Los Llanos – South American Safari
Plains, Rains and Caymans

Covering much of the western third of Venezuela, Los Llanos (the plains) stretch across the horizon in a land of extremes, epitomizing a wildlife lover's dream. The seemingly endless savannahs, marshes and woodlands and their related wildlife are directly tied to annual cycles of rain and dry seasons. The prolonged, heavy rains that fall from mid-May to mid-November are starkly contrasted to the dry season during the rest of the year, when not so much as a drop falls for weeks.

This unique climatic situation has provided some equally unique adventure and ecotourism opportunities. Imagine riding herd with Venezuelan cowboys on this vast frontier; or navigating the waterways in a canoe; or perhaps viewing a plethora of exotic wildlife in unforgettable natural habitats. Los Llanos offers all of this in a 300,000 km2 (116,000 sq. miles) region where the hectic city life is a remote dream surrounded by amazing views as far as the eye can see.

Los Llanos are not desolate, by any means. The plains offer three primary habitats: woodlands, savannahs and the water bodies, including rivers, marshes and lagoons. The forests contain macaws, curassows, caciques, howler monkeys and even ocelot, while the grasslands are home to a large variety of seed-eating birds, raptors, the giant anteater, deer, jaguarundi and an endemic armadillo species. But with well over 350 species, the wetlands are truly a birdwatcher’s dream, especially in the dry season, when wildlife gather at the few watering holes available. Here it is not uncommon to safely see capybara, caracara, spectacled cayman, anaconda, scarlet ibis and jabiru in the same lagoon, with ducks, herons, kingfishers, hoatzin and osprey nearby. You might even spot the abundant river dolphin feeding on piranha or crustaceans in the rivers! Talk about a South American safari!

Would you like to book your own South American Safari in Los Llanos? Angel-Eco Tours offers 3-day trips to the Venezuelan plains with accommodations in a local hato, a safari drive and boat tour to view hundreds of various wildlife species, and after-dinner helpings of local "joropo" folk music.