According to Portuguese-English dictionary, Pantanal is a "large swamp or marsh". In reality the definition is not precise. The term Pantanal is applied to a large land mass which becomes partially submersed during the raining season, covering an area of about 210.000 square kilometers in Central-Western Brazil, Eastern Bolivia and part of Paraguay. The largest portion of Pantanal, about 140.000 square kilometers lies, in Brazil, stretching over two states - Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. By comparison, Florida Everglades has only 10.000 square kilometers.

The vegetation of the Pantanal is mainly a mixture between three of the most important ecosystems of South America; the Chaco with its dry forest formations to the south, the savannah-like Cerrado to the east and the Amazon jungle to the north. As a result of the topography and the seasonal climate the landscapes consist of swamps, seasonally flooded grass and woodlands, and various types of forest (evergreen, semi deciduous, gallery etc.). This mixture has caused the Pantanal to house the highest concentration of wildlife in all of the Americas.

In the Pantanal region occur around 700 species of birds(compared to about 500 in all Europe). It is one of the most important breeding grounds for typical wetland birds such as heron, stork, ibis and pink spoonbill that are found in enormous flocks. The magnificent Jabiru with its red neck and black head; the biggest stork of the Americas is known as the symbol of the Pantanal. Quite evident are also the 26 species of parrot including the endangered blue hyacinth macaw, the world's largest parrotmore than one meter long. Of other characteristic birds can be mentioned the rhea – the South American version of the ostrich. The large quantity of birds of prey – represented by 45 species indicates a well-balanced ecosystem.

The base for the Pantanal Wildlife Safari is the Fazenda. The ranch is located approximately 160 miles from Campo Grande in a 30.000 acres farm with very rich flora and fauna. It has a diverse landscape of savannah lowlands, seasonal wetlands and rich forest areas. The Ranch is also an active working ranch with over 12.000 head of cattle.

The riding trail cuts through the Pantanal region of the Nhecolândia district. During 6 days (5 full and 2 half days) the group will be riding on the vast lands while the omnipresent wildlife catches the attentions and provokes breathtaking surprises during the whole trail. It is imperative, though, to keep cameras ready at all times. On a night excursion we show you how to caress a caiman's neck.