Our friends had also become enthusiastic about Suriname through the stories of our previous holidays in Suriname and the examples on the Suriname Holidays website.
Based on our preferences, such as basic and a lot of contact with the inhabitants of Suriname, Suzette put together a travel program for us.
Now that we are back we can only say what a beautiful fantastic and adventurous trip this was. The program was well put together and all transfers and accommodations were, partly due to the efforts of the local population, perfectly arranged. At the airport, just like last time, a warm welcome by Desmond, who also brought us several times to our full satisfaction to a next destination.
It is recommended to recover from the journey in Vila Famiri in Paramaribo.
The city tour on a Sunday was a special experience, on the one hand wonderfully quiet, on the other hand you miss the hustle and bustle. Because the big market was closed, visited the very cozy Javanese market.
On day 3 we were taken by boat to Plantage Mariënbosch with a stopover at Frederiksdorp. What a special beautiful place this is.
In the evening a beautiful Swamp tour and afterwards a delicious meal and then back on the moped to Mariënbosch. What an experience.
The next afternoon we first went on a dolphin tour (where we were treated to a real show)
And then via the jetty of Mariënburg by car to Boutique hotel Peperpot. A well-equipped accommodation in a beautiful quiet location. (old plantation)
The next day we cycle through the Peperpot nature park and in the evening we take another walking excursion.
Besides monkeys, we saw a sloth, a small iguana, snakes, spiders and frogs (we didn't know there were so many species).
On day 6 Desmond took us through the rice fields and the sea wall…
…to the Bigi Pan jetty. At the jetty we were welcomed by the Kasidi family.
After the boat was lowered from the trailer into the water we crossed the river and sailed via the boat ramp to Bigi Pan to Aunt Gerda's Lodge.
While we were looking at monkeys in the tree, a snake came out of the tree. That was quite a shock. In addition to many types of birds, we also spotted a caiman.
The water level in Bigi Pan is still low, which has not made sailing through this beautiful area any easier. This beautiful bird area is also suffering greatly from the drought.
The next day after another beautiful trip through the Bigi Pan area, after a delicious lunch, back by boat. After a bit by car, continue by boat on the Maratakka river, to our next location of the Kasidi family, the jungle camp on the Maratakka river. A beautiful place, far away from all the hustle and bustle, in the middle of nature. On the way we saw a group of giant otters.
Breakfast on the jetty, walking in the “jungle”, boat tour further on the river, excellent care, slumbering in the hanging folder. Just recovering and slowing down. We enjoyed it.
After our wonderful stay in the jungle camp on the way to apartment Bloemendaal in Wageningen.
A beautiful quiet location on the river, where we could take a hot shower and also have our laundry done. On our "rest day" on the bike to the sloth shelter. A nice initiative where sick and injured sloths are taken care of. From Bloemendaal to Palulu camping brought, where our tour with nature guide Dion to Blanche Marie and Apoera started.
Because there was not much room left in the van, we left some of our luggage in Palulu. What we had misjudged a bit was that you have to travel for at least 7 hours on a dusty, often very bad road, both there and back. Everything was covered in red dust. Our guide/driver also preferred to arrive in the dark (this was not really our preference).
Crossing “wild”.
After a few nice stops we finally arrived in the dark at the road to the accommodation at Blanche Marie.
Where the main road was already bad to drive on from time to time, the last 15 km stretch was even worse. This resulted in a broken torsion bar about 400 meters before our destination.
And there you are with a broken car and no reception.
No problem according to Dion, that will happen the next day. First, arrange the sleeping places and eat something.
The next morning the damage to the car was assessed. After first trying to fix the problem, Dion and his “Duifje” set off on foot, to the only point where there was telephone reception, about 4 km walk. When they returned, Dion reported that the emergency services had been arranged and were on their way.
In the end, it turned out that the parts did not come from the closer Apoera, but from Lelydorp.
After a delicious lunch (it is always a wonder what goodies can be prepared on just 1 gas burner and few resources) together with Dion, on foot to the Blanche Marie waterfalls. Due to the persistent drought it is only a small waterfall. An advantage is that a wonderfully warm massage shower was one of the possibilities.
