RORAIMA Trek     First day

The night was adventurous. At around 4 a.m. heavy downpour started and in the moment we had our tent in the middle of small pool. Early morning was dedicated to drying on someone's terase. Finaly we made a deal with Pablo (Roraima tour) for 4 day Roraima trek. The guide was 15500B per day (20USD) + one-way jeep transport to Paratepuí (30000B). Return way we decided to go by foot to save hefty 50 USD. At 8 a.m. our near-to-death jeep is ready. We have a local Pemón guide - Feliciano. He speaks Spanish and we know only a few words. But it does not matter. "Hands+legs+mouth" style is an alternative which works everywhere.
The road was at the begining very nice but then we went through endless savana without piece of shadow. We saved really one day of tough walk.

Jeep took off us before village. Due to flooded rivers it is not possible to cross them (by such jeep, I guess). After 40 minutes of walk a brand new Landcruiser with Brasilean family picked up us to Paratepui. They made a small trip to just see table mountains from the village.

The village was quite small, locals did not recognized us to much. Feliciano guided us to hut called "Information office", where we signed National Park's visitor book (a lot of Germans).

The path leads through savana and occasionally "dive" into lush tropical forest alongside the creeks. The weather was excellent for Tepuí views. They periodicaly pulled off and on their cloudy mantle. On the other hand it was very hot and no shadow (head cover necessary). On the left side was Tepuí Kukenán with giant waterfall Salto Kukenán.

And on the right side huge, the highest, Tepuí - RORAIMA - our destination.

On the way we saw circles of the burned grass (see photo). Our third day's experience proofed theory that originators are the lightings. Around 3 p.m. we went into first camp side on a bank of the river Tek (Rio Tek).

Heavy rains last night caused that river was unpassable. Laura from Canada was waiting with guide whole day here. Our guide Feliciano was really tough. He found possible way though strong current which went up to chest. It was really hard to not to be swapped out. Brave Jana, with her light-weight. In one moment she flew on the water surface holding both of us . On opposite side we met two czechs. They planned to travel through South America for 4 months. We are jealous. It was hard to get two week's off from our (loved!) work. From Rio Tek it is less then hour to Rio Kukenán, which must be waded across too. On the bank of the river there is another nice camp side.

Finally, was a little bit more time to investigate surrounding nature. Just beside of our tent grew nice rosy orchid in the grass. There was ant's highway across the camp side. It were "gardener ants" which cultivate mushrooms on rotten leaves.

Only real drawback were Puri-puri flies. A tiny black creatures, which beats like hell, and reminds you that life is not only a joy. DET-based repellents were quite efficient (for some time). But they found everytime some unprotected places on the skin .....