Dadanawa Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dadanawa Ranch
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Estate
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 Dadanawa Ranch
Location in Guyana
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| Country |  Guyana |
| Region | Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 391 |
Dadanawa Ranch is a very large cattle ranch in Guyana. It is found in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region. The ranch sits on the Rupununi River in the Rupununi savannah. It is one of the biggest and most isolated ranches in the country.
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Where is Dadanawa Ranch?
Dadanawa Ranch is one of the most remote ranches in the world. It is home to about 6,000 cattle. The ranch covers a huge area, about 1,700 square miles (4,400 km²). It is located in the southern part of the Rupununi savannahs. The area around the ranch has many different types of nature. You can find forests along the Rupununi River. There are also savannas with scattered trees.
Getting to Dadanawa is usually done by jeep. The drive from Lethem takes about 3.5 hours in the dry season. But in the wet season, it can take up to three days! Many tourists visit Dadanawa. They use the ranch as a starting point for trips around the South Rupununi.
History of Dadanawa
The name "Dadanawa" comes from the local Wapishana people. Their name for the area was Dadinauwau. This means "macaw spirit creek hill".
Dadanawa began as a trading post around 1865. A man named DeRooie started it. Later, in the late 1880s, it was sold to H.P.C. Melville. He was a gold seeker from Barbados. Melville had gotten lost and sick in the area years before. In 1919, the ranch was sold to investors. They created a company called the Rupununi Development Company.
Who Works at the Ranch?
The cowboys at Dadanawa Ranch are called "vaqueros". Most of them are Wapishana Amerindians. They often work barefoot and are in charge of the cattle. The ranch supports many people. Over 40 people live in the main area. This includes the families of the manager and staff. Some families have lived there for three generations.
Today, Duane de Freitas, his wife Sandie, and their son Justin run the ranch. Justin's Irish partner, Erin Earl, also helps. They have an ecotourism business. This means they offer trips for visitors to enjoy nature. People from all over the world come to watch birds or go on river trips. These trips explore the savannas and the Amazon rainforest. Duane and Justin also started the Rupununi Conservation Society. This group works to protect endangered siskin birds and river turtles.
Harry E Turner
Harry E Turner was an English army officer. He used to manage Dadanawa Ranch. He said he was part of the last British army cavalry charge. This happened in the Middle East during the First World War. Harry Turner managed the ranch until 1965. After that, he moved back to England.
See also
In Spanish: Dadanawa para niños
