The Raleigh Falls -Voltzberg Nature Reserve is situated on the upper Coppename River. It was established in 1961 and enlarged in 1986. It became part of the biggest Nature Reserve in Suriname and probably the biggest of South America, the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, measured approximately 1.3 million hectare and established in 1998. Its headquarters is on Foengoe Island, which could be reach by a fifty-minute flight from Paramaribo.
A more adventurous possibility consist a
4-5 hours 120-mile drive over Red Bauxite road through the savanna and high tropical rainforest to Witagron, a Kwinti village, followed by a three hour boat tour upstream the Coppename River. Foengoe Island is well known by bird watchers. Occasional sand beaches along the river allow sunbathing, or after a hike, you may refresh yourself under the Manari (Curtain) waterfall.
Raleighvallen host all the eight Monkey species, including the Red Howler and
the Black Spider Monkey, which could often be seen and heard. The main feature is the sturdy walk to the 245 m high granite mountain, the Voltzberg.
The surrounding slopes and granite plateaus are veritable natural rock gardens of rare orchids, cacti and bromeliads. This mountain is home to the spectacular Cock of the rock. Its possible to sometimes view their territory during the mating season from January to March.
In a balanced tour by bus, boat and/or plane we visit the Raleighvallen Nature Reserve enjoying the hikes, rapids, Curtain waterfall and the undisturbed flora and fauna. Depending on weather condition and transport on the first and last day, the daily scheduled is changed. For those who cannot go along on the one-day hike to the Voltzberg, there is a lot more interesting to do, keeping yourself busy.
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