The beautiful and fragrant Victoria Amazonia is the world’s largest water lily at over 18 inches across. A majestic yet delicate blossom Victoria will slowly unfold her paper thing petals at dusk before your eyes. The intoxicating fragrance once released attracts golden scarab beetles to the lilies warm core. For the beetles, it is a good opportunity to find a mate and a good meal all in exchange for supporting pollination.
“We weaved our way through the narrow tributaries, spotting black caiman along the way, until we arrived at Buffalo Pond. Here we would witness an amazing display of nature! As the sun began to set, a field of giant Victoria Regis water lilies began to bloom! I had seen this on the Science and National Geographic Channels but to witness it in real life was incredible! A beetle pollinates the plant which eventually changes color and sex after three nights of repeating the process of blooming and closing. Definitely a highlight of this stay at Karanambu!” -www.adventure-life.com
Buffalo Pond, near Karanambo Ranch on the Rupununi River, is covered almost entirely with hundreds of Victoria amazonica lilies. The air at the pond is filled with the light, sweet fragrance of the lilies. Accessible through a tiny stream, this small, shallow oxbow pond can also be quite busy when several species of heron (Capped, Striated, Boat-billed, Black-crowned Night-) and egrets (Snowy, Great, Cocoi) visit. Wood Storks, Black-collared and Great Black Hawks lurk in the trees at the water’s edge while a few Giant River Otters can also be seen popping their heads up beside distant lily pads.
Buffalo Pond offers adventures and an idyllic opportunity for birding and fishing enthusiasts to experience nature one-on-one. A spectacular view of the beautiful spread of Victoria Amazonica, the world’s largest water lily and Guyana’s national flower, is the highlight of a trip to Buffalo Pond. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
