The Orinoco Delta was the most authentic jungle experience I've ever had. This beautiful labyrinth of channels and islets has similar fauna to what you find in the Amazon; parrots and toucans, capuchin and howler monkeys, dolphins and piranha. During a forest walk knee deep in mud, you'll also discover some amazing flora, such as flowers used for perfume, medicinal plants and trees that the indigenous Warao people use to make handicrafts, canoes and their homes. It is the Warao that make this place unique; they are incredibly welcoming when you stop to watch them fish or visit their small villages.
Then came the final destination and main event – Canaima National Park. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer splendour of this place; the lagoon is fringed with waterfalls and white sand beaches with tepui (table top mountains) in the background. The excursion to El Sapo waterfall was so much fun; you get drenched as you take the path under the waterfall and can take a swim at the bottom. I took a full day trip to the Angel Falls but you can break up the journey by camping overnight. After the anticipation of a few hours boat ride and a short trek through the jungle, you arrive at the world's highest waterfall. No words or photos really do it justice; it's one of those places where you have to sit and marvel for a while to take it all in. I took an overflight the following morning, which was quite simply the most awesome thing I've ever done.
Venezuela is what adventure travel in Latin America is all about – getting amongst the elements of diverse, exciting, world-class landscapes. The accommodation is of a decent standard, the food is good on the whole and excellent in places, the guides are bilingual and the logistics worked well. The only delay I had was for half an hour when a student protest created a roadblock, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless and did not hamper the journey.
I had some trepidation about coming to Venezuela but it was misplaced, as the people were friendly and I always felt safe. There is no doubt that Venezuela is going through a difficult time and crime is a problem in the cities as the government's inefficiency brings about greater poverty. You'll see queues for cash machines and a shortage of supplies in shops due to a thriving black market. As the price of oil remains low, Venezuela is less able to profit from its most precious commodity, but you can fill up a tank there for literally one cent!
Although Chavez has been dead for two years, his propaganda is still everywhere, but the opposition to his successor Maduro and the regime in general is as strong as it has ever been. Perhaps Venezuela needs a political change in order for tourism to flourish once again. However, the best thing about my trip was being the only gringo in every place – it was like having the country to myself! The social situation is actually what makes Venezuela so fascinating and, with its wealth of natural highlights, it is a destination that deserves its place on the world stage.
