No railings at the edge: what Jules and Xandy's Kaieteur video shows, and how to stay safe

Jules and Xandy's Kaieteur video has been watched close to 90,000 times, and it's easy to see why. It's fun, a little chaotic and it shows the part of Kaieteur that surprises nearly everyone: at the edge, there's no railing.

What they saw on the walk

Their video is a good preview of the trail:

• Ancient rock. Their guide tells them the rock they're walking on is around two billion years old. The Kaieteur plateau is part of some of the oldest rock formations on Earth.
• Plants that do strange things. One plant on the trail has sticky, smelly nectar that traps insects. Another has leaves so soft their guide jokes you could use them as toilet paper.
• Wildlife overhead. A bird of prey circles right above the group at one point.

The edge

The moment everyone remembers is reaching the viewpoints. There are no fences or barriers at Kaieteur. In the video, one of them asks whether they can get closer by lying down, and both admit they can't take in the scale of it.

That's the magic of Kaieteur, and it's also why the guides are strict. Here's how to enjoy it safely:

• Stay where your guide says. Guides know which spots are stable and which aren't. If they say step back, step back.
• Rock near the edge can be wet and slippery, especially after rain or when spray drifts up from the falls. Wear shoes with grip.
• If you want to look over, get low rather than leaning. Only do it where your guide says it's OK, and never with a phone held out over the drop.
• Keep children close and hand-in-hand near any viewpoint.
• Skip the dares. Their mum told them not to do any. She was right.

Why go

Their caption sums it up: an hour's flight in a small plane, a walk through ancient rainforest and one of the most powerful single-drop waterfalls on Earth, with nothing in the way. It's an adventure they say they'll never forget.

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