Venezuela 2002 - Caracas to the Gran Sabana by Bus
We assembled at London's Gatwick airport early in the morning on a grey, cold day in late November, and set out on the long flight to Caracas via Lisbon. Arriving finally in Venezuela, we were greeted by Carlucho and Alejandro, our guides, and also by the welcome sight of blue skies and bright sunshine.
The first two days were spent travelling south through Venezuela in a small bus. We spent our first night in Caracas, our second in Cuidad Bolivar, and then headed up onto the Gran Sabana. We stopped several times on the way: to admire the scenery, sample the local produce, and appreciate Venezuelan culture - notably by getting caught up in a road block organised by some anti-government protesters just outside El Callao.
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| Loading the jeep outside Caracas Airport. | We stop for Carlucho to buy bananas and cacao at a roadside stall. | We gained a rock, and lost a window. |
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We arrived at our first camp site, by the Kama river on the Gran Sabana, after dark on day 2. We were woken the following morning by a loud and friendly parrot and enjoyed a morning swim and shower in the river.
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| Many hands make light work? | Chris makes friends with a local resident. | Morning showers at the Kama river camp. |
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After sorting our luggage so we would have as little as possible to carry up Roraima, we drove on to San Francisco de Yuruani. On the way we stopped to admire the Kama Falls.
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| River luggage goes here, mountain luggage goes there. Don't forget your sun-block and insect repellent. | The spectacular Kama falls. |
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