Roraima – Journey to the Summit of Prehistory

San Francisco de Yuruaní greeted us with a sweltering morning. Waiting four hours for the jeep to Canaima National Park, we met our team: Uli – a German traveler, our local guide, and porter. They would accompany us on our six-day expedition to Roraima – one of Earth’s oldest geological formations dating back 2 billion years.

Expedition Preparations

At the park entrance booth, we paid a symbolic 10 bolívar fee. There we finalized our packing – only absolute essentials for the summit (max 10-11 kg). Our Pemón Indian guide demonstrated proper backpack packing:

  • Sleeping bag (crucial for chilly 5°C summit nights)
  • 2-3 quick-dry shirts
  • Waterproof jacket (daily rains are guaranteed)
  • Fleece for evenings
  • Extra hiking pants
  • Underwear and 2-3 merino wool socks
  • Water purification tablets (mountain streams are your only source)
  • Basic hygiene supplies (wet wipes become priceless)
  • Warm sleepwear
Roraima trail beginning
Gran Sabana savannah

First Days on the Trail

Day one brought six hours crossing Gran Sabana’s parched savannah. The 40°C (104°F) heat made every water sip precious. At Tek River Camp, we first witnessed Venezuela’s magical night sky – the Milky Way stretched above us in full glory.

Day two’s trail grew more challenging – rocky ascents, 100% humidity, and first signs of fatigue. Our basecamp beneath Roraima became an oasis – a primitive shelter by a rushing river saved us from torrential rains.

Roraima basecamp
River below the tepui

Summit Push

On day three we began the true ascent. Pushing through dense jungle required effort with every step. As we climbed, vegetation thinned until we reached the plateau – a landscape straight from science fiction. “Lunar” rock formations, endemic plants (like carnivorous Heliamphora), and perpetual mist created an otherworldly atmosphere.

Roraima summit
Roraima’s alien landscape

Life on the Summit

Summit days were spent exploring this extraordinary world. We visited:

  • “El Foso” – natural crystal-clear swimming pool
  • “El Maverick” – iconic rock formation
  • Tripoint where Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana meet

Unfortunately, weather wasn’t kind – fog and rain limited visibility. Still, sleeping at 2,800m (9,200ft) proved less extreme than expected – a good sleeping bag made 5°C (41°F) quite bearable.

Return to Civilization

The descent took two days. En route we visited a Pemón village with traditional wood-and-clay houses. There we encountered puri-puri – microscopic flies whose bites itch for weeks.

Waterfall after descending Roraima
Post-summit waterfall

Practical Tips

Climbing Roraima requires serious logistics. Popular options:

  • All inclusive (~$300 per person) – includes guide, porter, tents and meals
  • Basic expedition (~$500 per group) – guide only, self-organized otherwise

Remember – this is survival-style trekking. Hygiene means river baths, and you’ll sleep in tents or under stars. Despite challenges, Roraima remains one of Earth’s most magical places – worth every effort!