Saamaka Marron Museum, Pikin Slee
A village museum on the Upper Suriname river showing Saamaka Maroon life and carving.
Updated 3 September 2026
Pikin Slee is a Saamaka village on the Upper Suriname river, one of the Maroon communities descended from people who escaped the plantations and built free societies in the interior, and its museum was set up by the villagers to hold and explain their own material: carved stools and paddles, textiles, tools, cooking gear and the geometric tembe carving the Saamaka are known for.
What's there
- The tembe carving - the geometric woodwork the Saamaka are known for.
- The household material - stools, paddles, textiles and tools of village life.
- The village-run museum - a collection assembled and explained by the community.
- The river setting - the Upper Suriname running past the village.
When to go
The dry seasons, February to April and August to November, are best for river travel. Low water makes some rapids harder. Visits should be arranged rather than turning up.
Things to know
Visitors are guests in a living village and photography and behaviour rules must be followed. Access is by road then boat and takes most of a day from Paramaribo. Accommodation is basic lodges nearby.
Nearby
Atjoni is downstream, and the Upper Suriname villages run in both directions.
What to pack for Saamaka Marron Museum, Pikin Slee
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Quick-dry clothing - Board shorts or synthetics that shrug off spray and dry fast. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Secure water shoes or reef boots - Grip on slippery launches and protection on rocky shores. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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