Adorned with a colourful feathers, the Makushi chief is a glorious embodiment of his rainforest kingdom. Deep in the heart of the Guiana Shield, one of the world鈥檚 last pristine tropical forests, his community have been living alongside nature for 7,000 years. It is a world that couldn鈥檛 be further from my own until he opens his mouth and 鈥� to my surprise 鈥� speaks in fluent English.

Once under British rule, Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America 鈥� making it far easier to chat about ways of life with the country鈥檚 nine multilingual indigenous tribes. But language is just about the only thing that is familiar: dense rainforests reverberating with thundering waterfalls and the roar of howler monkeys are far removed from North Sea shores and rolling meadows.

Niche, offbeat and adventurous, the country is a left-field choice for Bristish Airways, which will operate a new twice-weekly route between Gatwick and Guyana鈥檚 capital Georgetown (with a short stop in St Lucia) from Monday. Fairs start at 拢499 return.