The GRASSLANDS, miles from anywhere and on the edge of nowhere, or described by Venezuela's writer, Rómulo Gallegos, as ¡más allá del más nunca!, farther away than never again, are the great plains with vast cattle ranches bordering placid rivers. Despite modern communications this is an area where people still smile on the outside world as though it were something apart. Guest ranches with ample accommodations give you a chance to share this unhurried and unbothered time perspective. The most extraordinary variety of wildlife live nearby: giant anteaters, iguanas, capybaras, howler monkeys, alligators, foxes, piranhas, anacondas, armadillo, ocelot, jaguar, electric eels and more than 300 species of birds. No wonder the Llanos has been called the "Serengeti of South America".

LLANOS WILDLIFE TOUR

The best place to observe wildlife, especially mammals and birds, in tropical South America is in the Venezuelan Llanos grasslands. In a vast inland prairie of over (115,000 sq. miles), you have a wealth of wildlife concentrated in small areas and easy to see. The Llanos are one of the Earth’s most important breeding reserves for birds with well over 300 species living there, and other native creatures such as capybaras, the world's largest rodent, great Caymans, turtles, foxes, howler monkeys, ocelots, wild boars, anacondas, great anteaters and the elusive jaguars. Accommodations are on half-million acre private cattle ranches with all the creature comforts. At dawn you witness the awakening of a land of plenty, teeming with life. Just a visit to the Llanos is worth a trip to Venezuela!