Foto: Kingfisher in the Pantanal (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Brazil - As soon as the truck drives onto the dirt road, I see beautiful birds on both sides. With a tap on the cabin roof, the driver stops. It’s not easy to take good photos. The sound of the vehicle scares the animals. In the puddles where there is still some water, dozens of caimans lie, and capybaras — a kind of large guinea pig — walk around. On the roadside sits the tuiuiu stork, one of the largest stork species in the world. In flight, the bird has a wingspan of two and a half meters. Further on are ibises, kingfishers, and smaller colorful species. The driver stops regularly, making the journey to the farm longer. No problem, I wouldn’t want to miss this trip. After an hour and a half, we turn right onto the path to the Xaraés farm. The fazenda is still twelve kilometers from the road. The truck slowly drives over the dusty dirt road. It shakes a lot in the back. Now and then I lift off the back seat. I don’t complain much. My truck still has some padding; the other truck only has wooden benches. At the fazenda, I’m warmly welcomed. Lunch is ready. In the afternoon, I go on safari. Two vehicles drive into the Pantanal. The vehicles drive over sandy paths. Cows and buffalos quickly step aside. The guide explains that there are jaguars in the area. Because they often attack cows, the owner switched to buffalos. In the ponds, I see many caimans sunbathing on the shore. Monkeys follow me from the trees. The driver drives the truck straight through the bushes to get closer to the monkeys. Halfway through the safari, we get out. I follow Gino, the guide, on a path through the trees. Gino shows how the fruits grow on the palm tree. The nut is so hard it can hardly be cracked. When cows eat the nut, it comes out whole in their droppings. The nut is then softer and tastier. Birds open the nut for the coconut. Gino opens a nut and lets me taste the coconut. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten something from poop before. Further on, he points out two young Hyacinth macaw parrots in the tree. The blue parrots play and make a hell of a noise. They belong to a nest in a tree hollow. Occasionally, a parrot’s head sticks out of the narrow opening. A few meters higher, tuiuiu storks sit. A small stork sits next to her mother in the nearly two-meter-wide nest. The sun slowly sets. An orange glow shines over the Pantanal landscape. The animals prepare for the night.
Authentic Paraty
Brazil - Back in the city, Philippe takes us directly to the old town. The tide reaches its maximum height around three o’clock, and it’s already half past three. We walk briskly to the historic center. Although the water is already receding, I still see several ...
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil - Traffic is backed up in several places, but eventually, it starts to crawl forward. After leaving the main road, the driver heads into the mountains. With each bend, we climb higher. Eventually, I'm dropped off at the parking lot by the information center. ...
Iguazú Falls
Brazil - I get off the bus at the luxurious Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, right in the middle of the National Park. Why aren’t we staying here? I can already hear the river and waterfalls behind the trees. As I walk along the path toward the water, I see the ...
Paradiselike Ilha Grande
Brazil - On the east side of Abraão Beach, a hiking trail begins to one of the most beautiful beaches on Ilha Grande. Praia Lopes Mendes lies on the other side of the island, on the ocean side. Because of the surf, the beach is difficult to reach by water taxi. ...
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil - In the afternoon, we go with the group to Pão de Açúcar, the Sugarloaf Mountain. From this characteristic rocky peak at the entrance of the bay, you have a beautiful view over Rio de Janeiro. We take five taxis to the cable car entrance. A cabin takes ...