Kaieteur National Park

Kaieteur National Park is a protected area in Guyana’s Potaro-Siparuni region established to conserve the Potaro River gorge and the iconic Kaieteur Falls. The park protects a compact area of plateau rainforest and the rim and gorge around the falls.

The park’s primary attraction is Kaieteur Falls, a single-drop waterfall on the Potaro River with a drop of roughly 226 metres, set within a remote section of the Pakaraima plateau. The falls and surrounding rainforest support a range of wildlife, including species adapted to the upland tropical environment.

Protection efforts focus on preserving the falls, the riverine systems and the surrounding forest; visitor facilities are limited and managed to reduce environmental impact. Guided day visits and short trail viewpoints are the usual visitor experience.

The park lies on the Pakaraima plateau in central Guyana’s interior, in a remote area of Potaro-Siparuni; the site is several hundred kilometres inland from the capital, Georgetown, and is most commonly reached by chartered light aircraft or organised overland expeditions.

• Height: The waterfall’s single main drop is approximately 226 metres, making it one of the world’s largest single-drop waterfalls by height and volume.
• Access: Access to the falls and park is typically by small aircraft from Georgetown or by guided overland/river routes; park visits are usually organized with local operators.

What to See#

• Kaieteur Falls: Kaieteur Falls is the park’s focal feature, a single-drop waterfall on the Potaro River with a primary drop of about 226 metres surrounded by a plunge pool and steep gorge.
• Plateau rainforest: The high plateau rainforest surrounding the falls is a compact area of conserved upland tropical forest that supports diverse wildlife and endemic plants.

Most visitors reach Kaieteur by small plane from Ogle or Georgetown to the Kaieteur airstrip; some expeditions use river routes and overland treks but these take considerably longer.

• Organize an escorted expedition-access to the park is logistically complex and often requires river and trail travel.
• Be prepared for remote conditions: bring insect protection and provisions; medical facilities are distant.