The Pantanal

Everybody is speaking about the djungel and tropical forest around the Amazonas. But there is also an other wild natural area in South America that offers such a comprehensive and tropical fauna and flora in South America – the Pantanal. This wetland – located in Paraguay, Bolivia and mainly Brazil – covers 140,000 km² and is therewith bigger than Greece for example. The climate conditions are almost as extreme as around the Amazonas. There are around 40° almost over the whole year and a humidity of 99%. So not the most comfortable area for somebody who is not used to these conditions. But the wildness of animals and vegetation the Pantanal still offers makes trip to that area to an unforgetable experience. You easily meet apes, lizzards, chameleon, caimans, parrots and other tropical birds such as tucans in wild nature, but also nice animals as pumas, poisonous spiders or big snakes can meet your way in the Pantanal. So a guide is definitely necessary. Not only for leading you to the most interesting places and animals but also for not risking your life. You can book tours in Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, which is mainly the starting point for going to the Pantanal. An about four hour bus trip brings you close to the Pantanal from there. Afterwards a Jeep brings you deep into the real Pantanal area. From a kind of pension there you can make several tours through the nature. Of course walking or even a Safari by bike which I can’t really recommend with 40° in the shadow and big areas without shadow. But actually whatever you are doing there you will sweat anyway. That makes you even more attractive for the loads of nasty mosquitos. Spray or lotion to deter from insects is recommendable, but when it gets mixed with sweat it does not disturb the mosquitos anymore. But the nature you see there everytime and eveywhere you go compensates for all inconveniences. You only see nature as far as you eyes can see. Making a boat trip on one of the numerous rivers in the Pantanal gives you an easy view on the animals on the land and the trees around the river. You can also go for fishing piranhas who are supposed to be a delicacy. Well I did not try. Horse back riding through the Pantanal is also a nice experience. In the time from October to March there is raining period. That means that the rivers go over the shore and flood big parts of the Pantanal area. Horse back riding than means riding in one meter high water. So your legs up to the knees get wet for sure. But it’s still great fun. And it’s not really difficult, not even if it’s your first time. Of course there are also Safaris by car or truck. While managing to travel big distances by car you come to several interesting places and different Fauna and Flora. Even while driving wild animals cross the street in front of the truck. Last but not least the Pantanal has probably the most amazing sunsets I’ve ever seen. As the landscape is so flat you can see the sun going down many kilometers away. And the sky and the clouds get mixed and so many different forms colours from red and orange to dark blue.