Ecosystems · South America

Pantanal And Cerrado

The world's largest tropical wetland beside an ancient savanna.

The Pantanal is one of the largest tropical wetlands in the world, and beside it lies the Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna of grassland, scrub and woodland. Together they are among the best places in the Americas to see large wildlife.

Water levels, not temperature, set the rhythm of the year.

The Landscape

In the Pantanal, rivers overflow in the wet season and shrink to pools and channels in the dry season. The Cerrado's trees have thick bark and very deep roots, often described as a forest upside down.

Who Lives Here

Capybaras, Yacaré Caimans and Jabiru storks fill the wetlands, Hyacinth Macaws feed on palm nuts, and Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. In the Cerrado, Giant Anteaters and Maned Wolves roam the grassland.

Through The Year

In the dry season, from about May to September, animals gather at shrinking water, which makes it the best time for wildlife. The wet season floods vast areas and sends birds to breed.

Pressures And Care

Soy and cattle expansion, wildfire, dams and river changes, and climate change threaten both regions, and the Cerrado has lost a large share of its original vegetation. Protecting river flows and native vegetation helps.

Visiting Well

Go with local guides, keep a safe distance from Jaguars and caimans, and avoid the hottest hours.

Look for

Hyacinth Macaw
Jaguar
Capybara
Giant Anteater
Maned Wolf

Often a good time to visit: June, July, August, September. Conditions vary from year to year and place to place.

Related habitats

Wetland · Grassland

More in South America

Amazon Basin · Andes And Páramo