Pantanal
The Pantanal extends through millions of km of central-western Brazil, eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay. Nearly 70% of its area lies on the territory of the two Brazilian States: Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.
The Pantanal has the greatest concentration of fauna in Americas. This area is an unparalleled wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty and ecological paradise.
Not only is the Pantanal one of the most biologically rich environments in the world, with 656 bird species, 122 species of mammals and at least 276 types of fish, it also has the highest concentration of animal populations in all the Americas. It has an enormous concentration of birdlife, particularly when migratory birds settle here to feed and breed.
Many of the creatures in the Pantanal are big. Here you'll find both the giant anteater and the giant armadillo. In the many lakes and rivers of the Pantanal, you'll see giant otters and can also spot swimming anacondas - the world's biggest snake. And grazing on the giant water lilies of the region you'll encounter huge numbers of capybaras.
Some of the many birds of the Pantanal come big too. There's the huge Jabiru stork, symbol of the Pantanal, the ema, also known as the greater rhea, which is the largest flightless bird of the western hemisphere. Then there's the rare and beautiful hyacinth macaw; largest of all parrot species.
One of the reasons why the Pantanal has an incredible biodiversity is that it has two distinct seasons; the wet and the dry one, which causes in- and outflow of water and produces very different types of ecosystems. During the wet season, from October to March, as much as 80% of the Pantanal may become flooded and water levels can be up to 5 m higher than during the dry season. When in May the water level slowly starts to fall, it leaves a fine layer of humus loam which greatly enriches the soil.
The Pantanal is a one of the greatest places in South America to go on a Safari. You can go on foot, horseback or by Jeep trough the great wetlands. The contrasts in the Pantanal is so divers that you will be very impressed.
Come to fish for Piranha and meet the crocodiles in Pantanal! You can stay in one of the many pousadas situated in the Pantanal in the middle of ecological paradise.
