Dominica / Special Interests / Island Tours

By Stephen Thorpe

Many travellers arrive with the express intention of spending lots of time on the hoof in the mountains and river valleys but for the less active there are still a number of locations with relative ease of access and the tour companies and well informed trained guides to facilitate.

The capital Roseau is small and compact enough to explore on foot and probably the best introduction to its heritage and architecture is via the self-guided tour initiated by SHAPE (Society for Heritage and Architecture Preservation and Enhancement), a laudable non-governmental organisation engaged in raising awareness of the importance of traditional vernacular design in new buildings, promoting conservation zones and official listing of historic buildings among other schemes.

Other interesting tours to undertake without physical hardships are of the Carib Territory, where you can visit the Carib Cultural Village – Kalinago Barana Aute. It opened in 2006 and gives visitors a unique chance to learn about the heritage of the Kalinago through their music, dance, food and arts and crafts. Entrance fee is $8 for adults.

There is Fort Shirley at Cabrits National Park, certain sections of the Waitukubuli Trail and the Giraudel Culinary Tour. The premier professional tour company is KHATTS (Ken’s Hinterland Adventure Tours and Travel Service) alongside other reliable operations like Whitchurch Travel, a family-owned business here since 1910.

Other Specialist Guides in Dominica include:

Bertrand Jno Baptiste - a birdwatcher and companion par excellence.

Paul Crask - an Englishman and travel writer domiciled in Dominica with an intimate knowledge of the country

Miranda and Gerard Langlais who conduct tours of the Carib Territory and set up the Karina Cultural Group at Kalinago Barana Autê (the Carib model village) in Salybia

Additionally the Forestry & Wildlife Division located in the north-east corner of the Botanical Gardens have an extensive roster of fully trained and certified guides for specific areas, many of whom are associated with hotels and operators.

Non-profit organisations and Government links:

Forestry & Wildlife Division. t 266 3817 | forestry@cwdom.dm | www.avirtualdominica.com/forestry/index.cfm