Because the parts would not arrive until the next day, we spent an extra night in the accommodation at the Blanche Marie waterfalls.
A beautiful spot, but if there is uncertainty about when you can continue and you have no reception, waiting takes a long time. The next day we went again, this time with everyone, on foot to the call point. The men with the parts for the car turned out to be on their way and still about 1 hour away from us.
At 14.30 the signal came that the car was repaired and that we would still drive to Apoera first. Camp was broken up again and off we drove again.
First to the never used train depot and then a ride through the village and a short stop at the place where we would have otherwise spent the night. A nice location in the middle of the village. We would have liked to walk around here. However, it was already getting dark and we still had to drive for at least another 3 hours to the Green resort in the forest.
After some more car trouble (seized brakes) we finally arrived around 23.00pm.
Only the next day did we realize what a beautiful location the Green Resort is located in.
The toucans and macaws were present in large numbers in the trees. With our "normal" camera it was difficult to capture, but the images are in our memory.
Around 11.00:19.30 we left again for Palulu camping. Again a long, dusty ride with unfortunately several interruptions due to problems with the car around XNUMX:XNUMX dirty, but happy that we were finally there, arrived at Palulu camping. Here we had the beautiful Vijverlodge at our disposal.
There was not much time to enjoy this beautiful place, because the next day we would be picked up at 9.00:XNUMX am for our last part of the journey, the Upper Suriname River.
Due to the extremely low water level on the Upper Suriname River, we had already heard from Suzette that a stopover was planned for us at Jaw Jaw. We were picked up by our guide Zakson in a van and went on our way to Adjoni, where our adventure would begin. The first part to Jaw Jaw gave few problems and upon arrival a delicious lunch was ready for us. In the afternoon we enjoyed a nice sula.
And in the evening a nice spontaneous evening with music. Jaw Jaw is a cozy location with beautiful houses.
Early the next morning, with the luggage in a wheelbarrow on the way to the boat, which would take us to Tio Boto. On the way an interesting stop at the Saamaka museum about the origin of the Maroons. After a tour and explanation a delicious lunch was ready for us.
This stopover was not an unnecessary luxury. The water level was extremely low and many parts were difficult to navigate. Our boatman and our guide Zakson were very skilled in tacking between the rocks and avoiding the sandbanks. I think we left the boat about 15 times to bridge a difficult part on foot. A bit of walking was not a punishment, but a welcome change.
Also a lot of help from the local population along the way.
Tio Boto, run by teacher Thomas and his wife, a true paradise on earth.
Due to the low water level, our trip to the Ananasberg and Tapawatra waterfalls unfortunately had to be cancelled. But we understood that completely. Higher up, the river was almost impossible to navigate. A disaster for the residents who live higher up. Supplies of the much-needed fuel for the generator and food are almost impossible. People also depend on the water in the river for drinking water and water for irrigating the agricultural plots.
We enjoyed our stay at Tio Boto, what lovely people and how well we were looked after. We also visited a village further on, where we got an impression of how the residents live. What a luxury we live in the Netherlands. We also swam wonderfully, planted seeds in the agricultural plot and saw how the harvested rice is treated.
Our house spider.
Unfortunately our journey was almost over. The return journey over the river was again a real adventure.
We have a lot of respect for the boatmen and their helpers. When we arrived in Adjoni, the driver was already waiting for us with the van. He brought us back to Vila Famiri in Paramaribo, where we were warmly welcomed again.
During our last day in Paramaribo we did some shopping, visited the big market and had a nice meal at De Gadri. In the afternoon we also visited the hard rock café. Desmond eventually picked us up and dropped us off safely at the airport.
Many thanks to Suzette and her team consisting of Desmond, Dronica and Mirjam and all the lovely caring people, it was a perfectly organised trip, we thoroughly enjoyed it.
We ♥ Suriname and we say Goodbye.
Claudia, Jack, Hennie and Dory