Bushmasters: Info: FAQs | Extreme Adventure

Are there any age limits?: Bushmasters do not strictly set any age limits, though the type of trips we do can be very tough, both mentally and physically and you need to be prepared for that. All Bushmasters trips therefore require a certain maturity. You really will be in the middle of the jungle and though it's great fun, it is no place to be messing around like some juvenile punk, otherwise you may be putting your new found survival skills to the test sooner than you think. We strongly recommend that people should be over 18 to join a Bushmasters trip, but if you wanted to bring your 17 year old son or daughter on a trip then of course we would consider it. The age range on our trips does vary considerably, on one survival course from 18 to 62! So if you're fit enough, mature enough and mentally up for it, then you can give it a go. Please email us before signing up if you are under 18.
Is there a problem if I am vegetarian on a Bushmasters trip?: No! The only issue will come on a survival course during the isolation phase when you'll spend a few days fending for yourself. This is not a problem as long as you let us know. There is always plenty to eat in the jungle, you just have to know what's good and what isn't and if you're a vegetarian we'll make sure we pick out the better stuff off the bush menu for you.
If you have any other special dietary needs please let us know. There is normally something we can do to make sure you're needs are met.
What is the difference between seasons in the jungle?: The jungle in the interior of Guyana has two distinct seasons; wet and dry. It is generally hot and humid year round. The seasons are quite different and each has advantages and disadvantages and clearly the seasons spill in to each other slightly. Generally it is dry between September/October to March/April annually, the remaining months being mostly wet.

Dry season is easier to get around on land. 4 x 4 travel is easier, as is movement on foot, and we can explore areas that could be under water in wet season. Clearly you have the problem of finding water to drink. This limits you to staying along river courses to a certain extent, as many of the smaller creeks dry up completely in this season.

Wet season has the advantage of allowing easier access to remote and dense jungle areas by boats. Guyana, being the land of many rivers, is more accessible when the waterways are up. You get very heavy rain and in some areas the possibility of flash floods. A true tropical downpour is something to behold, far more intense than anything you would have seen at home. There is however a general pattern of being drier in the morning and rain in the afternoon for a short while followed by a long evening downpour. Though you cannot guarantee this.

There are not any clear advantages to either. In both you will be wet from either sweat or rain and in both the going through the jungle is hard. That is what makes it fun, so please do not make you selection of a Bushmasters trip based on seasons; either is fantastic and both have pros and cons.
How much money do I need to bring?: Completely your call, but if you are just coming to Guyana for the trip and want to buy some souvenirs and lots of beers, then about US$200 is ample. Only bring cash, preferably US$. We can change this into Guyana dollars for you (as they are not available outside the country), but bear in mind that there is no access to banks to get money from credit cards or traveler’s cheques whilst on a Bushmasters trip. This is the middle of nowhere after all!

If you are on a RAW trip an added extra you may want to consider is a visit to Kaieteur Falls; the highest single drop waterfall in the World and a very spectacular sight. (All standard trips have this built in as part of the package). Kaieteur Falls is amazing and definitely worth seeing, along with the stunning jungle gorge that snakes away from the waterfall and contains a wealth of unique flora and fauna. The price will depend on how many people on your RAW trip wish to go as we would have to charter an aircraft to take you there. If at least six people from the RAW trip wish to go, you should budget about US$250 - $300 for this trip.
Do I need vaccinations or anti-malarial drugs?: Check with you local doctor and do update anything they suggest. Bring the vaccination card with you, and make copies and bring them too. In terms of anti-malarials, you will be entering a malaria area and therefore prophylactics are recommended, but there are a number of drug options and it is best to get medical advice.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?: For Guyana, no. If you are going to Brazil however you will need one and they are very strict on this.
Do I need a visa?: Not if you are a passport holder from a Commonwealth country, most of Europe and the USA. Other nationalities need to check before departure. Clearly all visitors require a valid passport and those arriving by air require an onward plane ticket.
What does Bushmasters do for the local communities, and to prevent damage to the environment?: We are very keen to protect the environment where we work whilst at the same time assisting the local communities. We adhere to best practice in this area. There is a great deal of pressure to log, mine for gold or diamonds or export wild animals from the rainforest and with Guyana becoming better known, these pressures are increasing. There are a number of logging operations and a fair amount of illegal hunting and wildlife capture. A Scarlet Macaw is worth thousands of Dollars in the US, but will be bought for just a few dollars from the local guy who captures it here in the wild. This is inevitable as Western influences encroach in these environments; it is often the only way the local people can improve their lot, get better health care, better education and everything else that we take for granted. It is then a little hypocritical to ask them not to exploit their lands, just as we have for hundreds of years, and to give no alternative to allow their lifestyles to improve.

Tourism like Bushmasters is a way to allow the local people to gain an additional income from their lands without destroying them. We use local guides and the resources of the local communities, from their eco lodges, to boats to the mosquito nets that are made by women from the Amerindian villages.

We aim to provide a fun, rewarding future for young people in the guiding industry. Many young people go off to the mines or to work in Brazil as there is little to offer them at home. Bushmasters aims to run training courses for these young people every year and also to finance young guides on our trips. On a trip you may see the two senior guides, but also an additional younger guide who is being mentored by the others and funded by Bushmasters to take part in these trips and learn all the weird, strange things that us foreigners bring to the party. It is very much a fair partnership between the local people and Bushmasters.
How fit do I have to be?: There is no way of avoiding the fact that these trips are designed to be challenging. That does not mean however you need to be some Olympic level athlete. A positive mindset is important, but physically you just need to be in good health and pretty active. If you do no exercise normally, then it would help to get out running, swimming and doing some circuit training in the gym a few months before coming. This will not only help you in walking over the terrain and carrying the weight, but most importantly in acclimatizing to the tropical environment. Do not however go and pile on the muscle like Mr or Miss Universe. That sort of strength is not an advantage in the jungle. You need stamina, all round fitness, a positive mindset and a bit of flab, especially if you are on the survival course! We will give you advice on this in your joining instructions which you will receive once you have signed up.
Can I come on a trip alone or do I need a group?: Most people on our trips do come alone. We will advertise our trips to ensure we get the minimum number required (four), so you do not have to worry about that. You can of course come with a friend or group and if you want you can book out an entire trip just for your friends. In this instance please email us your preferred dates, we will see if it can be arranged and of course offer you a sizeable discount.
How does the payment system work?: You can pay either by bank transfer, in person, by credit card or pretty much in any other way directly into our UK bank account. You can also pay via papal. We ask for a 25% deposit at the time of sign up and the balance 8 weeks prior to the trip. If we have to cancel the trip you get your money back, all of it.
Is Guyana safe?: Very. There is the normal type of petty crime along the coastal towns, but no more than in a small UK town. Crime against foreigners is very rare. Whilst in Georgetown we’d recommend normal precautions when traveling overseas, to any country. Take taxis (they are cheap, very reliable and know where they are going, which you might not!), don’t flaunt expensive items or big wads of cash and just keep alert. We spend little time in Georgetown. The majority of the trip is in the jungle and savannahs, where there are almost no people, let alone crime. I guess a monkey might nick your choccy bar, but that’s about as likely as it gets.

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