Press Release 14 April 2004

Iwokrama Opens New Ecotourist Facility at Turtle Mountain

Georgetown, Guyana -- Iwokrama International Centre has opened a new camp for adventurers looking to stay overnight at Turtle Mountain in the Iwokrama Forest of central Guyana. The structure was built by Iwokrama in partnership with Trekforce, a UK volunteer conservation service organization. Construction took just over two months and reflects the level of cooperation possible between people from diverse backgrounds, willing to work together for a common cause.

The camp is located at the foot of Turtle Mountain near Paddle Rock Creek, a refuge for Peccaries, Labbas, Tapirs, Agoutis, occasional Jaguars and other wildlife. Turtle Mountain is a key feature that provides one of the Iwokrama Forest's signature vistas.

Turtle Mountain Base Camp is a comprehensive facility for groups of up to 30 individuals who wish to stay in the heart of the rainforest, but with some conveniences. The three benabs, circular huts with palm frond roofs, at the camp can accommodate up to 10 guests each. The camp has hammocks, running water, toilets, washrooms and a kitchen and dining area for the comfort of visitors.

The camp represents an important addition to the facilities that Iwokrama offers to visitors, including tourists, researchers and youth groups. With this addition, Iwokrama can now host up to 80 persons overnight in various parts of the Iwokrama Forest. Iwokrama seeks to link people to the forest, and the Turtle Mountain facility provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to experience tropical forest sights and sounds.

The construction of the Turtle Mountain Base Camp is part of Iwokrama's ecotourism development programme which is integrated with the strategy for developing tourism in the Rupununi and Guyana. Turtle Mountain is one of the products offered by Iwokrama that can be accessed from the Iwokrama Field Station. The vision for the future of ecotourism in Iwokrama and the Rupununi is for four main accommodation centres - Iwokrama Field Station, Surama, Rock View Lodge, and Karanambu Ranch with a series of tourism products that can be accessed from these sites. Iwokrama's community-based ecotourism development efforts are funded mainly by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

These tourism locations offer a series of world class natural history and cultural products. Tourists can currently visit the many Amerindian villages scattered throughout the region, as well as Turtle Mountain, the Iwokrama Forest Canopy Walkway and the Essequibo, Burro-Burro and Rupununi Rivers. These areas are known for their relatively high density of endangered species such as Jaguars, Giant Otters, Giant Anteaters, Black Caiman and Arapaima. In addition, the area boasts over 400 species of fish, over 500 species of birds and over 90 species of bats.