[www.inewsguyana.com] – Vehicles that are onboard to undertake the 13th Annual Pakaraima Safari underwent final inspection and branding on Tuesday March 24 at GuyOil Gas Station, Regent Street.
The vehicles underwent extensive inspection from ‘bonnet to boot’ and ‘tyres to rooftop’ in order to ensure that they were in good condition for a trouble-free safari. All safarians are required to have a four-wheel drive vehicle that is in good condition, with winch and spare wheels, tow rope/tool kit, patching equipment and tools, gasoline and diesel containers, foot air-pump, fuel hose and fire extinguisher.
They are also required to have proper camping equipment. The safari is set to depart on Saturday evening [March 28] from the GuyOil Gas Station, on Region Street. The event will feature a convoy of 32 vehicles, including six motorcycles.
The safari is annually organised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority, in collaboration with Rainforest Tours, the Regions Eight and Nine Administration, and the Ministry of Local Government. It is sponsored by GuyOil/Castrol, MMC, Massy Distribution, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), and for the first time, the Amazon Warrior Energy Drink.
The journey will see the safarians and their vehicles passing through rough lands in 114 Amerindian villages, including Karasabai, Monkey Mountain, Tiperu, Rukumoto and Orinduik. The participants will also overnight at some of these indigenous villages.
This activity also serves to benefit the Amerindian communities, as one trademark of the safari is that the convoy will seek to work in each community, on a project that will serve the residents.
There are also teams from the Amerindian Affairs and Health Ministries which will travel with the convoy to conduct outreaches in the villages along the route.
It is also a norm for the safarians, during their trip, to take presents for the children in the communities, as well as food items and other products for the residents. International participants from Jamaica, Suriname, Germany, the United States and Trinidad and Tobago are also expected to join in the excitement.
The safari will conclude at Lethem, where the participants will have the opportunity to experience the Rupununi Rodeo. [Extracted and modified from GINA]
