Pantanal is a must visit destination for nature lovers, who will find a spectacular wilderness area where they will be received with old time hospitality. It is the largest continuous wetland on the planet, declared a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and South America’s primary wildlife sanctuary. The Pantanal is a world-class birdwatching destination. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, you will have the opportunity to easily view hundreds of species. Birds and other wildlife in the Pantanal are easily seen in its open grasslands, marshes and islands of forests.
Already on the transfer from the airport in Cuiabá (Mato Grosso do Sul) along the “Transpantaneira” road to the lodge, we saw many animals, birds and even an anaconda (!), everything far beyond my expectations, and this was only the beginning of the Pantanal experience! During the coming days I was going to experience Pantanal by foot, by horse, by canoe and by jeep and I couldn´t imagine what a rich experience was waiting ahead. My visit took place in the dry season, a time of the year when the animals concentrate where water still can be found. In the flooding season, water is abundant everywhere and the animals are more dispersed, but it is also a very fascinating experience to visit Pantanal at this time of the year and get an idea of the extended wetland.
The comfortable ecolodge, the “Araras Lodge”, was very well located close to several rivers and water sources, providing an ideal ecosystem all year around for the animals of the Pantanal. I was soon going to find out that we, the human beings, were guests not only in the lodge, but in nature. Animals; mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds, were to be found all around the lodge as it was planned to be an integrated part of the surrounding ecosystem.
By the end of the first day I had already got acquainted with the many caimans in the pond behind the lodge, the family of capybaras -the world biggest rodent, walking peacefully on the lawn by the pool area, the anteater that almost stumbled on us (almost blind as it is), the tucans and Blu, the Hyacint macaw always “hanging around” in the lodge. All obviously wild animals but with a peaceful cohabitation with us human beings and with a sense of a complete harmony ruling, with each animal sticking to its own space, respecting the other species and their respective space, (at least it felt so). It was altogether an overwhelming experience and a feeling of strong harmony with nature.
With a very skilled and professional guide as a companion each day in Pantanal offered a new adventure. Around the area several wooden towers existed, ideal to climb up and study the wildlife from the tree tops, especially birds and monkeys. One day when we were silently traveling on the river and after a sharp bend the encounter with a rather big tapir, cooling its leg in the river provided me with one of the most surprising and beautiful moments. One evening after an espectaular Pantanal sunset and going back to my room, a mini-frog was sitting on my doorstep, was it a pantanal prince? Another night, it was very noisy outside the room and it turned out to be a herd of wild Pantanal horses passing by the lodge. Time and time again I felt as a guest in the animal kingdom, a guest in nature.
It was very hot and each day was full of colourful and intense impressions from the nature and wildlife. The food was delicious and I met some wonderful people, staff and guests, that made the stay exceptional in all ways. A few days later it was time to leave. I felt a strong wish to stay for ever and continue this harmonius natural experience. Arriving at the airport I even felt slightly uncomfortable with so many people, noise and “disturbances” and it was almost a shock to get back to the busy city-life. Without doubt, my visit in Pantanal is one of the most remarkable natural experience I have had in my life and Pantanal is simply an ideal place for a close encounter with nature.
In Pantanal you can also experience jaguar-safari, but that is another story.
