The Pantanal is home to the highest concentration of wildlife in all the America and one of the worlds biggest ecological sanctuaries and largest wetland area, covering some 240,000 square kilometers. The vegetation of the Pantanal is a mixture of the three most important ecosystems of South America. The landscapes consist of swamps, seasonally flooded grass and woodlands, and various types of forest (evergreen, semi deciduous etc.).
It is also home to a working cattle ranches (fazendas) and a rich cultural cowboy tradition. A horse riding holiday in this area offers wildlife seen nowhere else, an adventure and the chance to observe the harmonious relationships between the horse and the environment and local people.
Our 10 day itinerary treks to three different fazendas to experience the wildlife and gaucho life at its best. There are many extras such as night drives to spot game as well as an opportunity to work alongside the gauchos on their cattle work and you will leave having seen the best of the pantanal.
No single rooms available (on some or all nights). Riders must be prepared to share.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - PANTANAL WILDLIFE TOUR
Please note that as of December 2010 one of the Fazenda's has been temporarily closed. Extra time will be spent at the two other ranches.
Day 1
Campo Grande - Fazenda 23 de Marco
Upon arrival Campo Grande (CGR) airport, you will be picked-up for group overland transfer to Fazenda 23 de Março in the Miranda region. It takes 2 ½ hrs on Federal Highway 262 plus 40 minutes on dirt road to get there. The group will be welcomed by host Evani, your guides Sergio and Robson and all the other staff, with a decent “Caipirinha”, the National drink. After taking being shown to your room enjoy some rest and a shower and you will enjoy an authentic and hearty Pantaneiro lunch, cooked on the huge earthenware stove. Now you need some more rest. Your room features air-conditioning for your comfort. In the afternoon you will choose your horse on a first ride to Simon's Bay. There is an observation deck for bird watchers. These are some of the birds you will be able to watch: Southern or Crested Screamer, Neo Tropic Cormorant, Limpkin, Wattled Jacana, Great Kiskadee, Chaco Chachalaca, Plumbeous and Buff-necked Ibis, Yellow-billed and Red-crested Cardinal, Little Blue Heron, Cattle, Great, Capped and Snowy Egret, Surucua Trogon, Caatinga Cacholote, Crested Caracará, Laughing Falcon, Savannah Hawk, Black-collared Hawk, and the beautiful Hyacinth Macaw, just to mention a few…. Watch out, there are also Anacondas in that area. Back at the Fazenda, dinner is waiting and after that probably you are probably knocked out from the long journey and like to go to bed early.
Day 2
Today you will ride through the rich fauna and flora of this part of the Brazilian Pantanal, which is dominated by permanent and temporary water deposits forming bays and lakes, offering abundance of wildlife. You will also ride through forests and native camps and pastures, with typical white Nelore cattle grazing on so called Invernadas, which are areas destined for specific cattle handling. Here you will also meet up with the cowboys of the 23, or actually riding with them straight from the fazenda to the Invernadas. Lunch is out in the wild today and you will be riding back to the Fazenda, together with the peões as the Pantanal cowboys are called, during sundown. After dinner you gather together with the staff and the guides to promote friendship and understanding of an amazing world, which is the Brazilian Pantanal.
Day 3 Breakfast is set for 8am. Today´s ride on the 23 de Março land takes you to the São Francisco outpost. During the ride splendid wildlife viewing can be expected. You might be able to see, Collared and White-lipped Peccary, Brazilian Tapir, Giant Anteater, possibly Squirrel and Howler monkey. Not far from the outpost is the São Francisco Bay, Brazil. Here we gear up for some catch and release fishing. As some in the group certainly like fish, we would not release all of them, but take some home for dinner, or we would just prepare and grill the catch right there for lunch in the wild. After that, lazy hammock swinging underneath a shadowy tree is appropriate. Anyway, we will ride back to the Fazenda at late afternoon. The plan for later at night is to take the jeep and set out for animal flashlight spotting. There are plenty of nocturnal animals out there, hiding during the day in the dense forest. We may see Azaras Agouti, Crab-eating Fox, Racoon, Marsh Deer and why not, a Puma on hunt.
Day 4 Another day of great riding and wildlife watching on the property of the Fazenda 23 de Março. The riding today takes us to three different destinations with ever changing landscapes from hilly pastures to flooded areas and savannahs. At the tuyuyú Invernada , named after the biggest stork in the world, we break for lunch. We will be returning to the Fazenda in time to take a hike on the JD trail, named after the Fazendas owner Dr.Julio Dittmar. The trail, leading through dense forest offers excellent bird and other wildlife watching. While on the sandy ground, it is easy to find a wide array of animal tracks, including Tapir, White-lipped Peccary and Puma, birds of all sizes and colors, flying from tree to tree. The forest is also home to squirrel and howler monkeys. Almost certain, we will be able to observe some of these animals.
