Not all about cricket
By Shirley Thomas
Guyana Chronicle
April 1, 2007
WHILE the dominant emphasis is on Cricket World Cup matches being played here, not every visitor to Guyana over the last few days would have been preoccupied with the fascination of the tournament.
Huddled in the bosom of the pristine jungles of the Essequibo over the last seventy two hours, was a comparatively small, but quite significant group of tourists who had different interests, and never spared a moment to even get near the city with its buzz of activities, and where the game was being played.
Having arrived in Guyana Thursday on the United States-based cruise ship, the M.V. Clipper Adventurer, the group of nature lovers, aptly described as eco tourists, passionately embraced every moment and every inch of what Guyana’s rich biodiversity has to offer.
The vessel, on its third voyage to Guyana, had on board about 108 tourists, 13 staff and 62 crew members whose destination in Guyana was Baganara, Essequibo, as they were guests of Evergreen Adventures, a local tour company with a reputation for making a big impact on the local tourism industry.
An arrival in Guyana, the cruise ship docked off Baganara in the Essequibo River, from where the tourists were taken on air and river tours.
The guests, the majority of whom had a fascination with bird watching and safari trekking, were taken on guided tours of the majestic Kaieteur Falls in the Potaro, Saxacalli – the longest beach in Essequibo - Fort Nova Zeelandia; Fort Kyk-0veral, Bartica and the awe inspiring host Baganara resort.
At Saxacalli they were expected to make presentation of gifts to the residents of that Amerindian community. Tour guide was Mr. Abdul B, Sales and Marketing Manager, Evergreen Adventures.
The Clipper Adventurer was described by its German-born Captain Philipp Deckmann (resident in the U.S.), as being eminently different from the conventional cruise ships on which entertainment features prominently.
Deckmann said the Clipper Adventurer is more of an educational tour vessel, and focuses predominantly on education for its clients.
As was evident, its clientele were mature persons – most of whom were accomplished retirees who opted for a quiet but educational and rewarding package that included scientific exploits.
Deckman said the tourists on board included several scientists, historians, biologists, oncologists, medical doctors and ecologists who were able to mingle together and share experiences.
The many facilities on board include a library offering books and study facilities for the convenience of tourists and there were usually about 2–3 lectures per day for the two week duration of the tour.
Some of the activities strictly forbidden on board were gambling; stage shows; intemperance drinking; dancing and other forms of revelry; and alcohol consumption by the crew, the captain said.
The Clipper Adventurer offers a two-week tour package at a cost of US$6,000 and sets sail from Belem in Brazil; travels the rivers of the Amazon; Suriname, Port of Spain and Venezuela.
At Baganara, those who had exchanges with the media, expressed satisfaction with having chosen Guyana as their destination, stating how impressed they were with what the country has to offer.
And of the resort, one declared: “It’s fabulous! Exotic! Intriguing! We could not have wished for a more comfortable tourist destination.”
They were also all loud in praise for the food offered by the operators of Evergreen Adventures, at Baganara Resort.