Have you ever wanted to travel back in time to the days of the Old West, and a life of ropin’ and wranglin’ while tuckin’ into some hearty grub by the campfire? Well, such an experience is possible, and you don’t need a time machine, just a thirst for adventure.
Lethem Rodeo
The Rupununi region of Guyana has a number of exciting opportunities for travellers to fulfill their ranch-life fantasies. Several working farms and cattle ranches located within the region provide some of the most authentic cowboy experiences. While the ranches vary in size and specific attractions, they all deliver on the promise of a hands-on experience, something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime.
Sunset at Saddle Mountain
Guests can saddle up and accompany Guyanese vaqueros (the Spanish word for cowboy) on cattle roundups, where they can learn how to lasso, tie, and even brand a steer. Of course, this being Guyana, there are a lot of other activities that you would be able to enjoy. Ranch guests often go birdwatching, take wildlife-spotting tours, learn traditional Indigenous cooking methods, take a swim in a crystal-clear stream, or just kick back and relax in a hammock. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?
Dadanawa Ranch
Guyana’s largest and oldest ranch is Dadanawa. Located in the southern Rupununi region near Guyana’s border with Brazil, the ranch has been in operation since the 1880s, and is currently home to over 6,000 head of cattle – at least that’s what they think. It’s hard to get an accurate count, given that Dadanawa encompasses over 1,700 square miles of real estate, an area that’s larger than Rhode Island.
Waikin Ranch
Saddle Mountain Ranch
Saddle Mountain Ranch offers a genuine, old-school vaquero adventure experience. You’ll learn how to lasso calves in the corral, and ride across the spectacular savannahs of the southern Rupununi region.
You may camp out, or stay in the basic but comfortable facilities. Either way, you’ll enjoy a fresh, delicious dinner under a sky filled with stars.
Waikin Ranch
Waikin Ranch is a farm and cattle ranch sitting on 33,000 acres of land in Central Rupununi. The ranch combines the owners’ passions for agriculture, animal husbandry, conservation and hospitality to create a unique and special guest experience. The fields and orchards surrounding this property are a haven for almost 200 species of bird, while giant anteaters and deer still roam freely around the ranch, as do capybara, anacondas, and even caiman (if you are lucky).
Most trips to Waikin Ranch last between two and four days, and this property makes a fantastic base camp from which to explore the savannah and other attractions in the Central Rupununi.
Wichabai Ranch
Wichabai Ranch
Wichabai Ranch offers an exclusive opportunity to escape the busy city life into an authentic, untouched Indigenous lifestyle that cannot wait to welcome you.
You will be privy to experiences that would allow you to reconnect and become one with nature.
Wichabai Ranch offers a number of tour itineraries that would captivate wildlife enthusiasts, adventurers, or a simple family seeking a getaway adventure. Learn how to lasso a cow, or ride a horse. Or why not take advantage of wildlife spotting experiences, birdwatching, canoeing, or camping in the savannahs?
Wichabai Ranch is the start of a great adventure!
The Annual Rupununi Rodeo
Should you have any lingering doubts concerning Guyana’s cowboy creds, consider attending the annual Rupununi Rodeo, a raucous three-day event that draws thousands of participants and spectators.
Get ready to saddle up for an adventure of a lifetime!
For more information on how you can schedule your Rupununi experience, do reach out to the Guyana Tourism Authority at 592-219-0093-6, or send an email to [email protected]. You can also engage with us via WhatsApp at 592-688-4155, or follow us on social media – @Discover Guyana on Facebook and Instagram as well as the @Guyana Tourism Authority on Facebook.
