Aishalton

Aishalton is the largest Wapishana village in the South Rupununi, set among granite outcrops on the savannah, and the rocks around it carry one of the densest concentrations of petroglyphs in Guyana: pecked circles, spirals, faces and animal figures across boulders and shelters at several sites within walking or riding distance. They are unstudied in any depth and undated. Visits are arranged through the village council and guided by community members.

What you actually see

• The petroglyphs - pecked circles, faces and figures across granite boulders.
• The outcrops - granite hills rising from flat South Rupununi savannah.
• The village - the largest Wapishana settlement in the south.
• The savannah - open grassland running to the Kanukus and the Brazilian border.

When to go

September to April is the dry season and the practical window. The wet season from May to August floods the tracks. Early morning and late afternoon light shows the engravings best.

Honest expectations

Permission from the village council is required and must be arranged in advance. The tracks from Lethem are rough and take most of a day. There is no accommodation beyond community arrangements.

Nearby

Lethem is north, and Dadanawa ranch is northwest.