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Most animals have been hunted around this area for years. But now, gradually, the local Hatos (cattle ranches) are beginning to protect the animals on their land. One of the pioneers in this has been Hato Cedral, a beautiful working cattle ranch covering over 50,000 hectares of land, 3 hours by road from Barinas. It has been protecting its wildlife for over 25 years and is teeming with huge numbers of animals and birds. So much so, do not be surprised to find iguanas outside your bedroom door, red howler monkeys in the trees above, caimans and crocodiles minding their own business, capybaras munching grass at the poolside as well as the illusive Anaconda!
Excursions are taken with experienced guides by motor boat or safari style truck and wildlife you are likely to see includes capybara, caiman, howler monkeys, anacondas, river dolphins, anteaters, the orinoco crocodile, armadillos, deer, burrowing owls, foxes, iguanas, big cats, turtles, piranha fish and over 300 species of birds.
The excellent natural conditions of hydrological systems create a large water reserve that helps to sustain the abundant animal life and vegetation year round. The ranch has become a landmark for international researchers and studiers of the natural sciences and is endorsed by The National Geographic Society.
Excursions to the Angel Falls are operated by a local company who employ Purmon Indians as their guides. Many of the Indians have self-taught English and know the area intimately, re-telling ancestral stories of the Angel Falls long before Jimmy Angel crashed his plane and reported them to the rest of the world.
The directors of this company went to university together and met up again when they were travelling. They started doing tours to Vietnam in 1996 and were so successful that they expanded to many other destinations. Their company now employs 170 well-travelled staff who can advise customers on how to put together the perfect itinerary. They share the same no-nonsense, honest approach and ensure anyone who travels makes the best use of their time and budget. The amount of research that goes into these trips means you get to see the slightly quirkier places and can travel at your own pace.
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