The place
The Brokopondo Reservoir, also called the Prof. Dr. Ir. W. J. van Blommestein Lake, was created in the 1960s when the Afobaka dam began supplying power for the bauxite industry. The flooding displaced riverside villages, including Saamaka communities. The water is wide and that history is part of the place.
Brownsberg Nature Park rises on the plateau above the eastern shore. Trails drop toward the water, and the lookout is why most people come. Howler monkeys and forest birds are the usual company. Facilities and trail conditions change, so check them before you commit to a night there.
Getting there
The Afobaka road runs south from Paramaribo. Brownsberg is a long day trip and a calmer overnight. The last stretch is unpaved and can be rough after rain. A vehicle with clearance is the sensible choice. Avoid driving that road at night if you can.
Pair it with
Use it as the forest chapter of a week, or as the shorter alternative when you are not taking a boat farther up the Suriname River.
Follow it in a route: A week with a rainforest stay