Suriname remains ~94% forested and supports roughly 280 amphibian and reptile species, including more than 100 amphibians and ~170 reptiles, with much of its herpetofaunal diversity tied to the ancient and highly endemic Guiana Shield. It is the “greenest country on earth”.
OUR EXPEDITION UTILIZES DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND ACCESS TO 5 PRISTINE LOCATIONS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE BIODIVERSITY THAT WE ENCOUNTER.
THE ITINERARY:
MAY 1-3: LAND IN PARAMARIBO, TRANSFER TO PALULU. BEGIN!
Our first location is only 20 minutes from the airport! After arriving to Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM), we make our way to Palulu. Here, we will be camping on a raised platform in hammocks. This is one of our best shots at spotting the longest viper on Earth, the bushmaster.
We’ll be herping and exploring here for the next 2 nights; searching also for tiger rat snakes, green anacondas, aquatic coral snakes, unique frogs, amazon tree boas, and multiple snail-eating snake species- among others.
MAY 3-5: TRANSFER FROM PALULU TO BROWNSBERG, EXPLORE THE MOUNTAIN TOP.
On the morning of May 3rd, we will pack up and pack out! Prepare for a 4-4.5 hour journey in deeper into the fray. We’ll drive up a rough, muddy road to the top of a truly magnificent ecosystem- “Brownsberg”.
Here, we’ll be much higher in altitude than the lowlands. Strangely however, the the ridgeline here produces healthy populations of emerald tree boas, emerald palm pit vipers, boa constrictors, pipe snakes, glass frogs, harlequin toads, caecilians, and plenty of surprises along the way.
We’ll explore here for 2 nights, trudging through rain and shine in search of everything we can possibly spot.
MAY 5-7: TRANSFER FROM BROWNSBERG TO SELIBA, BACK TO THE LOWLANDS.
On the morning of the 5th, we’ll head back down the mountain for a 3-4 hour drive (road conditions-dependent) towards an all-time favorite location: Seliba!
Seliba is a cozy “glamping” (sleeping in large tents on a cot) ecolodge, which protects much of the surrounding habitat. The lodge sites right on the Suriname river, where we can explore the banks via kayak at night.
Our primary objective here is to find the bushmaster and emerald tree boa, both of which we’ve recorded at MASSIVE sizes in the location. We may also find the green anaconda, hemprich’s coral snake, ribbon coral snake, giant monkey tree frog, and plenty of amazon tree boas. We’ll be here for 2 nights as well.
THE ITINERARY (continued):
MAY 7: TRANSFER TO SUTOPIA, EXPLORE PERPERPOT AND PREPARE FOR FINAL LOCATION.
After putting in maximum effort at Seliba, we’ll be making our way towards Paramaribo, where the team will have some quick rest and recovery (plus laundry if needed) at Sutopia Resort.
We’ll head out to the nearby Peperpot nature park, essentially where the city ends and thousands of miles of Guyana Shield begins. Here we can aim for anacondas, pipa pipa, sleeping mammals, whipsnakes, fer-de-lance, and numerous colubrids which we may not have seen yet. We’ll try to get a little sleep, because up next is a doozy.
MAY 8-10: TRANSFER TO GALIBI, initiate search for the leatherback sea turtle.
From Sutopia, we’ll embark on a 4-5 hour drive straight towards French Guyana. Then, we jump on a small boat bound for a very remote indigenous community known as Galibi- only accessible by water.
If seas are calm, we can hope to make it within 1.5-2 hours to our lodge. After dinner, we will make our way back to the ocean in search of an ancient marine reptile. Multiple species nest here, but we’re aiming for the endangered leatherback sea turtle. Note that this will take hard work and extreme luck.
By day, we’ll search for the equally elusive South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus.
MAY 10-11: TRANSFER FROM GALIBI TO SUTOPIA, FLY OUT ON THE 11TH.
We’ll round out our time in Galibi with a morning hike, then pack up and head out after breakfast. This will be a full travel day, ending back at Sutopia (near Paramaribo).
We’ll share a final dinner and bonfire together, enjoying our final night in Suriname. We can opt to herp Peperpot tonight as well if desired.
On the morning of the 11th, a car will take everyone to the airport (1.5 hour drive) as we say our final goodbyes.
WHAT WE COVER AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
INCLUDED IN THIS EXPEDITION:
Ground transport
Lodging from May 1-11
x3 meals per day + snacks
x3 24/7 dedicated guides, 2 local
Comprehensive photo workshops
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EXPEDITION:
Visa/Entry Fee requirements
External or internal flights
Airport transfers if different than start/end dates
Souvenirs/alcoholic drinks
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE AIPORT: Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, commonly known as Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport (PBM)
If entering from a high-risk Yellow Fever country, you WILL need your vaccine card, and it must be in good condition. This also applies to short layovers in designated countries (Panama, for example).
Lodging on this expedition is shared, however we will always assist to find the most comfortable rooming situation for everyone. Some locations can accommodate private rooms if desired, but we’ll need to set it up beforehand.
