Wally Prince

There are few guides in Guyana who can claim the degree of experience and expertise held by Waldyke "Wally" Prince; he is one of the most sought-after guides for wildlife seekers, professional birders, documentary teams and scientific expeditions visiting Guyana. When away from his family and his community in the Rupununi savannas, Wally splits his time between conducting naturalist tours and biological surveys.

Wally served for seven years as the guide coordinator, resident wildlife biologist, chief trainer and operations manager at Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. An avid birder, Wally has visually identified more than 700 of the 800+ bird species recorded in Guyana and is intimately familiar with their habitats, behaviours, vocalisations, and mating rituals. He grew up wandering through Guyana's lush and biodiverse interior, and boasts unparalleled expertise on the country's fish, amphibian, reptile, insect and floral populations. He has since worked with some of the true luminaries of rainforest conservation and bird population studies and he has led or participated in scientific expeditions to the top of Mount Ayanganna, the remote Wai-Wai village of Gunns /Masakanari, the Acari Mountains, coastal Shell Beach wetlands, the savannahs and lakes of Berbice and Rupununi and the forest and waterways of the Mazaruni, Potaro, Paruni, Waini and Baramita rivers.

Wally was a participant in the Smithsonian Institution's Man & Biosphere Biodiversity Internship in Washington DC. and is a member of the American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology. He attended the American Birding Association Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first Bird Banding Workshop for the Caribbean at the William Beebe Research Centre in Trindiad & Tobago, and has represented Guyana at the British Bird-Fair at Rutland Waters. He is a co-author on several publications on mammal behavior and has been interviewed by National Geographic Magazine and the Discovery Channel. Wally reports that one of his greatest accomplishments was establishing the Wildlife Clubs in 14 of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) communities. He still volunteers his time and continues to mentor the youth participating in wildlife clubs.

Although Wally is known for his deep knowledge about Guyana's wildlife and botany, he is an avid student of Guyana's history and cultural heritage as well... from time-to-time visitors are fortunate to find Wally leading a particularly lively and rich Georgetown city tour!