The Iwokrama Rainforest

The Iwokrama Rainforest, a vast reserve of nearly a million acres in the heart of Guyana, is one of the world's last four pristine tropical rainforests and a pioneering centre for the study and sustainable use of the wilderness. This teeming jungle is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity: it is one of the best places on earth to see wild jaguars, and shelters giant river otters, tapirs, black caiman, giant anteaters and a dazzling wealth of birds. Its highlight is a thrilling canopy walkway suspended high among the treetops, offering breathtaking views and dawn birdwatching over the endless green.

What you actually see

• The canopy walkway - the walkway high among the treetops.
• The jaguars - one of the best places to see wild jaguars.
• The wildlife - the otters, tapirs, caiman and anteaters.
• The birdlife - the spectacular variety, including the cock-of-the-rock.

When to go

The reserve can be visited year-round, with the drier spells around February to April and September to November easiest for travel and trails; the canopy walkway is best at dawn for birds and wildlife. It lies on the rough road between Georgetown and Lethem, reached overland on an adventurous journey or by light aircraft.

Honest expectations

Iwokrama is remote, reached by a long, rough overland journey or a flight, with simple eco-lodge accommodation, so it is a genuine jungle adventure rather than a comfortable one; wildlife, even the famous jaguars, is elusive and takes patience and luck. For the experience of one of the planet's last pristine rainforests, a thrilling canopy walk and a real chance of extraordinary wildlife, though, it is a superb and pioneering destination.

Nearby

The Rupununi savannah and the town of Lethem lie further south.