Saturday - Pick up and transfer from the airport to Grand Coastal Inn.

Sunday - Take a flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Kaieteur Falls which was first seen by a European on April 29, 1870, is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur, one of the world’s natural wonders, flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge - a drop of 741 feet or 5 times the height of Niagara Falls. Here we hope to find White-chinned and White-tipped Swifts swirling over the gorge, and the astonishingly colorful Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. The Orange-breasted Falcon is one we will hope to see and there are quite a few Antbirds including the rare Roraima Antbird. Kaieteur supports a unique microenvironment with Tank Bromeliads, the largest in the world, in which the tiny Golden Frog spends its entire life and the rarely seen Guianan Cock-of-the-rock nesting close by. The lucky visitor may also see the famous flights of the White-chinned and White-tipped Swifts swirling over the gorge. The swifts nest under the vast shelf of rock carved by the centuries of water, hidden behind the eternal curtain of falling water.  We also look for the Orange-breasted Falcon as well as Antbirds such as the rare Roraima Antbird. After a couple of hours birding in this amazing natural environment, we will reboard our plane and continue to Fair View Airstrip. Pick up and transfer to Iwokrama River Lodge.

Monday - Making an early start, we’ll embark on the Essequibo River and circumnavigate nearby Indian House Island, before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Leave the lodge by boat, birdwatching along the way, for the hike to Turtle Mountain. A well-maintained trail winds through the forest before an exhilarating climb up the mountain to its summit at 935ft (approx. 360m). It takes 1 3/4hrs to walk up the mountain, but the effort is more than worth it for the breathtaking views over the forest canopy when you get there and chances of Green Aracari, White Bellbird or a fly-by of one of five types of eagles. There are many Antbirds and Manakins to be found here as well as the opportunity to see Black Spider and Red Howler Monkeys.

Tuesday - Early morning birding at on the sandy trails of Mori Scrub, home of the Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Black Manakins and Red-shouldered Tanager. Continue by 4x4 through Iwokrama Reserve, birding for the myriad bird species that frequent the forest edge, including Crimson and Purple-necked Fruit-crow, Crimson Topaz, Green Oropendula, Spotted and Guianan Puffbird, Scarlet and Red-and-Green Macaw, Blue-cheeked and Orange-winged Parrot and Gray-winged Trumpeter.  This road is the only north – south access in Guyana and links the country to Brazil.  Even so traffic is only very occasional and wildlife is often seen along the road, including the occasional sightings of the elusive jaguar. This afternoon we will head to the canopy walkway where we can birdwatch easily and from this treetop vantage, you can sometimes see Red Howler and Black Spider Monkeys. The walkway has four suspension bridges leading to three platforms, the highest of which is over 30 metres above the ground, and these will allow great looks at a range of canopy species, many of which you would struggle to see well from the forest floor. Amongst the likely highlights are Painted, Brown-throated and Golden-winged Parakeets, Caica Parrot, Guianan Puffbird, Waved and Golden-collared Woodpeckers and Spot-tailed, Todd’s and Ash-winged Antwrens.

Wednesday - Apart from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway itself, you can enjoy wildlife and birdwatching walks on the trails around the area. Another area where we will want to spend some time is the clearing around the lodge, as this is one of the best places to see another of Guyana’s “must see” birds, the Crimson Fruitcrow. The clearing is also a reliable site for Black Curassow as there is a large and growing family party which has become habituated to people and regularly passes through the clearing.  Deer, Tapir and Agouti are also regular visitors to the lodge. Hammocks and outdoor benches enhance the lovely gardens which include varieties of heliconias that attract hummingbirds, close enough for the perfect photo.  There are also a few feeders.

Thursday – Another day of birding and wildlife-viewing around the lodge. Night walks are also possible and something interesting or new always seems to pop on to the scene along the trans-national road near the lodge.

Friday - Welcome the dawn chorus from the canopy walkway or go on a birding trail before breakfast and departure. Transfer by vehicle through the Iwokrama rainforest to Corkwood where there is a comparatively short trail to hopefully see the amazingly brilliant Guianan Cock-of-the-rock. This trail is through interesting and pristine rainforest and the guides can explain how the plants are used for medicine and other purposes. Continue the journey to the community of Surama. There are an excellent range of species at Surama including the Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo. During our stay we will hope to encounter Red-legged Tinamou, Painted Parakeet, Dusky Parrot, Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, Guianan Puffbird and a variety of antshrikes, antbirds and antwrens.

