Kabalebo Nature Hotel
Kabalebo Nature Hotel is a 3.5-star resort that was founded in 2004 and officially opened its doors to guests in January 2005. The resort is situated on the Kabalebo River in the western region of Suriname and is located 150 miles from the nearest road or village. This intriguing Amazon outpost is efficiently run and guided by descendants of the original Amerindian and African Maroons.
Kabalebo Nature Hotel is a dazzling nature resort situated in the pristine uninhabited Amazon jungle in the western part of Suriname. The precise spot can be narrowed down to the area of the Bakhuys Mountain at the Kabalebo River. The name “Kabalebo” in the language of the Caraib Amerindians means, “arch in the river”.
The only way to travel to the resort is by airplane. The airstrip is situated next to the resort and was built in the 60’s of the last century during Operation Grasshopper, which was to open the doors to the interior in order to survey the natural resources and to lay the foundation for further development.
The owner of Kabalebo Nature Hotel, Karel Dawson, started visiting this area in 1986, initially for fishing purposes. The first flight brought Karel and his friends to an airstrip heavily overgrown with grass. The sharp edge of the propeller was used to carve out a small path to the arrival station. Having landed safely their first activity was to widen the small path with machetes in order to allow a safe take-off. This beautiful lot of uninhabited jungle made such an impression on Karel that it led him to share this experience with others.
Motivated by the success of the resort, Karel continues his efforts, and the resort now comprises seven guest-accommodations.
Our Team
Our team consists of local and international staff both young and old. They are Amerindians, Javanese, maroons and creole mix.
The hotel employs approximately 25 staff:
- Two managers, the general manager and operations manager
- Kitchen staff
- Housekeeping staff
- Boatsmen
- Tour guides
- Maintenance staff
The main office is located in the capital city, where we have a staff of 9 employees:
- Two administrative employees
- Two bookings agents
- Two logistics employees
- Three directors, the managing director, finance director and the operations director
As with everything, we make sure to maintain the quality and standard of the entire resort and so this year the entire resort will be painted again to give it a lift. The pool and pool bar were completely rebuilt last year so those will be skipped
Starting 2025 we will switch to solar panels. Switching to solar panels next year is an exciting opportunity to embrace sustainable energy and reduce our carbon footprint. Although the initial investment is high, there are a number of benefits:
- Cost Savings: After the initial investment, solar panels can drastically lower or even eliminate the use of fuel.
- Environmental Impact: Solar energy is a clean, renewable resource that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing solar, the hotel will contribute to a healthier planet and a sustainable future.
- Energy Independence: By generating our own electricity means we can reduce the use of fuel and generators and reduce the maintenance fees associated with the generators.
- Low Maintenance: Solar panels are durable and require minimal maintenance.
Suriname is located on the northeastern coast of South America, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north. It shares land borders with French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west. As one of the smallest countries on the continent, Suriname is known for its rich cultural diversity and vast tropical rainforests. Its capital city is Paramaribo, situated along the Suriname River near the coast.
