Awarradam

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Location

Awarradam island is located near the rapid with the same name, approx. 225 km from Paramaribo. The local people pronounce the name as Awaadan. Awaa (Awara) is an orange-colored palm fruit and dan (dang) means rapid. Awarradam lies in the Gran Rio River which merges with the Pikin Rio River, 30 km upstream. At this point the Upper Suriname River begins, flowing out into Brokopondo hydro lake, 75 km upstream. The water level in the dry season can almost be 6 meters lower than in the rainy season!

The village Atyoni, somewhat south of the hydro lake, is the most southern destination in Suriname to reach by road. From Paramaribo, the trip takes 4 to 5 hours. The boat trip to Awarradam takes 8 to 10 hours, depending on the water level. The airplane takes you to Kajana in 50 minutes. The remaining 10 km are continued by dug-out canoe.Awarradam lies at approx. 20 minutes by boat, south of the last village in the area. Your journey from Paramaribo to Awarradam will take only an hour and a half to reach such a remote destination a privilege indeed!

The Villages

‘Awaadan ' is located in the part of the river known locally as' Langu'. In Langu there are eight villages, namely Bendiwata, Kuututen, Bëgoon, Deböö, Godowata and Stonhuku. Ligolio is the only Christian village in this row; the rest is controlled in a traditional way.

You'll recognize the villages with a hanging palm leaf, a gateway (azanpau) that must keep evil influences outside the village.In every traditional village you will find a meeting room, a central sacrifice site and a hut that inhabit local women for a number of days during their monthly period.The Saramaccaners have maintained their culture very well, and that you'll also "taste" during your walk through the village. In Kajana there is a school and an outpatient clinic, and in Ligolio there's also a school.The Head Captain of Langu lives in Stonhuku, and the area also includes many Captains and Basjas.The community has a lot of contact with Paramaribo, so only items are regularly supplied. Many Saramaccaners, especially young men, work in Paramaribo, French Guiana or with the pork knockers, and in their spare time they "supply" the family.

During your stay at the Awarradam Eco Resort, you have the privilege to visit the Böö Kamia Jungle Spa, a relaxed, professionally managed Wellness Center. De Spa biedt verschillende behandelingen die u op reservering tijdens uw verblijf op Awarradam Jungle Lodge kunt maken. De prijslijst vindt u op de Bar in de lounge/recreatiezaal. With various traditional made oils and soaps, you enjoy diverse bodyscrubs and skincare treatments.These oils and soaps are natural products, made from the highest quality palm oils, by old aged recipes. Souvenir TIP: Indien voorradig zijn de zeepjes en flesjes massage olie van 100 ml te koop bij de Böö Kamia Jungle Spa.

Tour Schema

Day 1

You depart from local airport Zorg & Hoop in Paramaribo to the airstrip at Kajana, approximately 55 minutes by airplane, south of Paramaribo. Upon arrival, our employees at the lodge guide you to the dug-out canoe which will carry you further on the Gran Rio river to your holiday destination. The trip on the river to jungle lodge Awarradam, located on an island at the foot of the Awarradam rapids, takes 30 minutes. After check-in and meet and greet with the personnel at the lodge, lunch is served. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the surroundings and relax in the rapids. We are proud of the traditional and sustainable aspects which characterize our lodge. Our local employees are the friendly Maroons of the Saramaccan tribe and your cabin is built in traditional style. The cool evenings make air-conditioning or use of a fan redundant but you do enjoy the comfort of a mosquito net. For atmospheric lighting at night, oil lamps and solar energy are used and the meals are prepared on a wood fire with primarily Surinamese ingredients. In the afternoon, we visit the beautiful “Peti” rapid, a few minutes by boat from the lodge. Here you will enjoy a refreshing, natural water massage and you can float back to the lodge with your life vests on or peddle back in the dug-out canoe. On the first night, you get more information about this unique area where the Maroons have managed to maintain their ancient old West African traditions.

Day 2

After breakfast, you depart for an informative and adventurous jungle walk. While you enjoy the surroundings in the untouched tropical rainforest, the guide gives information about the trees and plants and how animals can be recognized through their sounds and tracks. After lunch, we visit the ‘Peti’ rapids. We stay here the whole afternoon and you can swim, paddle in a dug-out canoe or relax in a hammock while you enjoy the beautiful view on the rapids. At night after dinner, you receive more information on a few interesting aspects of the local culture.

Day 3

Soon after breakfast we go upstream by dug-out canoe. After about half an hour, we switch off the outboard engine of the dug-out canoe and float downstream while we fully enjoy the jungle sounds and fauna. We return to the lodge via a forest trail in part of the primary rainforest so that you can enjoy the true jungle feeling. Lunch is served at the lodge. In the afternoon you visit the local community. The guide tells you more about the local culture. During the trip on the river, you get a glimpse of the activities on the river, the life line of the local community. On the way, you see people fishing, washing clothes and dishes. Between the inhabited areas, you can enjoy nature and with a bit of luck you will even see a crocodile lying on the riverbank. From the pier you make an extensive walk past various villages. Along the way, you get a good impression of the daily life in a Maroon village. Dinner is served in Kajana after which you will enjoy a cultural performance of singing and dancing in one of the villages. The guide explains the song texts and you are invited by the dancers to join in. Under a tropical starry sky our boatmen carry you back to Awarradam. You will be amazed by their navigation skills!

Day 4

In the early morning you have the opportunity to enjoy some more peddling in a dug-out canoe, swim or just relax while you enjoy the sounds of the jungle. You can also join a peaceful early trip by dug-out canoe without the sound of the outboard engine to fully enjoy the awakening of the jungle. After breakfast, our employees say goodbye to you in the traditional manner. A dug-out canoe takes you back to Kajana. From there, we fly back to Paramaribo.

For travelers who choose the 5 day / 4 night programme (Monday - Friday):

Day 4
This day is kept free for your own activities. If you go for a walk in the forest after breakfast you have a good chance to spot several animals such as monkeys, birds and tropical frogs. You can also visit an agricultural plot or paddle in a dug-out canoe yourself to explore the surroundings. Or maybe you can ask the guide to tell you more about the medicinal plants in the tropical rainforest. And there is always your hammock, luring you to enjoy the beauty and sounds of the jungle in all peacefulness, read a book or just take a nap.

Day 5

In the early morning, you can enjoy some more peddling in a dug-out canoe, swim or just relax in all peacefulness of the jungle sounds. You can also join in a peaceful early trip by dug-out canoe without the sound of the outboard engine to full enjoy the awakening of the jungle. After breakfast, our employees say goodbye to you in the traditional manner. A dug-out canoe takes you back to Kajana. From there, you fly back to Paramaribo.