A wildlife safari in Colombia’s lowlands
At another spot we saw an anaconda about 5 meters long. The anaconda was easy to spot for guide Giovanny because the water was low. The animal was laying quietly in a corner…I didn’t think I would ever be able to spot an anaconda so close!
The safari began at 8:30 a.m. after breakfast. I didn’t really know what to expect from a “Colombian safari,” but I was very much looking forward to it. We set off with a small group: Dutch couple Anneke and Ted with their Colombian translator Gabriela, guide Giovanny and me. Across the river, the jeep was already waiting for us.
Tree ant-eater
Pretty soon, the jeep stopped at a tree. I looked in the branches to see if I could see any birds, but it turned out I had to look in the tree itself, in which a tamandua (tree anteater) was sleeping. Silently, we observing the small animal. It was such a cute sight: we could see its eyes and long snout very well. By the looks of it, the animal was used to people coming to observe, because he opened its eyes briefly and then continued sleeping.
Oasis
After this, we drove across the savannah landscape to a lagoon, to observe birds and walk. This was a dream spot that was like an oasis in the desert landscape. Pretty soon we saw three caimans at very close range and a lot of birds. Among these, the red ibis caught my eye the most.
African safari?
We walked toward a smaller lagoon, with lots of capybaras. With all those animals at the water pool, it really looked like a safari in Africa! Along the way we saw three little owls, who made a hole under the ground. Too cute! We also saw birds of prey, who “watched over” the lagoon, wild horses and cows. Because of the countless birds, it was a twittering match!
Anaconda
At another spot we saw an anaconda of about 5 meters long. The anaconda was easy for guide Giovanny to spot because the water was low. The animal was laying quietly in a corner…I didn’t think I would ever be able to spot an anaconda so close!
Siesta at Hato la Aurora
To escape the heat between 12pm and 3pm, we spent that time at the main house of Hato la Aurora. We were welcomed to the ranch with a (miniscule) cup of coffee.
There were many little birds and also 2 macaws, so there was plenty to see. Furthermore, we could wander around and see the working tools of the Colombian cowboys. Due to a funeral in Yopal, only two people were working. The rest of the workers were in Yopal, so it was very quiet at the ranch.
In search of jaguars
After lunch and a wonderful siesta in the hammock, we continued the safari. Our mission: to look for jaguars! The day before, Giovanny had seen a mother with baby and of course we were hoping to spot them too! During a stop for a walk in the forest, guide Giovanny spotted jaguar tracks. The tracks were not fresh, but Giovanny decided that we were going to have a look in the forest anyway.
Giant anteater
We had to be very quiet so as not to startle the animals. At one point, we heard leaves cracking…. I felt that everyone was excited. At one point, we saw a giant anteater running through the forest. These are nocturnal animals, so we were lucky to see this special animal!
Countless birds
After this, we went to another lagoon, again with countless species of birds. We stayed here for a while, to spot the birds and wait to see if the jaguars would show up. We were not as lucky as the safari goers the previous day, as we did not spot the jaguars. Honestly, it didn’t matter much to us because the safari was more than successful anyway. We enjoyed the sound of all the birds and the tranquility for a while longer. With the sun setting, the view was absolutely stunning. In the dark we drove back to the river, for the crossing to the lodge. Here, the crew was already waiting for us again with a tray with glasses of lemonade. 😊
Check out our travel guide Casanare – the Colombian safari- for more info. Need a hotel in Yopal before or after your safari? Then check here the options.
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