Travel Tips for Pantanal
Having been back from the Pantanal and having done wildlife safaris in both Asia and Africa, I really hope someone would have given me these tips beforehand. However now that I am back after a great excursion to the Pantanal (Read more), here are few things which you need to keep in mind/plan before you head to the world’s largest wetland – Pantanal.
1.The Dry season runs from June to October which is a short period and it is the best time to visit the Pantanal as a large number of birds flock to the remaining lagoons of water and also a great time to spot the elusive Jaguar(Read more).
2.As I mentioned above it’s the Dry season and trust me it’s really dry. The temperatures soars above 40’c and the heat causes lot of small wildfires. So go well prepared with a lot of sun cream and be prepared to get tanned.
3.The Vegetation/Fauna is quite different than Africa/Asia. Remember its wetlands and not a dense forest. This means the Heat factor adds up even more
4.Transpantaneira Highway is the road which does deep into the northern Pantanal running for 150+ Km from the nearest town on Pocone. This is last stop if you would like to refuel the vehicle, grab some food/water etc. For the next 150+ KM’s you are heading deep into wilderness with no sight of human life whatsoever and only thing you could see are the Caymans!
5.The Transpantaneira Highway has more 100+ wooden bridges which are in a state of despair – so driving on then please tread carefully. Also these can be overflowing during the wet season so plan accordingly
6.Dust – This is something which you would inhale and gulp down a lot while in Pantanal. Good to cover up your face and be careful if you have dust allergies
Read more about our Pantanal wildness exploration– Click here.
7.As for the places you would stay – Most of the lodges in Pantanal are Eco lodges which mean cattle ranch owners promoting Tourism. So please get the expectation straight – this is NOT a luxury stay by any means.
8.The Eco Lodge we stayed was self-sufficient family run business which cooked great meals though they need to travel 150K.M to get meat. However you would get everything from a good Caipirinha to a succulent buffet Breakfast with some of the best bacon you will ever have.
9.Most of us are here to see the wildlife and again you need to have the proper expectations. This is the not the place of Big 5 of the Serengeti or the Indian Tiger. This is birds lovers paradise and even though I wasn’t a bird lover I still fell in love with what this place has to offer in terms of bird life. Amongst Mammals you would see a lot of Capybaras, Caymans and if lucky the elusive Jaguar. However species like the Tapir, Giant Anteaters, Puma, Anaconda are really rare. Spotting Animals in Pantanal is really hard.
10.This is the place for Boat Safaris –that’s the best place to see the elusive feline. So you would spend more than 8 hours a day in a narrow boar on the might Cuiaba river. The river adds manifold to the heat and Sun. so be well prepared
11.Insects – A real pain. Lot of flies, mosquitos all over the river and give real nasty stings. Took me 3 weeks to get off the bites/boils once back from Pantanal. Carry a good repellent (though it renders useless) after a while.
What to pack – Good Hiking shoes, Full sleeve clothes, Trek pants, Hat, Sun cream, Mosquito repellent, head torch, Binoculars and a hell lot of patience.
View our Pantanal Journey Video here –
Read more about our Pantanal wildness exploration– Click here.
If you have queries/feedback, please leave a comment and I will get back to you ASAP.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.