On floodwatch in the Pantanal

South America » Brazil » Mato Grosso do Sul » Corumbá
February 11th 2010

Published: March 5th 2010

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LouiseandJonty

Caiman

The Pantanal; the journey here was something of an adventure in itself. The Indiana tours people picked us up from the hotel and drove us to Corumba bus station where we were put on a bus for Campo Grande. 2 hours in we got off and met the rep from Pousada Santa Clara and loaded ourselves, and our bags, into the back of a small truck. 30 minutes down a dirt track we reached the first major bridge which had collapsed in the middle. Out of the truck, into a little boat, 5 minutes across the river, and into the back of a larger truck. The driver plainly has the best seat and we bounce around in the back hanging onto our stuff while trying to spot wildlife.

We see some wild boar, deer hiding in the bushes and then up ahead Emu (or is it Emus?) that, instead of taking off across the bush, continue along the road ahead of us like we´re chasing them. They slow down at the bridges and as we catch them up they look back and fluff their feathers up making themselves look big. They continue ahead of us until we turn off and

Pont 4

1 of 20 we crossed on the way to Pousada Santa Clara

then the fun really begins. The Pantanal is flooded, more than usual. The water has risen 5 metres in the last 20 days and what were once meadows and roads are now vast expanses of water. The truck picks it´s way carefully through them but ahead we can see a tractor pulling a 4x4 out of hole. We transfer to a tractor trailer for the last kilometre to the Pousada.

During our 4 day stay we take a boat trip, go horse riding, a jeep safari, and go tubing down the river. Although this is not the best time to visit as the extra water drives some wildlife away we see toucans, capybara, caiman, deer, monkeys, although not all are gracious enough to hang around for photos. The Pantanal is magical, a landscape reflected in the water and full of wildlife. Just getting from A to B turns into an adventure.

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