Visit Iwokrama... In the Heart of One of the Last Pristine Tropical Forests

The Iwokrama Forest is nearly one million acres (371,000 hectares) of untamed wilderness in central Guyana in northeastern South America.

The Forest is part of the Guiana Shield and sits on one of the oldest exposed rock surfaces in the world. Along with Amazonia, the Congo and Papua New Guinea, the Guiana Shield is one of the last four "frontier forests" - mostly uninhabited and waiting for adventurers seeking a truly unique ecotouring experience.

Animal Kingdom Extremes and Rarities

• World’s highest numbers of fish (420) and bat (90) species for any area this size (See selected bats and other mammals in the online mammal guide.)
• World’s largest scaled freshwater fish - Arapaima
• World's largest alligator/caiman - Black Caiman
• World’s largest anteater - Giant Anteater
• World’s largest otter - Giant Otter
• World’s largest freshwater turtle - Giant River Turtle
• World's largest snake - Anaconda
• World's largest pit viper - Bushmaster (see venomous snakes)
• World's largest rodent - Capybara
• Americas' largest eagle - Harpy Eagle
• South America's largest cat - Jaguar
• South America's largest bat - False Vampire Bat
• Over 500 species of birds

Extraordinary Plants and Geography

• Unusually high number of plants found nowhere else on earth, including countless rare and endangered species
• 1500 types of cactus, including saguaro, prickly pear, carrion flower, mother-in-law's arm chair
• Extraordinarily diverse geography
• Mountains up to 1000 metres
• Essequibo River - the largest in Guyana, springs forth into the forest every rainy season
• Palm forests
• Braided rivers flowing over volcanic dykes
• Nearby North Rupununi savannahs and wetlands with over 200 ox-bow lakes

Fascinating People

• Makushi and other indigenous peoples who welcome sharing their homeland with visitors, teaching them about the animals, forest, savannahs and their culture and history.