Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls, hidden deep in the pristine rainforest of Guyana's interior, is one of the most spectacular and powerful waterfalls in the world, yet one of the least visited. Here the Potaro River hurls itself over a sandstone cliff in a single, uninterrupted plunge of around 226 metres, nearly five times the height of Niagara, sending up clouds of spray and thunder into a vast jungle gorge. What makes it truly magical is its unspoilt, remote setting: surrounded by untouched rainforest, home to tiny golden frogs and swifts that nest behind the falls, and almost entirely free of crowds and development.

History

The falls were long known to the Indigenous nations of the area, and the first Europeans to see them were a party led by Charles Barrington Brown, a British geologist and government surveyor, in 1870. A Patamona legend says the falls were named after an old man, a chief who sacrificed himself by paddling over them to save his people, and the name is usually read as "old man's fall" (Wikipedia, Kaieteur Falls).

Highlights

• The single-drop falls - the thundering 226-metre plunge.
• The jungle gorge - the pristine rainforest setting.
• The golden frogs - the tiny endemic frogs by the falls.
• The cave swifts - the birds that nest behind the cascade.

When to go

The falls flow spectacularly year-round, reaching peak volume in the rainy months around May to August; access is by small plane on day tours from Georgetown, weather permitting, or by an adventurous multi-day overland-and-river trek. Clear weather is essential for the flights that most visitors rely on.

What to expect

Kaieteur is remote and usually reached by a light-aircraft day tour that depends on the weather, so flights can be delayed or cancelled, and visits are relatively brief; the adventurous overland route is a demanding multi-day expedition. There is minimal infrastructure, which is part of its charm. For the awe of one of the world's most powerful waterfalls in utterly pristine, crowd-free rainforest, though, Kaieteur is unforgettable and worth every effort.

Nearby

The Orinduik Falls on the Brazilian border are sometimes combined on tours.

Key facts