Contact
Address
Potaro-Siparuni, Guyana
GPS: 5.2733040254319, -59.391256039205
Situated in the centre of the Guiana Shield, in an environment devoid of any roads or tourist infrastructure, the Kaieteur National Park is home to one of the last virgin forests in the world. Founded in 1929 by the British Commonwealth in the Potaro-Siparuni region, it remains the only national park in Guyana today. Still little visited, the Kaieteur National Park has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers in recent years and this trend is expected to continue in the future. In 2018, the number of tourists visiting Guyana increased by more than 15% (including a 10% increase for the park). The Kaieteur Falls is a must-see destination for travellers seeking authentic experiences in eco-friendly environments.
Kaieteur National Park, situated between the Caribbean coast and the Amazon rainforest, has several ecosystems (coastal plain, savannah and dense tropical forest). It forms a landscape of high mountain plateaus on the borders of the imposing Mount Roraima. These tepuis are composed of high sandstone cliffs and dominate the tropical jungle as well as the surrounding rainforests. The territory of the park, which is claimed by Venezuela, is inhabited by a multitude of fauna and flora creatures, some of which are rare and still unknown to the public. According to recent studies, Kaieteur National Park has one of the highest levels of endemic species in the whole of South America.
Within the Kaieteur National Park, along the Potaro River, are the powerful Kaieteur Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in South America (along with those of Salto Ángel in Venezuela). Peaking at 226 metres, they are four times higher than Niagara Falls in North America or twice as high as Victoria Falls in Africa. In addition, the Kaieteur Falls are 70 to 120 metres wide depending on the season and generate an impressive flow of 30,000 litres of water per second. These isolated falls in the Guyanese rainforest still enjoy a preserved environment for its hundreds of species of exotic birds and animals.