yet begun. Rainfall drops to moderate levels and daytime temperatures climb through the upper 80s.
Annual Overview
Jan
91°
Feb
93°
Mar
95°
Apr
93°
May
88°
Jun
86°
Jul
86°
Aug
87°
Sep
90°
Oct
92°
Nov
92°
Dec
91°
Peak
Great
Good
Shoulder
Off-Season
Travel Logistics

Getting to Rupununi Savanna

Choose your route. Every option arrives at the same destination.

Scheduled Flight from Georgetown to Lethem

75 to 90 minutes from Ogle Airport
Journey Time
Contact airlines for current pricing
Approximate Cost
The quickest and most convenient way to reach the Rupununi. Trans Guyana Airways and Air Services Limited operate daily flights from Georgetown's Ogle Airport to Lethem, the main town at the Brazilian border. Private charter flights can also be arranged to land directly at lodge airstrips near Karanambu, Wichabai, Dadanawa, and Rewa, bypassing Lethem entirely.
Insider Tip
Weight restrictions apply on small aircraft so pack light. Book flights well in advance during peak dry season from December to April. Charter flights offer more flexibility but cost significantly more than scheduled service.

Overland Journey via the Linden to Lethem Trail

12 to 16 hours from Georgetown
Journey Time
Varies by transport type
Approximate Cost
The 550-kilometer overland route runs from Georgetown south through the Iwokrama rainforest and crosses the Essequibo River by ferry at Kurupukari. The trail passes through some of Guyana's most dramatic interior landscapes and allows overnight stops at Iwokrama River Lodge, Atta Rainforest Lodge, and Surama Eco-Lodge along the way. Road conditions vary from graded laterite to rough bush track depending on the section and the season.
Insider Tip
Travel only during dry season from December to April for reasonable road conditions. The route becomes difficult or impassable during the wet season from May to November. Recommended only with experienced local drivers and 4x4 vehicles. Most travelers prefer to fly in one direction and drive the other.
75 to 90 minutes from Ogle Airport

Scheduled Flight from Georgetown to Lethem

Scheduled Flight from Georgetown to Lethem

The quickest and most convenient way to reach the Rupununi. Trans Guyana Airways and Air Services Limited operate daily flights from Georgetown's Ogle Airport to Lethem, the main town at the Brazilian border. Private charter flights can also be arranged to land directly at lodge airstrips near Karanambu, Wichabai, Dadanawa, and Rewa, bypassing Lethem entirely.

Journey Time
75 to 90 minutes from Ogle Airport
Approx. Cost
Contact airlines for current pricing
Insider Tip
Weight restrictions apply on small aircraft so pack light. Book flights well in advance during peak dry season from December to April. Charter flights offer more flexibility but cost significantly more than scheduled service.
12 to 16 hours from Georgetown

Overland Journey via the Linden to Lethem Trail

Overland Journey via the Linden to Lethem Trail

The 550-kilometer overland route runs from Georgetown south through the Iwokrama rainforest and crosses the Essequibo River by ferry at Kurupukari. The trail passes through some of Guyana's most dramatic interior landscapes and allows overnight stops at Iwokrama River Lodge, Atta Rainforest Lodge, and Surama Eco-Lodge along the way. Road conditions vary from graded laterite to rough bush track depending on the section and the season.

Journey Time
12 to 16 hours from Georgetown
Approx. Cost
Varies by transport type
Insider Tip
Travel only during dry season from December to April for reasonable road conditions. The route becomes difficult or impassable during the wet season from May to November. Recommended only with experienced local drivers and 4x4 vehicles. Most travelers prefer to fly in one direction and drive the other.
Why Travel with Us

Travel with EcoVoyager

Ecovoyager arranges Rupununi expeditions by direct charter flights to lodge airstrips at Karanambu, Wichabai, Dadanawa, and Rewa. For travelers who want to move through the interior overland, we coordinate combined itineraries with stops at Atta Rainforest Lodge and Surama Eco-Lodge along the Linden to Lethem trail.

Private charter flights to lodge airstrips in the North and South Rupununi
Ranch and river lodge stays with hosted wildlife activities
Boat excursions for giant otters, arapaima, and caiman on the Rupununi and Rewa rivers
Horseback giant anteater tracking and vaquero-led mustering rides

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