Mount Roraima, standing at 9 094 feet, is the sandstone fortress marking the tri-junction point between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

As a result of the raising up of the mountain millions of years ago, which created a distinct climatic difference between the plateau and the savannah below, Roraima’s eco-system has developed in isolation from its surroundings and arguably all the species on its surface are endemic.

It is the undiscovered aspect of Roraima’s flora and fauna that the National Geographic team targets. Previous climbers have reported on strange black rock formations, valleys of crystals, huge bogs and unusual plants.

Roraima has played host to a number of expeditions before, but most of the visitors to the plateau on the mountain’s summit went up via the gentle slope from the Venezuelan side.

Interestingly, the National Geographic team sets out to climb the rock face, or what is called the prow, itself some 3, 000 feet.

The prow was first ascended by professional mountaineers Hamish McInnes, Mo Anthoine, Joe Brown and Don Whillans in 1973.

Adrian Thompson, Guyana’s leading mountaineer, was one of the local men on the McInnes expedition. Then Captain Michael Atherly of the Guyana Defence Force led the Army’s support team.

Writings by McInnes prove that climbing the prow is “highly technical” and “sheer misery”. One of the challenging factors is that the mountain’s face is “wrapped” in mist.

Nature and adventure travel specialist, Wilderness Explorers, is handling local logistics for the National Geographic team.

According to General Manager of the company, Teri Ramnarain, everything is in place for the team when it arrives here on March 12. The team will set out on their trip on March 14. The expedition is expected to last through to April 3.

Crucial to the success of the mission is Frank Singh. He operates a local tour company and has some seven years experience in leading jungle treks through Guyana’s rainforest.

The team will fly to Phillipai, from where it will head towards Wyaline and then onto Wyasippu.

Of the team members, Mark Synnott and Jared Ogden have experience in climbing and rigging and will both undertake camera duties.

The two scientists are herpetologist Jusus Rivas and primatologist Mireya Mayor.

Other members of the team are Peter Getzels (producer/cameraman), John Catto (cameraman) and Charlotte Mangin (assistant producer).

The team was originally scheduled to climb the mountain from the easy Venezuelan side, but decided against this because of problems stemming from the oil strike there.

This is not the first time National Geographic will produce from Guyana.