Llanos is a vast tropical grassland plain that supports significant populations of giant anteaters, giant otters and jaguars. Much of the landscape is used for cattle farming but remains largely undisturbed, wild and seldom visited.
Covering more than 500 square kilometres, this huge tropical grassland is home to an abundance of wildlife that thrives amongst the patchwork of rivers, seasonal lakes and gallery forests. This wild land experiences a marked difference in its seasons, with a wet flooded season followed by a dry period between December and March, when wildlife gathers in great numbers around the receding pools and riverbanks. This is the best time to visit when flocks of egrets, herons, jabiru storks, scarlet ibis and other waterbirds congregate alongside capybara and spectacled caiman around the remaining water.
The drying of the grasslands also makes finding the wonderful giant anteater much easier as they amble between termite mounds. The shrinking pools expose the giant green anacondas that thrive in this region alongside the highly endangered Orinoco crocodiles, while along the rivers, families of giant otter pursue a wealth of fish. The birdlife is another highlight, with spectacular and colourful species such as scarlet macaw, horned screamer and wire-tailed manakin calling this grassland home.
The region currently receives far fewer visitors than many other wildlife hotspots, but is slowly developing its wildlife tourism infrastructure, with excellent potential. In recent years, sightings of the majestic jaguar have dramatically increased in certain areas, offering further excitement.
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