Day 5 Fazenda 23 de Marco - Fazenda Santa Cruz
Today we will transfer on horseback to the Santa Cruz Fazenda. Having reached the limit of the 23 de Março range, crew and horses from the Santa Cruz are taking over the group. The landscape during the ride is typical of the untouched cerrado Bioma, a low wood or bush land savannah. During a break we restore energy with téréré, the cold mate tea, which is to the Pantaneiro people, what is Coke to us. Lunch is at Fazenda Santa Cruz.
Following the siesta, the owners, Edena and Roberto Dittmar and daughter Helena, will take us for a Fazenda tour. The Santa Cruz Ranch is a one of the oldest ranches in this region of the Southern Pantanal and the family takes pride in introducing its visitors to the history of Santa Cruz which is tightly connected with the history of the Pantanal itself. This fazenda originally encompassed some 20thousand hectares and was founded by the forebears of the Dittmar family. Later the property was divided between the daughter and the 2 sons, Rosaura, Roberto Beto and Jão Julio Dittmar in equal pieces of 6500 hectares, being the Fazendas 23 de Março (João Julio), Santa Cruz (Roberto Beto) and Cacimba de Pedra (Rosaura).
We will be visiting the old sugar cane mill, the machine room, the “trail of the first well” and take the beautiful “Liana trail” through the surrounding forest. The dinner will be taken together with the owners family.
Day 6 We have planned a long riding day on the temporary flooded landscape of the 6000 hectares property of the Santa Cruz Ranch. The vegetation is rich of beautiful Tabebuia aurea, also known as Yellow flowering trumpet tree or Paraguayan trumpet tree, Pink ipê, which flowers sometimes at the same time, extensive native pastures, exotic Caranda palm forest, Bocaiuva and Acuri Palms, carrying fruits that are the preferred of the biggest of all macaws, the Hyacinth macaw. An authentic Pantaneiro Churrasco BBQ out in the wild has been prepared for us. Considering the good food and the heat at midday, we will appreciate the hammocks that have been strung underneath some shadowy tree for our comfort. Riding back to the Fazenda on trails called “Nachi Dachi” , “Sinisio rodeo”, “Pedra Branca and Cheirosa lagoon” , 3 Gates, “Dry corral” , and so forth…. Almost certainly we meet during the ride bands of Coatis, 9 or 7 banded Armadillo and perhaps even the huge Yellow Armadillo, Pampas and White-tailed Deer, Giant or Lesser Anteater among others. Shower, relax, dinner and story telling amidst the family and staff will end the day.
Day 7 This morning we will be riding to the Pirizal reed field and vazante, which is a natural water reservoir that retains water from the rainy season, withdrawing slowly in the dry season. Passing the “Conquista” outpost and “Stretched forest”, we stop at a Hyacinth macaws nest and, crossing the vazante in north/south direction we contemplate another nest, that of the tuyuyú giant stork. After resting at “Jaguars hill”, we take another trail back to the Fazenda for lunch, having thus completed a 18kms ridewe will have completed a ride of about 18kms.
Lets give the horses time off for the afternoon. We take a 4km bicycle ride through the “cowboys corridor” a trail used by cattle drivers, to the “Conquista” shelter. On our way to “Conquista” and back, there is plenty of wildlife to observe. You may see Black Howler Monkey, Giant Anteater, Wild Boar, Red-legged Siriema, Snail Kite, Roadside Hawk and other animals that have made the area their home. Our hosts has equipped us with fishing gear, so that we can try our luck with the “piranhas” , which give an excellent soup, spiced with fresh chilli peppers, for dinner.
Day 8 Fazenda Santa Cruz - Fazenda Cacimba de Pedra
Right after breakfast we check-out from Santa Cruz Ranch, as we are heading now for our last destination which is the “Fazenda Cacimba de Pedra”. There, we will be welcomed the traditional way, with a call from the “Berrante” a huge buffalo horn used to call cattle and iced mate tea. A short tour through the fazendas facilities is conducted by the owners, Dona Rosaura and her husband. Lunch and siesta is followed by a reconnaissance ride on the property, with wildlife viewing on the so called “Wild Boars trail”. Upon return and prior to dinner, you may want to jump the fazendas swimming pool for refreshment or just swing in a hammock under a huge Mango tree for relax, or just do both…. Night outing for cayman spotting at the “Baia dos jacarés” is the plan for later in the evening. By doing that, we may cross the path of Bush Dog, Short-eared Dog, the great Marsh Deer, Ocelot, Crab-eating Fox, Paca and perhaps Puma Felis concolor, and other nocturnal animals living in the area.
