Today, a team from National Geographic is expected to begin a 21-day expedition to ascend the prow (rock face) of Mount Roraima.

According to team leader, and producer/cameraman, Mr. Peter Getzels, the bio-diversity of the face of the rock is what the team will explore to produce two one-hour documentaries.

“A lot of species, plants and animals, on the rock face are not yet known to science. And so, we will attempt to research all that is in the difficult parts (eco-zones),” herpetologist Jusus Rivas told reporters yesterday at a press briefing at Cara Inn, Kitty, Georgetown.

An excited Tourism Minister, Manzoor Nadir said that the Government was very happy to accommodate National Geographic here for the third time, as Guyana is seen as one of the “hot spots” for bio-diversity in the world.

The team was originally scheduled to do one of the documentaries here and one from the Venezuela side, but this plan was scrapped only yesterday, and the team will now produce the two one-hour documentaries solely here.

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

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

The National Geographic team is scheduled to depart the Ogle airport today for Phillipai.

From there, the team will have to trek through the jungle for 3-4 days to get to Whyaline and then to Wyasippu.

Leading the National Geographic team is tour operator, Mr. Frank Singh, who operates Rainforest Tours out of Hotel Tower.

He was contracted by nature and adventure travel specialists, Wilderness Explorers, the local handlers of National Geographic.

The two American mountain climbers, who also have experience in rigging, will fly by private helicopter to Wyasippu and will prepare the way for the other team members to ascend the prow, which is some 3, 000 feet.

‘The climbers are absolutely the best and it’s a dream come through for them to be able to do Mount Roraima”, Getzels said.

The two climbers are Mark Synnoth and Jared Ogden. They will also do filming.

The other team members are primatologist Mireya Mayor, cameraman John Catto, and associate producer Charlotte Mangin.

The latest addition to the team is Bruce Means, an ecologist and professor, who ascended Mount Roraima’s summit via the easy Venezuelan side. At age 62, he is positive that he can undertake the trip up the prow.

According to National Geographic all the scientific research done on the rock face will be left with the University of Guyana and other institutions here.