The Kaieteur Falls , on the Potaro River, rank with the Niagara, Victoria, and Iguaz Falls in majesty and beauty, but have the added attraction of being surrounded by unspoilt forest. The Falls, nearly five times the height of Niagara, with a sheer drop of 228 metres, are nearly 100 metres wide. They are unspoilt because of their isolation. At dusk the swifts swoop in and out of the gorge before passing through the deluge to roost behind the water. Tiny golden frogs live in the tank bromeliads.
Cancellations only occur in bad weather or if there are insufficient passengers.
The Pakaraima Mountains stretch from Kaieteur westwards to include the highest peak in Guyana, Mount Roraima , the possible inspiration for Conan Doyle s Lost World . Roraima is very difficult to climb from the Guyanese side. There is good swimming at the falls which are a 25-minute flight from Kaieteur. Vincent and Rose Cheong run a tourist shelter and are full of information about the area. Wilderness Explorers offer four trips per year from Orinduik north on the Ireng in dugout canoes with Amerindian guides.