Luke Johnson is a Guyanese naturalist and avid birder with deep enthusiasm for his country's wildlife and biodiversity. He has a unique passion for birds, educating others about birds, and for giving visitors a taste of Guyana's unique culture. He is a founding member of the Guyana Amazon Tropical Bird Society, produced Guyana's first bird habitation map, developed the Checklist of Birds in the Vicinity of Georgetown Guyana, and is President of the Guyana Biodiversity & Education Development Foundation.

Luke has conducted research expeditions and programs for local lodges and resorts, film crews, and development agencies. These days he leads trips for naturalists and bird enthusiasts across Guyana. His clients regularly comment on his broad-based knowledge of Guyana ecosystems and sharp field skills, not to mention an easy-going style that helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience.

In 2007, Luke represented Guyana at the Neotropical Ornithological Congress held in Maturin, Venezuela, and in 2008 he participated in the European Union's first-ever Local Bird Guide Training Program. He has also participated in guide training programs in Costa Rica and Venezuela, and manages the IBA program in Guyana.

Ron is one of Guyana's most knowledgeable guides, loves to help his guests find birds and wildlife, and has a great sense of humour. Whether it's beginning birders who want to see and learn about Guyana's birds or experienced birders who want to dramatically improve their chances to observe their "life birds", Ron Allicock is the guide they choose.

After completing 10 years as a Forester/Guide at the world renowned Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Ron has recently affiliated with his home community-based business, Surama Village Eco-Lodge. When he is not guiding for the Eco-Lodge, Ron provides his professional services to birding groups.

Ron's knowledge of bird identification, calls, habits and habitats is second to none. Son and grandson of two of the Rupununi's outstanding guides, Ron has followed their footprints through the forests and savannahs surrounding his Amerindian home in the Rupununi. Years of observation have fine-tuned Ron's ability to guide you to the birds you most want in your binoculars.

Ron has personally identified locations to find more than 550 species, including the rare and elusive rufous-winged ground cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis), Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola), cimson fruit crow (Haematoderus militaries), Guianan red cotinga (Phoenicircus carnifex) and the capuchin bird (Perissocephalus tricolor).

There are few guides in Guyana who can claim the degree of experience and expertise held by Waldyke ("Wally") Prince. He is one of the most sought-after guides for professional birders, documentary teams, and scientific expeditions visiting Guyana.

Wally served for seven years as the guide coordinator, resident wildlife biologist, chief trainer, and operations manager at Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. An avid birder, Wally has visually identified more than 700 of the 800+ bird species recorded in Guyana and is intimately familiar with their habitats, behaviors, vocalizations, and mating rituals. He grew up wandering through Guyana's lush and biodiverse interior, and boasts unparalleled expertise on the country's fish, amphibian, reptile, insect, and floral populations.

Wally has worked with some of the true luminaries of rainforest conservation and bird population studies, such as Robert Ridgely, Angelo Caparrella and David Agro in the early 1990's, then later with Michael Braun, Mark Robbins Brian Schmidt, and Dr. Godfrey Bourne and his post-doc students working at the CEIBA Biological Research Station. He has led or participated in scientific expeditions to the top of Mount Ayanganna, the remote Wai-Wai village of Gunns /Masakanari, the Acari Mountains, coastal Shell Beach wetlands, the savannahs and lakes of Berbice and Rupununi and the forest and waterways of the Mazaruni, Potaro, Paruni, Waini and Baramita rivers.

Wally was a participant in the Smithsonian Institution's Man & Biosphere Biodiversity Internship in Washington DC. and is a member of the American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology. He attended the American Birding Association Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first Bird Banding Workshop for the Caribbean at the William Beebe Research Centre in Trindiad & Tobago, and recently represented Guyana at the British Bird-Fair at Rutland Waters. He is a co-author on several publications on mammal behavior and has been interviewed by National Geographic Magazine and the Discovery Channel.

Wally reports that one of his greatest accomplishments was establishing the Wildlife Clubs in 14 of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) communities. He still volunteers his time and continues to mentor the youth participating in wildlife clubs.

Although Wally is known for his deep knowledge about Guyana's botany and wildlife, he is an avid student of Guyana's history and cultural heritage as well... from time to time visitors are fortunate to find Wally leading a particularly lively and rich Georgetown city tour.

Ashley Holland was born in England but moved to South Africa at 3 months of age, where he grew up on remote farms in the Transvaal. It was here he developed his love of wild and remote places and learnt to speak Afrikaans. At the age of 10 Ash moved to Botswana on the edge of the Okavango Delta where his mother was running a lodge. After two years they re-migrated to England for a couple years of education before moving to Guyana, where Ashley's mother set up a bush camp on the Mazaruni River.

In 1994 Ashley travelled to the Rupununi and fell in love with the area and lifestyle and commenced working at Karanambu Ranch. Since then he has learned about the area, its people and the incredible flora and fauna. Ash is most at home out in the bush, especially on the rivers where he can fish, observe wildlife, explore new and remote areas, and learn from the locals about bush lore. He considers he was born 100 years too late, and would have been best suited as an early explorer, or naturalist of some kind.

Ashley is now a well respected guide who enjoys leading small groups into the remote and wild areas of the Rupununi. He is an excellent boat captain, fishing guide and naturalist. Look for Ashley on these great itineraries: Simoni Fishing and Camping Trip and Rewa Wildlife and Fishing Experience.

David has been guiding for Wilderness Explorers since 2007 including tours to the interior and Georgetown City Tours. He has trained with local master guides, completed a guide training program with Saga Holidays in the UK, and participated in the Explore Worldwide training course in Caracas Venezuela.

David's obvious love for Guyana's places and people belies his highly technical background. He attended the Guyana Industrial Training Center specialising in Agriculture Mechanics and later served as plant technician with Caterpillar and the US Embassy. When he is not showing off his newest favorite corner of the country, David still runs a part time maintenance business in Georgetown. He has led groups from the Caribbean, UK, USA, South Africa, and Japan... not to mention more and more returning Guyanese.

Duane is a highly respected bushman and naturalist guide. He grew up in Georgetown before moving to Dadanawa Ranch to become a vaquero. He soon fell in love with the region and the lifestyle, before moving to Canada to study agriculture.

Returning with his new qualifications Duane became the manager of Dadanawa and still manages the ranch today, with his wife Sandy. In recent years he has been leading more and more tours into truly remote areas of Guyana and trained up an excellent crew that provide amazing comfort in otherwise harsh conditions. Duane has many repeat customers who enjoy his company and adventures.

Look for Duane on some of our most exciting itineraries such as Kanuku Explorer and Harpy Eagle Explorer!