Pantanal - Tues 19th Feb 2008

Trip Start Feb 11, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
Santa Clara pousada, Pantanal
(Pantanal hotels)

Flag of Brazil  ,
Saturday, February 23, 2008

Got up at 07:00, had breakfast and set off at 08:00 with Carlos, the guide, who took us on a walk through the forest. Disappointingly we didn't see any wildlife in the forest itself - we just got attacked by mosquitoes! But we did see a toucan, armadillo, baby deer and birds on our way there and back. Back onsite at 10:00, we had until 16:00 to chill out. There was a massive thunderstorm just before lunch - apparently it was the first time it had rained in February. It had rained everyday for the last two weeks of Jan. It absolutely poured down and I had never heard thunder quite so loud!
We had an afternoon nap and then at 16:00, we went Piranha fishing with Trudie. The group of us got onto a small fishing boat and set off along the River Abobral. Like all of the rivers in the Pantanal, the River Abobral flows into the River Paraguay, which is the largest river in the Pantanal. We each had a rod and Trudie put bait of beef on our hooks. The fish kept eating my bait but in the end I caught a Piranha - I was very proud as, as a novice, it was the first fish I had ever caught! Mike almost caught one too but it slipped off the hook as he was trying to take a photo! Trudie explained that if they catch big piranhas then they keep them and eat them but if they're small they put them back in the river. Piranhas are strong and durable and can withstand being caught and put back without any problems. However, with any other types of fish they catch, they keep because they would just die if they were put back into the river.
While fishing we saw a speckled caiman sunning himself on a river bank. The driver manouvered the boat right up close so that we were literally about a metre away from its face! Two types of alligator exist in the Pantanal, black caiman and speckled caiman.
I enjoyed the fishing as it was relaxing and tranquil, with just the sounds of the birds chirping in the trees.
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