Sabaku Resort: A Saramacca River Escape Where the Egrets Land First
A quiet riverside hideaway in Groningen, named for the white egret that gives the Saramacca its soundtrack
Why Go
Named after the sabakoe ΓÇö the slender white egret Surinamers watch stalk the riverbanks at dawn ΓÇö this small resort sits on the outskirts of Groningen, the sleepy Dutch colonial capital of Saramacca. It's the kind of place people from Paramaribo drive an hour west to reach when they want the city, and the phone signal, to fade behind them.
The Experience
You leave the East-West Highway, roll past wooden Creole houses and the odd roadside soft-drink stand, and suddenly the road opens onto the Saramacca River. Sabaku sits back from the water in that easy, unhurried way small Surinamese resorts do ΓÇö a cluster of cabins, hammocks strung between posts, the smell of grilled fish drifting from somewhere behind the trees. Weekends bring families from the capital who take over the deck with speakers and Parbo beers; weekdays it can be so still you'll hear the egrets before you see them. Bring mosquito spray, bring cash, and don't expect luxury ΓÇö expect the kind of unpolished, riverbank Suriname that guidebooks rarely bother to name.
What to Try
Book a boat trip on the Saramacca at first light ΓÇö the wildlife (kingfishers, egrets, the occasional caiman) is at its best before the sun climbs. If you're here on a weekend, don't skip the Surinamese barbecue plates that appear as if from nowhere: moksi meti, bakabana, and cold Parbo. Ask about watertubing with 597SpeedUp just down the road ΓÇö a proper local rite-of-passage on the river.
Insider Tip
Groningen has almost no restaurants open late, so time your arrival for before 7pm or plan to eat wherever the resort is grilling that evening. And bring Surinamese dollars in small bills ΓÇö card machines are unreliable this far from Paramaribo, and neighbouring spots like 168 Restaurant or 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe expect cash.
The Practical Stuff
About 60ΓÇô75 minutes by car west of Paramaribo via the East-West Highway; a rental car (try 88 Car Rental or 4x4xJankie nearby) is by far the easiest way in. The address (QG7Q+5R4, Groningen) resolves cleanly on Google Maps but the last stretch is unlit ΓÇö arrive before dusk. Groningen itself is small and walkable but has limited ATMs, so withdraw cash in Paramaribo first. Pack long sleeves for evenings by the river and repellent for the after-dark mosquitoes.
Pair It With
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — The obvious follow-up to a night at Sabaku ΓÇö a genuinely fun Saramacca River tubing outfit that's practically on the doorstep.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — A dependable Groningen stop for a proper sit-down meal when the resort kitchen isn't firing, especially for Chinese-Surinamese classics.
- 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe Guide — The kind of casual daytime cafe you want for coffee and a snack before heading out on the river.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — If you're weighing a longer loop through Saramacca's back roads and creeks, this nearby rental outfit puts you in the right vehicle for it.