Rock View Lodge sits on the yawning plains of the Rupununi savannah grasslands, close to the foothills of the Pakaraima mountain range in central Guyana. Its central location means that the the Iwokrama International Research Station, the Canopy Walkway, a cluster of indigenous Makushi villages and several excellent birdwatching locations are all easily accessible.

This agreeable base for adventurous expeditions into the surrounding countryside is owned and run by Englishman Colin Edwards, whose love for Guyana is contagious. Guests stay in one of two brick cottages. There are eight rooms with air-conditioning, screened windows, mosquito nets and private bathrooms; half are triples with a tiny mezzanine floor reached by ladder. Each also has a veranda with chairs and hammock, which some guests choose to sleep in so as to feel even closer to nature, while others just use their hammocks to relax with a cold beer at sunset. All buildings have electricity for part of the day, and running water supplied by a deep well.

Evenings may be spent in the old family ranch house, which has an art collection and library. The grounds are landscaped with hundreds of palms, fruit and flower trees that create a little oasis in the prairies. There's also a good-sized swimming pool in which to cool off after the day's explorations.