Pantanal and Central West
Caiman
Caiman is located within a 53,000 hectare ranch on the banks of the Aquidauana River in Brazil’s southern Pantanal and combines cattle ranching, ecotourism and conservation. The accommodation options have recently been upgraded with the opening of Casa Caiman featuring 18 suites in three categories surrounded by extensive gardens and complete with a swimming pool and gym. As well as Casa Caiman the six room Villa Baiazinha, located nine kilometres away, is available for private group rental. Guests explore the private reserve during day time and nocturnal jeep safaris, nature walks and canoeing trips. Horse riding excursions are led by the local community of cowboys.
There is a daily program of activities in small groups accompanied by an experienced bilingual naturalist guide and a local farmworker. A private guide can be arranged at additional cost.
Caiman maintains a 5,600 hectare private reserve which supports a variety of research and management projects. Principal conservation projects focus on the hyacinth macaw and the jaguar.
The jaguar habituation project, Oncasafari, offers visitors the opportunity to track jaguars in an Africa-style jeep safari. During the June to September high season presentations are given by the Oncasafari scientists, and dedicated tracking programs can be arranged on either a private or shared basis.
Guests can also visit the cattle ranch which was founded in 1910 and currently has around 35,000 head of cattle.
Facilities
Casa Caiman's 18 suites (1 x master, 3 x superior and 14 x standard) have air-conditioning, ceiling fan, outside terrace and WiFi. Facilities at Casa Caiman include an outdoor terrace, swimming pool, deck overlooking the bay, living room, courtyard, hammock area, and restaurant. A laundry service is available at additional cost. Villa Baiazinha has six superior rooms with king or twin bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and balcony.
Local Wildlife
The Pantanal has more than 650 species of birds, 80 mammals and 260 species of fish. This includes a healthy population of jaguars which are being frequently observed on dedicated excursions with Oncasafari. Other spectacular Pantanal species such as tapirs, giant anteaters, hyancith macaws, jabiru storks and rheas are also commonly seen along side hundreds of caiman and capybara. Night drives offer the possibilty of more nocturnal species such as ocelot, tamandua and crab-eating racoon.
Optional Activities
Hikes, bike rides, Canadian canoe, photographic safaris and nocturnal spotlighting.
John Melton
Area Specialist
If you have any questions regarding our Brazil tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Yes, I am back from a wonderfully amazing realisation of a dream to see a jaguar. Too good to put into words. Everything went like clockwork – Sao Paulo airport is a bit of a maze. I landed up pretty well having a one to one trip with my guides. Cristalino was magical with American guides Will and Gill Carter, very much a ‘Birders’ paradise, but I loved it. Then I went on to the Jaguar Research Centre for what turned out to be 3 1/2 days of pure heaven. ‘Fisher’, my guide was brilliant and we managed to see Wilson, Hugo, Duda (on 3 occasions) and an unidentified cat. The young Duda was amazing, we followed her for a whole morning moving along the river bank and then in the evening actually saw her swimming across it. Wonderful memories.
