WANICA

Should you have entered Suriname via the international airport Zanderij (Johan
Adolf Pengel Airport) then you undoubtedly passed through the Wanica district to Paramaribo
driven. Wanica borders Paramaribo in the southwest and used to be called
“district of Suriname.”

After the redivision of the districts in 1983, a new name had to be
had to be chosen and the name “Wanica” did not require much thought. Thus
the road to the main town is called “Path of Wanica,” the Wanica polder was located in this district and
the creek flowing through the northwestern part of this area was called the Wanica Creek.
Lelydorp, popularly called simply “Village,” is the main town of Wanica and
is traditionally known for its traditional Javanese Warungs on Main Road that are a
popular pit stop for consuming a delicious noodles, fried rice, satay or saoto.
It is worth mentioning that the first name of this main town was Kofidjompo
(Kofidjompo means “Kofi jumped”). Kofi was a runaway slave who, during his flight
to freedom jumped across a wide creek in an almost acrobatic manner to escape his
pursuers.

Meanwhile, “Dorp” has long since ceased to be a village but a commercial center where
several companies from Paramaribo including banks, eateries and restaurants, have there
have an establishment there. For those passing through on their way to one of the relaxation resorts in the
Para district, a stopover in Lelydorp is highly recommended.
Domburg is also located in Wanica; an attractive town right on the Suriname River.

Around Domburg’s jetty are several Javanese Warungs and on Sundays this is one of the favorite spots where Surinamese like to linger while enjoying an old-fashioned Javanese snack. One of the much requested dishes is Berkat; a combination of white rice, yellow rice, noodles, yellow chicken in coconut wrapped in a banana leaf,
potato sambal, satay and some other small Javanese delicacies.

A special attraction in the Wanica district is the Neotropical Butterfly Park; the first
Butterfly Garden in Suriname where numerous motley tropical butterflies mingle undisturbed
mingle among the public. In the butterfly garden’s insect museum, various
tropical insects on display that range from tiny harmless beetles to large
impressive grasshoppers. To visit the butterfly garden, an appointment should be made in advance
however, an appointment must be made in advance.