Day 9
The days activities start with a guided visit to Latin Americas top Cayman Nurturing Centre. Offspring of various size and age can be seen at the birth place and thee 24 hrs Observatory. Dr. Gerson, husband of Dona Rosaura and a veterinary, will explain his project and all about the species “cayman yacare”. From here we mount our horses to ride to the cayman breeding lake, hosting a great number and some of the biggest cayman ever seen. There is also plenty bird life at the lake. Particularly water birds, such as Roseate Spoonbills, several species of Kingfishers, Black-billed Whistling Duck, Moskovy Duck, Whistling Heron, White-necked Heron, Wood Stork, Green Ibis, Pied Water Tyrant and many others.
Another project of the fazenda is the Feral Pigs breeding station, which we are going to visit from here on horseback. Lunch is at the fazenda. Riding with the cowboys over the range and handling Nelore cattle is on the agenda for the afternoon. However, this may depend more on the peões duties than on our agenda. A change of schedule may therefore become necessary, but in any case, we will have the opportunity, as we have had at the other fazendas, to watch them at work, have a chat and a round of téréré mate tea. It is time now to return to Fazenda Cacimba de Pedra for shower and Aperitif. Don’t miss the – hopefully not - last Pantanal sunset from the pools deck. During dinner, Pantanal singers and musicians joining in tonight, providing thus, an appropriate atmosphere for the last night of your Pantanal Adventure.
Day 10 Fazenda Cacimba de Pedra - Fazenda 23 de Marco and home
Certainly you don’t miss out this morning, on the last chance for your Pantanal wildlife discoveries on horseback. First however, you have breakfast and must check-out thereafter from Cacimba de Pedras. Then, while your luggage is being transferred by car back to 23 de Março, where your Pantanal Adventure started 10 days ago, you will ride over the lands of the Cacimba Ranch to the boundary of the two properties where horses are being changed. On route to the 23 de Março, you may see some of the animals you have not seen yet, such as Black and White Hawk, Red and Green Macaw, Toco Toucan, Lesser Anteater. After arrival at 23, a shower and changing of clothes prepares you for the farewell barbeque. The staff from the three fazendas, who cared about our well beings during the stay there join in the feast. Friendships are sealed and plans for the next stay in the Pantanal or other parts of Brazil are made. A Car or Van takes the group to Campo Grande airport for return flight home or connections. Where possible please book your departure from Campo Grande in the evening.
This is the end of the Great Brazilian Pantanal Fazenda and Wildlife Ride.
Please note: This itinerary is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.
NOTES - PANTANAL WILDLIFE TOUR
Small group supplement to be refunded once 4 or more riders have booked in.
It is not possible to guarantee a single room each night of this trip and you should be prepared to share.
FAZENDA STAYS
If you are a non rider or perhaps simply have no time for the 10 day itinerary, fazenda ranch stays are a good alternative. Trail riding guests may either want to stay after a trail ride a few more days with their hosts, others want to spend some time on the Brazilian countryside, enjoying the authentic rural lifestyle, away from the hassle in the big cities.
Cattle ranches in the Pantanal exceed in size those of the south by far. Just like our partner ranch on 30,000 acres of land, there about 12,000 cattle and 250 working horses. Some of them the are of the finest Pantaneiro breed. A farm stay at the fazenda offers not only an insight in the traditional cattle business of the Pantanal but a wildlife experience. Guests will ride out every day or undertake 4WD trips around the property joining the cowboys in their daily tasks.
When staying on the fazenda visitors are offered great wildlife observation and outstanding photography opportunities. Guided by the competent and friendly fazenda staff, guests will explore the natural beauty of the Pantanal on horseback, hiking and on jeep tours. There is also the opportunity to take part on the every day work of the pantaneiro peões, the Pantanal cowboys. Trailing cattle, learning about the secrets of regional horsemanship, or, on the other hand, participating in preparing the delicious food that is produced right there at the fazenda´s own facilities, are other experiences that you would not want to miss.
Our ranch in the Pantanal features a 30.000 acres property with some 12.000 of cattle. It belongs to a traditional family who is engaged in cattle breeding for 4 generations. The cultural aspect of the Pantaneiro people, both land owners of European descent and the peões of Indian-Bolivian ancestry, carry a rich heritage of traditions and culture.
The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
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WHAT IS INCLUDED
Road transfers to and from Campo Grande, luggage transfers between Fazendas, all accommodation in twin or single rooms, all meals and refreshments, non-alcoholic drinks, all riding (8 full days and 2 half days) and English speaking nature guide.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights to/from Campo Grande, alcoholic drinks, personal items, tips.
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What you see on our web site is exactly how much your invoice will come to and this will not change once booked. Unlike some other companies the prices on our web site are fully inclusive of often hidden extras such as: VAT, Sales Tax, state taxes, city taxes, service charges, non-optional tips, fuel surcharges which can add 20% or more to the advertised cost. Prices are available in £ sterling, Euros and US$. Once invoiced, prices are guaranteed against adverse currency fluctuations. Contact us for package prices which include flights from the UK and see each ride for exact details of all items in individual itineraries.
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