Wanderlust - 04.2020

wanderlust.co.ukApril 2020 39

ACCOMMODATION EXPLORE

T

heworld’slargest

wetland extends some

180,000 sq km across

Brazil, Bolivia and

Paraguay. However,

over 90% of the Pantanal is privately

owned land, with cattle farming

dominating a region home to the

Americas’ greatest concentration of

wildlife. The two aren’t always easy

bedfellows; however one working

cattle ranch does things diff erently.

Owned by conservationist Roberto

Klabin, Caiman combines ecotourism

and conservation alongside

traditional cattle farming.

If you love African safaris and have

bemoaned the lack of similar

experiencesinLatinAmericathen

this is defi nitely the place for you.

Caiman off ers three diff erent

luxurious lodges to stay in, each with

its own restaurant, pool, guides and

excursions, and each with wildlife

literally on its doorstep. Our

favourite is Baiazinha with six rooms

overlooking a large lake, and a real

feeling of being away from it all.

Explore the lagoons, pastures and

tracks of the ranch by safari jeep.

Go in search of jaguars (there’s

a 98% chance of seeing them), giant

anteaters and the hundreds of

birds, which call the Pantanal home.

If you’re lucky you may even get

to see a tapir or maned wolf.

Getthere

Caiman Estancia is

a four-hour drive

from the nearest

airport at Campo

Grande. Book

through a travel

specialist such as

Audley Travel

(audleytravel.com)

who o er itineraries

that include

a private excursion

with Onçafari and

the Hyacinth

Macaw project.

Naturewalksandcanoetripsare

also available. Book a private

excursion with the Onçafari team for

a unique experience. This jaguar

research project, co-founded by

former racing driver Mario

Haberfeld, has shown that jaguars

can coexist with livestock and be

habituated to tourists and, in doing

so, can bring economic benefi t, create

jobs and save ecosystems.

Book a morning with the

Hyacinth Macaw project too, to

learn more about these vulnerable

birds. In fact, make sure you spend

several days here, and book as much

as you can! From £584 per room; full

board and guide. caiman.com.br/

Experience a Latin American safari as you track jaguars in this wildlife haven

DREAM SLEEP

The Caiman

Ecological Refuge,

Brazil

Caiman Ecological Refuge

A wild stay

Baizinha Lodge is

just one of three

luxury lodges to

stay in at Caiman