Pantanal & Beyond

Day 10

We are now offically in Brazil. We found someone to stamp our passports, then it was on to the Pantanal via a private bus.

The Pantanal is the biggest wetland in the world. At this time, the end of the dry season, if looks like an Africa savannah, but much more humid. In a month, we are told, the whole area will be underwater from the flooding rivers - that is why the lodge and walkways are all on stilts here.

The jungle lodge is a bit more primative than the one we stayed in in Peru, with multishared rooms (dormatories), but the food is good and the scenery is beautiful. It is hot, hot, hot!

We arrived about noon today and then went for a boat trip up the river. Lots of wildlife here.

Huge rodents (water pigs).

Lots of caymen along the banks.

Birds of all descriptions.

Some of us went swimming in the river (Sue did not). We just jumped in about a couple of 100 meters upstream and let the current sweep us down to our dock, watching as the caymen slipped into the water as we went by. Our guide assured us that is perfectly safe. I´m not sure I trust his judgement any more.

Day 11

Today, we went by farm truck to a nearby farm, stopping to view wildlife along the way. Kind of sad to see the small ponds with tons of baby caymen trapped till the wet season comes along. I guess a lot of them don´t make it.

Once at the farm, they made us ride some horses (Yes I did and yes I survived) before we were allowed to eat lunch. We were supposed to go for a hike in the afternoon, after lazing in some hammocks for a few hours, but the day just would not cool off and we decided to do a later walk from the jungle lodge instead.

This hike at the lodge was actually pretty good. We were able to spot a bunch of howler monkeys, making a huge racket in the trees, plus lots of caymen and birds, etc.

Near the end, there was a viewing stand that you could climb up to see the surrounding countryside. Only our guide and I were brave enough to go to the top. Sue did manage to get to the second platform.

Day 12

This morning, we fished for Piranhas from our dock. The disturbing thing is that we caught a lot of them (and we were swimming in this river yesterday), some of them quite large.

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You put a chunk of meat on a hook and throw it in and immediately a fish bites. Most of the time they get away with the meat, so I think we were basically just feeding them, but we did catch our fare share.

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Just before noon, we left the lodge and travelled about 4 hours to the town of Bonito.

Bonito is a small place, kind of an adventure centre for the surrounding river excursions. Lots of souvenier shops and restaurants. Very touristy.

Day 13

Today we did an optional snorkelling trip to the Rio do Prata. A very unique adventure.

First, you get suited up in a wetsuit, booties, snorkel and mask, then hike for about 40 minutes through the jungle to get to a spring-fed lagoon. There you practice snorkelling a bit, before drifting down the river for about an hour and a half. Like cruising above a shallow aquarium. Lots of fish of all sizes and crystal clear water. The depth varies from about 1 meter to maybe 3 meters and the current sweeps you along accordingly. They are very strict - no kicking, no touching, no sun-tan lotion or instect repellant allowed - just drift down the river...

Day 14

Today we had the option of going on a beach barbeque but Susanne and I decided to skip it. Did not sound all that exciting and we felt we needed a break after the last few days. So, here I am updating this site while Sue is out shopping.

Tomorrow we leave Bonito for Ponto Pora town, on the Paraguay border.