Rockview Lodge sits where you can't really avoid it — in Annai village, on the Linden–Lethem road, right at the gateway between the Iwokrama Forest and the open Rupununi savannah. For most travellers building a multi-stop interior trip, Rockview is the natural pivot point: a real bed, a real kitchen, and (rare on this side of the country) a swimming pool.
It was built by Colin Edwards, who first came to Guyana from Britain in 1969 as an agricultural volunteer, bought the property in 1992, and turned what had been the Rock Point cattle ranch into a family-run lodge. The Edwards family still runs it, three decades on.
Why Annai Matters
Annai is the road hub for entering the Rupununi from the north. Almost every overland route from Georgetown — passing through Linden and across the Iwokrama Forest — comes through here before pushing south to Lethem. Rockview's 250 metres from the Annai airstrip means it doubles as the air gateway too: regional carriers like Trans Guyana Airways and Air Services Ltd can divert through Annai on their Georgetown–Lethem schedules.
From Rockview you are about two hours by 4×4 from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway and a similar distance from the Surama Eco-Lodge turnoff. Karanambu and Caiman House are a few hours further south. That central position is the lodge's biggest practical asset.
The Place Itself
Rockview is built around eight private guest rooms in two guesthouses, plus extra capacity at an "Oasis annex." Rooms are described as self-contained suites with twin or double beds under mosquito nets, en-suite bathrooms with hot water and flushing toilets, electricity in each room, and a netted hammock on every verandah.
Rockview Lodge
Eight en-suite suites plus annex, family ranch house with fine art collection and library, palm-thatched benabs for meetings and workshops, and landscaped grounds with hundreds of palms and fruit trees.
From US$160 single / US$270 double / US$320 triple per room — all-inclusive
The Rupununi's Only Swimming Pool
Built among rocks, boulders, cacti and succulents — described on the lodge's own materials as the only pool in the Rupununi. After two days bumping along savannah tracks, it earns the description.
What's Included in the Rate
Rockview is priced as an all-inclusive:
- Three meals daily — breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Orientation tour and lodge birding walks
- Fish feeding, traditional cashew roasting demonstration
- Panorama Nature Trail trek
- Afternoon tea/coffee with cookies and pre-dinner drinks
- Pool use, laundry service
Out-of-pocket excursions include the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway visit, Rupununi River outings (with the giant Victoria amazonica water lily), Surama village visits, Rupertee cultural performances, and an Amerindian-farm excursion.
The CATS Partnership
Rockview is one of the four entities — alongside Iwokrama International Centre, Wilderness Explorers, and the village of Surama — that jointly run Community and Tourism Services (CATS), the partnership that operates the Atta Rainforest Lodge and the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. It is a rare example of a private lodge, an indigenous community, an NGO and a tour operator sharing a single books-and-staffing structure.
Birding & Wildlife
The mosaic of savannah, gallery forest and Pakaraima foothills makes Annai birding-rich. The lodge documents over 300 species on its grounds and the nearby trails. Guided access reaches:
- The Wowetta Cock-of-the-Rock lek — a Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock display ground managed by the village
- The Paurine Tree at Rupertee — a long-standing village-led conservation initiative
- The Aranaputa rainforest camp
- The Butterfly Farm at Fair View
- Arapaima conservation sites on the Rupununi River
Community & Culture
Rockview has a long-standing relationship with the surrounding villages — Annai, Rupertee, Wowetta, Surama, Fair View — and with the Bina Hill Institute at the other end of Annai village. Bina Hill is a youth learning centre that focuses on Makushi language preservation, vocational training, and indigenous leadership development; in late 2024 the government broke ground on a GYD $20 million infrastructure upgrade there (IT lab, joinery, welding, culinary). School children from Bina Hill walk through the lodge grounds daily — the kind of daily detail that signals the lodge is part of the village, not parked next to it.
Most of the staff are trilingual in English, Portuguese and Makushi.
Getting There
- Georgetown → Annai by road — approximately 420 km via Linden, Kurupukari ferry, and Iwokrama; expect 12+ hours total in a 4×4
- Georgetown → Lethem by air — Trans Guyana and Air Services Ltd run multiple daily flights from Ogle (roughly 1.5 hours). Annai diversions are available on request
- Annai airstrip → Lodge — about 250 metres on foot
Ground transfer prices (USD)
Lethem $300 · Karanambu (via Cajueiro) $260 · Surama $100 · Iwokrama Canopy Walkway $160 · Bina Hill $20. Confirm current pricing direct with the lodge.
Anchor Your Rupununi Itinerary
Use Rockview as a 2–3 night base, then add Atta, Surama, Karanambu or Caiman House as wings of a longer interior loop.
Build Your ItineraryBooking & Payment
- Email — info@rockviewlodge.com
- Phone — +592 645 9675 (24–48 hour reply window; comms run on satellite link)
- 50% deposit on confirmation, balance on arrival
- Visa / Mastercard accepted (4% processing fee)
- Refunds tier with notice — see lodge for exact schedule
Best Time to Visit
- Dry season (Sept – April) — easiest road access, prime birding, peak wildlife concentration
- Wet season (May – Aug) — flooded savannahs, fewer visitors, beautiful but harder travel
- Peak — October to early December for the best combination of weather and wildlife
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Rockview Lodge?
Colin Edwards, a British national who first arrived in Guyana as an agricultural volunteer in 1969. He bought the Rock Point ranch in 1992 and converted it to a lodge. He still serves as managing director, and the lodge remains family-run.
Does Rockview have a swimming pool?
Yes — it's described as the only swimming pool in the Rupununi, built among rocks, boulders, cacti and succulents. Pool use is included in the all-inclusive rate.
How many rooms does it have?
Eight private suites in two guesthouses, plus additional accommodation at an "Oasis annex."
Where is Annai relative to Lethem and Iwokrama?
Annai is about 114 km north of Lethem on the Linden–Lethem road, and roughly two hours by 4×4 from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway and Atta Rainforest Lodge.
What is the CATS partnership?
Community and Tourism Services — a joint operating partnership between Iwokrama International Centre, Wilderness Explorers, Rockview Lodge and the Amerindian village of Surama, which runs the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway and Atta Rainforest Lodge.
How do I book?
Email info@rockviewlodge.com or call +592 645 9675. Allow 24–48 hours for response. 50% deposit confirms; balance on arrival. Visa and Mastercard accepted (4% processing fee).
Last updated: May 17, 2026. To build a Rupununi itinerary anchored at Rockview, browse our wilderness experiences or contact us.