Saturday - Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then climb up Surama Mountain for incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains.  This is not a technical climb but can be arduous, especially after rain, and not for everyone. Your guides will happily offer alternative activities if you prefer not to do this climb.

Sunday -Return to the lodge for breakfast before departure. Travel south by road  to Ginep Landing where we will take a boat on the Rupununi River to Karanambu Lodge. More info Depending on the river level, this trip offers an excellent opportunity to look for Giant Otters as there are several family groups which live along this stretch of the Rupununi River.

Monday - This morning we make an early start to an area of rolling grasslands, home to a population of Giant Anteaters. With luck we shall locate one of these six-foot long animals excavating its breakfast from one of the termite mounds that stud the savannah. Though Giant Anteaters live in overlapping home ranges they are mostly solitary except during mother-offspring relationships, aggressive interactions between males, and when mating. Mother anteaters carry their offspring on their backs until weaning them. The savannah offers a great opportunity to get fly Catchers and seedeaters. The ones to look for are the rare Bearded Tachuri and the Pinnated Bittern near the edges of the ponds.

Tuesday - Early this morning after being awakened by the little Chachalacas, we will depart for the village of Karasabai, in search of the highly endangered Sun Parakeet, a Guianan Shield Endemic. Along the way we will keep an eye out for Pinnated Bittern and Double-striped Thick-knee as well as Jabiru, Maguari Stork, Great Black-hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Plain-breasted Ground-dove and Black-crested Antshrike.  We may also have another very good chance of seeing the Giant Anteater. After a packed lunch at Karasabai we will continue on to explore a reliable site for the Sun Parakeets as well as other species such as Orange-backed Troupial, Plumbeous Seedeater, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant and Yellow-breasted Flycatcher. Our journey will then continue onwards to Lethem.

Wednesday - Another extremely early start awaits us, as we will be travelling several hours south of Lethem to look for the highly endangered Red Siskin which was thought to only exist in Limited parts of Venezuela but a large and growing colony was found here in 2002. They are fully protected. There should also be time for some further birding in the area and species we could encounter include American Wood Stork, Buff-necked Ibis, White-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Macaw, White-fringed Antwren, Yellow-bellied Elaenia and Red-breasted Blackbird.

Thursday - Transfer by vehicle to the Ireng River. Today, we will be turning our attention to two birds which have seemingly always had restricted ranges, the Hoary-throated Spinetail and Rio Branco Antbird. Both are only found in gallery forest along the Rio Branco and its main tributaries (all of which ultimately flow into the Amazon) and recent agricultural changes have seriously reduced the amount of available habitat for both birds. As a result, the Spinetail is now classified as endangered, with the Antbird treated as near-threatened. To reach suitable habitat, we will travel by 4x4. During the trip we are likely to encounter species such as Capped Heron, Muscovy Duck, Pale-legged Hornero and various hirundines whilst travelling. Whilst the habitat needs of the Antbird and Spinetail are seemingly slightly different (the Antbird prefers taller trees with vine tangles, whilst the Spinetail is possibly a little more tolerant of some human disturbance), they can both be found along a comparatively short stretch of the Ireng River.

Friday - Before dawn travel eastward from Georgetown along the Atlantic coast to the Mahaica River through an area that has been mainly used for the cultivation of rice and other crops. This excellent riverfront ecosystem is inhabited by flocks of egrets, herons, ibis, various marsh tyrants, and Guyana’s national bird, the Hoatzin. Guyana's national bird, the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus Hoatzin) is also known as the Stinkbird, or “Canje Pheasant". This odd bird is an unusual species of tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forest and mangrove between the Amazon and the Orinoco delta in South America. The Hoatzin is herbivorous; it eats leaves and fruit, and has an unusual digestive system with an enlarged crop which functions as a rumen. It also produces a horrible smell to scare away potential predators, hence one of its local names. The river offers a rare chance to see the range-restricted Blood-colored Woodpecker which has been badly affected by habitat loss in the ‘Guianas' coastal region. Howler monkeys also frequent these riverside trees. It is also possible to catch a glimpse of the Blood-coloured Woodpecker.

Saturday – Early morning birding in Georgetown’s Botanical Gardens located in the heart of the city. Home to over 200 species of birds including the Blood-coloured Woodpecker, White-bellied Piculet and the rare Festive Parrot. A short walk on the trails may afford glimpses of Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Black-crested Antshrike, Silver-beaked Tanager, Snail Kites, Gray Hawks, Carib Grackle, Red-bellied and Red-shouldered Macaws. Possibility to feed some West Indian Manatees in the ponds and canals in the gardens.