Climate: The Pantanal Savannah

The Pantanal has two very sharply defined seasons, a Rainy and a Dry season. Both seasons are good for travel to this region and the activities are tailored to the weather and the flooding cycle. The rainy season occurs roughly from October to March with the wettest months being February and March. The months of least rainfall are July and August. The rainy season roughly corresponds to the flooded season. In the months of December through April water rushes over the banks of the many rivers in the Pantanal and much of the savanna is covered with a shallow sheet of water. The highest water months are generally January and February. These great environmental fluctuations are one of the reasons that the wildlife is so concentrated.

Seasons and Weather in the Pantanal
The Rainy Season, October to March
While the rain can be heavy at times in the rainy season, rarely does it last for more than a few hours. Most mornings the skies are clear but with clouds building as the day warms. In the mid to late afternoon there is usually a rain shower, often accompanied by a rainbow. Rarely does it rain for more than a single afternoon, though occasionally it can rain for two days at a time. The nights are generally clear and the sky full of stars.

In this period large areas of the Pantanal are covered by up to three meters of water forming lakes that are hundreds of square kilometers in extent. Many kinds of wildlife have adapted to this flood cycle. Fish, mollusks and aquatic plants range over the newly flooded land to feed and reproduce. Great numbers of fishing birds migrate into the region to feed and nest. Certain areas remain above the water and these serve as the refuge land mammals which concentrate on higher ground. The average Temperature is about 79º F (26,1º C)

The Dry Season, April to September
In April the weather begins to be more dry and the water recedes from the broad flat savanna. Mammals follow the receding water and congregate at the edges of rivers. Fish are concentrated into small water courses and fishing birds fly in to feast. Plants that once filled the flooded plains enter a state of hibernation, where they will stay until the rains return. What was a huge flooded garden is transformed into a vast field of native grass. Small plants and flowers cover the ground. Shallow lakes form inland and they become feeding centers for animals that dine on the fish and other aquatic creatures that are isolated from the rivers. The months of July through the end of December the savanna is dry enough for vehicles to drive out into the bush. The average temperature is about 75º F (23,7º C)

So, when is the best time to go?
This is always a difficult question to answer when it comes to observing wildlife. There are advantages to traveling in both the rainy and the dry season. In the rainy season it can be quite rainy, but there is the advantage that the weather is a bit cooler. Another advantage is that water flows over the banks of the rivers and floods the savanna. This has the effect of concentrating animals on the high ground which can make them easy to see and photograph. The dry season also has its own advantages. When the savanna has dried, many animals congregate at the edges of rivers where they can be easily seen by boat. Mammals walk through the range inviting a look and a photograph. In the end, the best time to travel to the Pantanal is when it is convenient for you. See the side-bar below: "Seasons and weather in the Pantanal".

For more information or to sign up, give us a call at 800-688-1822 to reserve the space. For the nitty gritty details on refunds and other business aspects of the trips, follow this link to Administrative Details.