How did you first hear of Mount Roraima and the Guiana Highlands?

I have always been interested in carnivorous pitcher plants, and one group, the marsh pitcher plants (Heliamphora), are found almost exclusively from the surfaces of the plateau summits, and nowhere else in the world, and so knew that a series of gigantic and mysterious table of unique life lie scattered across the north of South America. Also, like many people, I had heard the story of Arthur Conan Doyle’s acclaimed novel The Lost Worlds – the adventure classic of a Victorian expedition to discover an isolated land of dinosaurs, on top of a gigantic plateau in South America.

But, in 2002, whilst undertaking a rainforest conservation project in Belize, Central America, I was on a remote island off the coast, and in a coffee shop there, I happened to pick up an old copy of National Geographic magazine. It was a copy from June 1989, and inside was an article called Islands in Time by an excellent German naturalist Uwe George. This article has many spectacular photos of the lost worlds, and took my breath away. I knew instantly that one day I would have to visit for myself, and so began preparing to write five books on the ecology and diversity of wildlife on the plateau summits. One of these books, Lost Worlds of the Guiana Highlands, focuses particularly on the incredible story of the discovery of these great tablelands, their biogeography, and often incredible wildlife.

I have been fortunate to work with many botanists and zoologists from Europe and Venezuela in continuing studies of the wildlife of these incredible places, and have been lucky to visit many of the lost worlds to study the wildlife of the mountain summits.

What do you find most interesting about Mount Roraima and the “lost worlds”

There is so much that is incredible about these mountains, and indeed, the whole region.

Firstly, they are simply some of the most spectacular, unusual and striking places on earth – gigantic, sheer sided plateaus that rise above the savannahs and rainforests of the lowlands and soar into the clouds above. In every respect, these mountains are extraordinary. From the lowlands, the stand as pillars, dominating the horizon. From the air, the tower above the clouds, often surrounded by a sea of white. From the summits, the plateau continue as chains, off into the distance, looming on the horizon. They are home to many of the most unearthly landscapes on the planet – landscapes covered with sparkling quartz crystals, valleys of pure, semi-precious jasper gemstone, and labyrinth mazes of towering stone pinnacles and arches. There is simply on where else like the “lost worlds” on earth.

Second, in terms of their wildlife, they are among South Americas most important biogeographic provinces. The extremely high rates of plant and animal endemism (the rates of unique life) is extraordinary. Between 35-70% of the wildlife of the plateau summits is found only there and nowhere else on earth. And equally, it is not only the diversity of wildlife found here, but also the fact that in some cases, ancient living fossils have persisted here, practically unchanged for millions of years, having died out in the rest of the world long ago. Even though, unlike Arthur Conan Doyle’s story, there are no dinosaurs, the wildlife really makes these extraordinary plateaus stand out.

There really is no where else on earth quite like these so-called "lost worlds".

What will the Lost World Project expedition be like?

The climb up Mount Roraima is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular in South America. The ten winners of the Lost World Project will come on a locally guided journey up to the great plateau, and observe first hand the incredible and spectacular scenery, and also the threats which the mountain faces.

The climb is not technical. No climbing experience is required at all. Although the mountain looks so unscalable, and for nearly two centuries none of the early explorers could reach the summit - the reality is, that when the ledge up the towering vertical cliffsides was eventually discovered, the journey up to the lost world was relatively easy. You literally walk the whole way up. There is no difficult climbing or rope work - it is just a walk to the summit, in the setting of one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes on earth.

For those that would like to take part, the professional camera crew (which includes BBC Planet Earth cameramen), will train participants interested in wildlife filming, with the goal that each participant can shoot material with the help of the camera crew. To fully understand and document the conservation issues of the mountain. However, those not interested in filming can opt out of this, and simply enjoy the journey as an adventure to observe and understand the unique ecology and landscapes of the lost world. y.c