Thirty years in Guyana, first time at Kaieteur: Alex Power's day trip

Plenty of Guyanese grow up hearing about Kaieteur in school and seeing it on every tourism poster, and still never go. Alex Power (Alex of Guyana on YouTube) admits he was one of them: thirty years in the country, and this was his first time. His video is one of the best real-time looks at the full Kaieteur and Orinduik day trip, from the check-in desk at Ogle to the flight home.

The morning: Ogle and a small plane

Alex flew with [Evergreen Adventures](/operators/evergreen-adventures): John from Evergreen welcomes him at the start of the video before the group heads out. The day starts at Ogle airport in Georgetown, which Alex jokes might be one of the busiest little airports in the country. The aircraft is small (he says around a dozen seats), and the crew seats passengers by weight to balance the plane, so don't be surprised if you're moved to a different row. The flight takes you over unbroken rainforest, and he made sure to have the camera ready for the moment the falls appear out of the window.

Two hours on the ground at Kaieteur

On the ground, the guides explain the plan: about an hour and a half walking to three viewpoints and back, then lunch, then a short flight to Orinduik. Before the walk you're given water and can leave bags at the office or in the plane.

The first stop is Boy Scout View. Alex's guide tells the story behind the name: British scouts who reached Kaieteur overland in the 1930s, a trip that took weeks of hiking and canoeing. They were so exhausted when they reached the top that, as the guide tells it, they ate and slept before even looking at the falls. Guides call the climb the "Oh my God" mountain, and you'll understand why when you see how far down the gorge goes.

On the way, the guide stops at the giant tank bromeliads, the huge pineapple-like plants that hold pools of water in their leaves. They're home to the tiny golden rocket frog, found almost nowhere else on Earth. Two tips from the guide worth remembering: use your camera's zoom instead of leaning in, because the frog dives into the water at the slightest disturbance, and no, despite its bright colour, it isn't the poison frog people expect.

Then comes Rainbow View. The group arrived around noon, just after a rainy season, with the falls running wide, and when a passing shower cleared they got the rainbow the viewpoint is named for. Alex's reaction says it all: the only other time nature made him feel that small was standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon. His other observation is one a lot of visitors share: stare at the water going over the edge for too long and it becomes almost hypnotic.

Lunch at the park was Guyanese comfort food: fried rice, barbecue chicken and cook-up.

The afternoon: Orinduik

A short hop takes the group to Orinduik, on the Ireng River, which forms the border with Brazil. On the flight, Alex points out the rolling green savannahs of Region 8, which he calls one of the most beautiful landscapes he has seen anywhere in Guyana.

At Orinduik it's a short, steep walk down to the river. The guide's safety briefing is the part to remember:

• The rocks are jasper, and they're sharp and extremely slippery when wet. Bring water shoes. If you forget them, the guide suggests keeping socks on for grip.
• Stay within the areas the guide points out. How far you can go depends on how strong the current is.
• The deep pools are only for strong swimmers. There's a local lifeguard on hand.

Alex and the group swam under the cascades, jumped from a ledge into a deep pool and climbed back up beside a smaller fall. His verdict: Orinduik is the part of the day where you actually get in the water, and it is worth packing for. One honest warning from the video: the sand flies are there too, so bring repellent.

Why this video is worth watching

It's long (about 25 minutes) but it shows the whole day as it really happens: the briefings, the walk, the weather changing, the lunch and the swim. If you're deciding between the Kaieteur-only trip and adding Orinduik, this is the clearest picture of what the extra afternoon gives you.

Want to do the same trip? Check which operators have seats on your date, or ask for a date and we'll check with every licensed operator for you.