Horseback riding Our 10 very calm, experienced horses are ideal for exploration of otherwise-inaccessible fields, marshes, and forests in a radius of 10 km or more from the lodge. The normal duration of rides is 2 hours, but longer rides and even overnight horse expeditions to other ranches can be arranged upon request. We offer hard hats for extra riding safety.
Otter watching
The Giant Otter is one of the most exciting and endangered animals of the Americas, with a global population of about 5,000. The world’s only completely tame group of these 2-metre-long, 70-pound “river wolves” lives in the 60-m-wide, 12-km-long Pixaim River, which lies a mere 30 m from the lodge. Our boat drivers report that individual otters in this 11-member group have lived there for more than a decade. Now, the entire group is very tame, allowing observation and photography from only 2-10 m. Our afternoon boat outings normally include close-range observation of these powerful, playful top predators, which we have observed chasing Jaguars and eating Anacondas. Everywhere else in the world, Giant Otters are impossible to view at such incredibly close range.
Birdwatching
SWP at Santa Tereza Ranch is visited by a greater number of serious birders than any other lodge in the entire Pantanal. On the internet, birding trip reports for the Pantanal usually include SWP (under the name of our ranch, Fazenda Santa Tereza). Birders love our scientifically-designed trail system through the Pantanal’s most easily-accessible gallery or riverine forest, a bird-rich habitat that represents only 2% of the Pantanal. Furthermore, we offer a complete lodge bird list (340 species--LINK) compiled by a leading Pantanal bird guide and a Ph.D. ornithologist (one of the lodge owners). Our location allows easy day trips to the Campo de Jofre area 60 km south on the Transpantaneira, a must for listers/tickers. These enormous wading birds fly next to our boat and land on the banks of the river to pose in ideal, golden afternoon light, framed by lush tropical vegetation. The river also boasts Agami Herons, very tame Black-collared Hawks, Sunbitterns, Sungrebes, Bare-faced Curassows, and a profusion of other water and forest birds.
Trails and Tapirs
Five kilometres of well-designed trails criss cross riverine forest and drier cerrado, allowing for excellent opportunities to search for rare Pantanal birds as well for troops of Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Black and Gold Howler Monkeys, and Silvery Marmosets (energetic, squirrel-sized monkeys). We also now offer the single best location in the world to see the normally very elusive, 250-kilo (600-pound) Brazilian Tapir, the largest land animal in South America. We began to guarantee tapirs in late 2006 after we perfected a system for locating and observing them at 10-20 m from viewing platforms within a five minute walk of the lodge. In December 2006, this system allowed us to view eight tapirs in less than 30 minutes.
Towers
We have two fixed towers. A Jabiru nest observation tower only placed at eye level with the a nesting family of Jabirus. We also have a forest tower that seasonally allows you to enjoy thousands of roosting parrots.
Spotlighting
Night spotlighting outings (in raised, open cars or small trucks) are offered (on an optional, but included, basis) on any and all nights in the Pantanal. Note that these spotlighting outings might not be totally private, as our open observation trucks normally are available for any and all guests staying at our exclusive, 20-bed SWP lodge. The trucks always are spacious enough to ensure excellent wildlife viewing for all.
