The Largest Single Drop Waterfall, Kaieteur Falls, Guyana Week 7

Day 42

One of the most incredible things to see in Guyana is the largest single-drop waterfall in the world, and that is Kaieteur Falls. It isn't easy to get to because you need to take an expensive airplane and have enough people to fill the plane. We set off at 11:30 am to check into our flight with all the other staff members plus one uni student. We left at 2 pm and had an hour plane ride to region eight, where we were but not in the mountain ranges. About forty minutes in, you started seeing mountains, and I was sitting on the left side of the plane and saw the first waterfall and then the second, Kaieteur.

It was absolutely mind-blowing to see so much water falling. The power of that waterfall was intense. The pilot circled the fall two times so each side of the plane could get aerial photos. We landed and went to the visitor center to get briefed before we headed on to the trail. We started walking, and the guide was super engaging, telling us about all the amazing things here. We stopped at this stream for a bit, and sure enough, there were little tiny endemic sundew carnivorous plants. These plants produced a sticky sap that traps insects on them to consume for food.

All around us were these massive bromeliad species. These plants are enormous and collect water. The water collection then provides a habitat for the golden poison dart frog that lives here. This frog only lives in these plants. Everything up here is pretty much endemic.

There were other bromeliad species that were stunning as well. We arrived at the first viewpoint of the falls, and you can hear the roar of the water first, then we saw it. My gosh, it was spectacular! You can see the rainbows from the spray of the falls and then the bromeliads all over the side.

As I was waiting for my coworkers to get some photos, I looked in a bromeliad on the edge of the cliff, and sure enough, there was one of those frogs. I focused on taking pictures of him while waiting my time for waterfall photos.

We then hiked to another viewing area which had a great look at the falls as well, and now you can get a much better view of the ravine where the water flows out. Also, the mist coming off the waterfall hitting the ravine sides where a massive concentration of bromeliads grew was spectacular. All I kept thinking about was how much I want to spend a couple of days here to get insane photographs of the place.

After taking an awesome group photo there, we headed to another viewing area closer to the falls. This one was amazing because you can sit there and take in the falls and the rainbow.

We then circled back to the lodge, which took us through a patch of forest where the infamous cock of the rock bird likes to hang out, but we had no luck seeing them.

But I know I will be back, so it is alright. We then got to the lodge and boarded our flight back to Georgetown. All of us were stunned into silence by the absolute beauty of this place.

That is the end of my Guyana blog; I hope you have enjoyed it as this was my first attempt at writing and blogging. I highly recommend a trip to visit the amazon country of Guyana due to its epic and beautiful nature, culture, and wildlife.