Hey, my name is Kezia and in this blog I will be talking about my trip to Monte Roraima in Venezuela. I went there last year on a 7-day expedition with 11 others and it was far more than just a trekking experience.
It was about going back inside ourselves and learning more about who we are, about our limits, our strengths, about companionship, and respecting Mother Nature and our ancestors. We were pushed outside of our comfort zones to climb a mountain carrying just a backpack on our backs. It was the experience of a lifetime and it’s my pleasure to tell you all about it.
Before I do, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kezia (as mentioned) and I’m in my thirties – 33 to be exact. I’m a firefighter and world traveler. I have traveled to over 70 countries so far and I love to explore this beautiful planet of ours. I started traveling when I was just 10 years old with my mom.
We lived in Spain for a year and afterwards I did two exchange programs: the first one was to India when I was 18 years old and the second one was to Australia where I lived for two and a half years. In 2018, I started to grow my Instagram to inspire others to travel the world just like I was doing.
One year later I started to run expeditions – and guess where? Monte Roraima! There were 11 others with me on that adventure. Since then I have been reconciling my job as a firefighter with my travels and a company that I built out of t-shirts. It’s been a wild ride and I have loved every minute.
Inspiration to go Trekking in Monte Roraima
Discovering Monte Roraima was an unplanned situation. On my first trip to the Amazon, I met this guy who was going to Monte Roraima two weeks later. At that moment I got inspired by him and decided that I would go the following year. So later on I started researching companies and logistics of how to do this trek and I found the team at @exploratepuy.
I posted on my Instagram that I was going and started to invite people to come. We had the best experience – a once in a lifetime trip. However, when we came back down, after 7 days without connection, a pandemic had been declared worldwide. It was the 17th of March, 2020 and we were the last group to leave the park and the last Brazilians to cross the border.
Overview of our Itinerary at Monte Roraima
Our itinerary was the following: three days to go up, two days at the top and two days going down. We arrived at Boa Vista airport in Brazil, drove to Santa Elena, crossed the Venezuelan border by foot and went by car to the indigenous community of Paraitepuy where we started trekking.
Day 1 involved 12km of trekking and we camped at the Tek River. On Day 2 we walked towards the basecamp (9km of hiking). The next day turned out to be a tough day. We walked roughly 6km and we reached the top of the mountain. The next couple of days gave us the opportunity to explore the top of Monte Roraima with its incredible views, and sunrises and sunsets.
Everyone got emotional at the top. It was impossible to hold back the tears. We all hugged each other and the atmosphere was electric. There was a mix of feelings within our group: pride, awe and anxiety to explore more.
The remainder of our time was spent exploring a few more gems: we visited La Ventana, the Triple Border (Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana), Jacuzzi (amazing natural pools), Maverick Rock/Stone, Coati Lookout, Proa Lookout, the Fosso, Gladys Lake and the Cave. All incredible places!
Out of all of these places I believe the most beautiful view was La Ventana. It was sunny there and we were above the clouds! The weather was perfect. It looked like a dream and was the most memorable part of the trip for me.
Why Monte Roraima is Incredible
Monte Roraima is an extraordinary place. It’s a mystical, exotic, primitive and sacred mountain. The energy of that mountain is just surreal! Once I was there I felt like I was on another planet. This mountain should be on every traveler’s bucket list because there is something truly unique to discover there. It’s hard to put into words as you have to be there to feel it.
Everyone in our expedition group got emotional when we reached the top. For sure this experience will go down as one of my greatest adventures. I can prove that because I tattooed Monte Roraima on my forearm.
Need to Know Before you Go
The trail we took to Monte Roraima was heavy and required at least a basic level of fitness. I believe reaching this mountain via Venezuela is the best option as there is only one way to reach the top and once you are up there you have several epic places to visit, formed by cliffs and local vegetation.
Make sure you take care of your physical condition if you are going on a similar expedition. This is important because it will make or break your trekking experience. Don’t take a backpack that weighs more than 10% of your body weight. If you want you can pay someone to carry your luggage but still it’s a long way (so don’t think it will make a huge difference).
Take only your essentials and take good care of your feet – you are going to need them! Don’t forget to bring a powerbank to charge your camera because there is no electricity. And finally, get ready to live the most incredible experience of your life. Monte Roraima is truly extraordinary!
