Sports to be a part of Savannah Drive

Jul 12, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....t-of-savannah-drive/

Organizers excited about July 30 Event

By Sean Devers
The ‘Super 7 Team’ has collaborated with United Kingdom-based Media Company, Green Mango Media and British Virgin Islands brand Absolutely Unique to promote adventure tourism in Guyana through the Savannah Drive.
The Savannah Drive is truly an amazing adventure and it promotes adventure tourism in Guyana. It is about linking communities through sports and heritage celebrations. It opens up the Savannah to locals and tourists, creating lasting relationships with Savannah communities. The drive takes participants along scenic landscape, including undisturbed Savannah lands, rain forest, sandy and muddy terrain with natural springs and creeks and relics of the past. It’s described as a true off road adventure.
The next one-day drive is set for Sunday, July 30 and ends with a Savannah Wellies (long boots) Party and prize giving ceremony and for the first time, sporting events will be included in the day’s activates.
“It is an affordable event because we want everyone to enjoy the Savannah. For persons with their own vehicles, registration is $7,000. Bikers pay $3,000. If you are using the Super 7 vehicle (bus then truck) from Georgetown, you pay $1,000 return and $3,000 for the Savannah Drive. Kids pay $500 return and $1,500 for the Savannah Drive,” informed Managing Director of Green Mango Media, Amada Wilson.
Persons are advised to register early to secure their space since registration gives them automatic access to sporting events.
Tickets are available at: Yarrowkabra, the home of Savannah Drive’s Coordinator Shane D’Andrade, Rent A Tent, Rahaman’s Park, Houston, East Bank Demerara, Nadine & Sherwin’s Groceries, Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara (223-0596) and Super Seven Groceries Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt (218 5537).
“We are pleased to be endorsed by the Guyana Tourism Authority as we seek to promote adventure tourism in Guyana. We strongly believe in partnerships as we expand the Savannah Drive brand,” disclosed Wilson.
In what is anticipated to be an exhilarating adventure, the drive will follow ancient Amerindian tracks, along changing terrain from sandy to muddy in the beautiful Savannah. Vehicles and dirt bikes will pass ruins, creeks and several Amerindian villages, including Swan, and Laluni. There will be competitions in every village, including Vehicle & Bike one-mile mud track Race, 100ft Arrow and Bow Shootout and Mud Tug of War.

The Arrow & Bow Shootout will see participants going through a 10-minute introductory session with Amerindian chiefs and then have two tries to hit the bull-eye 100 feet away. This contest tests precision, technique and vision. The Vehicle and Bike Mud Race over a Mile is expected to test the power of the vehicle, driving skills and the ability to work as a team. Three cars will race at a time and the winners from each group will battle for the championship.
Participants have one try to defeat their opponents in Mud Tug of War. The battle is open to teams and individuals. This contest tests your strength and how well you work together as a team.
Every event has rules and will be done in a secure environment. Winners will receive trophies and prizes, including monetary awards.
Coordinator Shane D’Andrade of Savannah Drive revealed that as a teenager he had a motor cycle and would ride to St Cuthbert’s Mission for Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations every year.
“I enjoyed it so much that I dreamed and talked about trail riding all the time with friends and family and about six years ago, my mum built a house in Yarrowkabra and I moved there when I returned from the Caribbean. Living in the village and interacting with the locals they told me stories about trails that their fore-parents used to hunt and visit families in the Savannah,” D’Andrade explained with lots of enthusiasm.
He started tracking trails, visiting different villages but it took him a long time to link communities, such as Madewini, Swan, Samville, Kuru Kuru, Laluni and St Cuthbert’s Mission, using off road tracks.
“But it all paid off because I now know the trails by heart. Something a lot people don’t know about me is that I love the Savannah and the surrounding villages so much and talked about it so much with friends and family that my daughter is named Savannah,” explained D’Andrade who rode from the Linden Highway to Sherriff Street for yesterday’s interview for this story.
According to D’Andrade, the young people from villages on the Soesdyke Linden Highway never knew the Savannah existed and the Savannah drives expose our young people to different cultures and show them the beauty of Guyana.
“Several of the young men and women from various villages in the Savannah are now trail guides eager to share their experiences and knowledge of trailing in the Savannah. Every time I ride it feels like a new experience. It’s an adventure every day. When I am stressed, riding in the Savannah clears my head, it relaxes me. Some people get addicted to food and other things but I’m addicted to trail riding. It is the adrenaline that gets me every time,” informed D’Andrade.
“It is astonishing that Guyana is so beautiful and people spend loads of cash to travel abroad to see other people’s natural environment and right here in Guyana, in our own backyard, we have it all, the beautiful Savannah,” exclaimed Wilson who lived for a long time in Switzerland.
Wilson, who says she loves adventure and has been on all the Savannah Drives, encouraged Guyanese to come out and test the power of their vehicles and bikes. “This is the perfect place to show your driving skills, in the wide open Savannah,” said Wilson who plans to climb Mount Roraima from the Guyana side.
For more information check their Facebook page: Savannah-Drive-Guyana or call D’Andrade on 638-7877.

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