Things to see and do Kaw

The Morpho team welcomes you to the Kaw marshes, aboard this boat with removable beds and a capacity of 12 people at night and 16 during the day. The Morpho has a roof for shelter and observation of the flora and fauna. there are 3 tours to discover the marshes. Discovery (9.30am-3pm): trip up the Kaw River and lunch.Caimans and Birds (3.30pm-9am): sunset and ti'punch, lunch at a restaurant in the village of Kaw, search for caimans, overnight on the boat and breakfast. The Immersion package combines the two above.

The Kaw marshes are part of the Kaw-Roura nature reserve, which extends over 94,700 ha between the communes of Régina (on which the village of Kaw depends) and Roura. Management was first entrusted to the Arataï association (ministerial decree of March 13, 1998), then in February 2008 to the Association de gestion des espaces protégés (AGEP). Today, management of the reserve has been entrusted to the Parc Naturel Régional de Guyane (PNRG) since February 27, 2014.

In a grandiose setting, the Kaw River winds its way through magnificent flooded savannahs, amidst moucou-moucou, arums with large heart-shaped leaves. Zebus, a kind of humped oxen, move heavily through the water. In the air or underwater, life is everywhere, teeming and mysterious. As the boat glides gently over the surface of the water, your eyes and ears are alerted to the diversity of the still rich fauna, so protected and yet so threatened... Musk ducks and piprites cast you a sidelong glance, motionless, perched on the grasses, while numerous jacanas delight you with the unexpected yellow that unfolds in their lively, mischievous flight.

Manatees used to accompany the pirogues, but are now rare. Occasionally, the eye catches a hoazin, recognizable by the glorious crest on its head. All in all, a spectacle full of surprises for the attentive and curious visitor.

For a complete discovery of the Kaw marshes, the nature reserve and the surrounding forest, take advantage of the expertise of this excellent agency. For the record, "Tigdilo" means "water tiger", ready to hunt the area with you! The guides know the area like the back of their hand, and will take you further than other service providers. The proposed tours are as follows: Caimans (2:30-9:30 p.m.): visit the village and marshes, meet the caimans at nightfall. Ti-punch stop by the creek. Bring your own picnic!

While not spectacular, these falls are an opportunity to dip your feet in pure, white water. Take care when moving around, as the humidity makes the rocks very slippery. The area is pleasant, but lacks maintenance. The wooden installations have deteriorated and some unscrupulous visitors "forget" to pick up their garbage. What a shame! To get there, a difficult, steep laterite path on the right leaves the road on the left. 3 km further on, a clearing invites you to leave your vehicle and head for the waterfalls below.

The Trésor trail passes through a rather well-preserved primary forest and takes its name from the Placer Trésor, which was mined for gold for many years, then abandoned (the remains are outside the reserve). As this is a regional nature reserve, the plant species you'll find are clearly described. The botanical trail (1.7 km, loop) takes about 1.30 hours to complete. Alternatively, follow the Carbone trail (1.4 km).

This trail was inaugurated by the ONF in 2014. A sign hidden behind the foliage indicates the entrance to a narrow path that follows the course of a stream before emptying into a cave, a nesting area for the "coq-de-roche" bird. After less than 30 minutes' walk, you reach the observatory site. From March to April, you'll find magnificent birds with bright orange plumage (males) topped by a rounded crest, looking to mate with discreet, brown-plumaged females. Don't forget your binoculars... and be quiet!