The life of the people in the Surama village is in the art and understanding of how to live with nature. It is a simple and basic way of life, living according to the laws of nature. The Surama village is a small Amerindian community of the Makushi people of North Rupununi, Region Nine. It is situated in five square miles of savannah land, surrounded by forest, hills and mountains of the Pakaraima Mountain range.
The word “Surama”, originally “Shuramata”, is said to mean “the place of spoiled barbecue”, or “where barbecue spoiled”. The name derived during a tribal conflict between the Makushis and Caribs many years ago.
Surama’s inhabitants are mainly from the Makushi tribe, and still observe many of the traditional practices of their ancestors. And the population of more than 200 lives off the knowledge of the land.
It was in 1974 that R. F. Allicock and T. V Allicock, ancestors of Surama Eco-Tourism’s director Sydney Allicock, invited a group of friends from Kwatamang and Wowetta to join four families in Surama to organise a proper village system that would allow better management of the natural resources, including the people.
The village started with 86 adults and children. This was the beginning of the present-day Surama.
Surama shares a common border with the Iwokrama International Centre for Conservation and Development along the Burro Burro River. It is here the community has established Carahaa Landing Camp, a hammock camp on the river’s edge. The camp offers a base for night walks and day- break canoe floats on the Burro-Burro River, and provides an opportunity to observe the wildlife surrounding the area.
Adventure seekers can stay in the Surama Eco- lodge, which provides simple and comfortable accommodation with shared facilities and excellent meals prepared from local produce.
This isolated and idyllic location offers an escape from the concrete jungle to a serene and peaceful existence with nature.
Dawn hikes across the savannah and up Surama Mountain reveal a multitude of birds and fantastic vistas. For more information on Surama Eco-lodge, log on to suramaecolodge.com or visit Friends of Surama on Facebook. (Photos by Clive Good)
