Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepuis or plateaux in South America.
First described to Europeans by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh during his 1595 expedition, its 31-square-kilometre summit area is bounded on all sides by cliffs rising 400 metres.
Whilst the tepui (table-top mountain) is the highest landform in Guyana, both Brazil and Venezuela have higher landmarks.
The summit experiences heavy rainfall all year round, which as a result of its flat surface, leads to random waterfalls popping up at various locations across the plateau.
Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world, is located on a similar table-top mountain approximately 130 miles away and falls within the same national park.
The formation was first described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596 after his visit to Guyana in search of the legendary golden city of El Dorado, but frustratingly he was unable to climb it as no viable route to the summit was known at the time.
Mt. Roraima was the first major tepui in the world to be climbed in 1884 when Everard Thurn trekked up a forested trail.
This trail is the only ‘easy’ way up, following a natural staircase-like route on the Venezuelan side.
Other routes do exist, though are extremely difficult and require technical rock climbing experience. Everard Thurn later went on to become the Governor of Fiji.
Best time to visit Mount Roraima
Mount Roraima can be climbed at any time during the year, though most people prefer to visit during the dry season which runs from December to April.
It is worthy to note that the dry season isn’t actually dry, but simply drier. The weather can change quickly, and rain, mist, and fog are constant.
