The Pantanal

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After arriving two hours late from our overnight bus from Sao Paulo we were picked up at the bus stop and taken into the town centre to relax for an hour and grab a bight to eat. We had decided to go with Ecological Expeditions after reading about them in several guidebooks and the fact that they were cheap. After sorting out the details and payment we were back onto a bus for the five hour ride into the Pantanal.

The road into the Pantanal was slow going but we managed to kill the time and reached the drop off point. After spending twenty two hours on buses over the last twenty four hours we were keen to get out of the van as soon as possible. The drop off point was a crappy car park next to a police station and a little shop. But even here wildlife was all around us. Here we got our first sight of cayman and numerous birds we would grow familiar with over the course of the four days in the Pantanal.

After arriving at the campsite and being informed it would be a few hours before we were to go on our night safari we settled into the camp life and had a chat with the other members in our group. In our group throughout the trip we had Ian and Geoff (Jeff) two English guys who were doing some travel before emigrating to Australia. Along for the ride was the talented (I believe she spoke five languages) but slightly crazy Anne who having been born in Brazil was returning for the first time in a long time. The night safari turned out to be a bit dull but we caught sight of some Capybara's and Cayman. After our first camp dinner (to be said the food was pretty good) we headed to bed in out hammocks. Two things about sleeping in the hammocks in the Pantanal. Firstly it gets really cold at night in the rooms where we slept. That and hammocks can be really awkward to sleep in for a few days.

The next day turned out to be my favourite of the four days out in the Pantanal. After a breakfast including cake (seemingly common in Brazil) we headed out for a walking tour through the Pantanal. Our guide was a guy called Nicola who was an absolute legend. We took about two hours trekking through the wetlands spotting as much wildlife as possible and learning about the local plants and their uses. There is a great little fruit that grows in the Pantanal which you cut open when green and use the juice as an ink on the skin. It goes on clear and after about an hour you are left with a tattoo of sorts that last about a week. Also Nicola showed us how to make rope from a plant that kind of looks like a giant aloe vera. I believe that Forster is still stashing the rope somewhere in his luggage. That afternoon we headed out for some Piranha fishing. Turns out that it is very easy to catch Piranha's. You stick a bit of meat on a hook at the end of a bamboo stick and then wait about the two seconds it takes for the little buggers to strip you hook clean of meat. If you are lucky you pull a bit on the rod and hook one of the little buggers. I had a bit of success at the old fishing but somehow I managed to hook the most amount of fish that weren't Piranha's often through the side of the body and once through the poor little fella's eye.

The next few was a bit of a dull affair. Driving through the Pantanal or taking a trip out on the boat. While it was good to see the wildlife if I have to see another Cayman in my life I will stab it to death. On the final day we headed out on a horseride which was a good end to our time in the Pantanal. That afternoon we said out goodbyes and made our way to Bonito.

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Photos

Our room.
Chilling in our hammocks.

Forster.
Being the special kid he is.

Cayman.
Seriously plague proportions.

Chilling on the bank.
Description says it all.

Piranhas.
Tasty little fuckers.