Maned Wolf Safari Holiday in Brazil's Cerrado

The Maned Wolf of Brazil is incredibly rare and difficult to spot, but this trip will take you to possibly the best place in the world to see a Maned Wolf in the wild. Hidden deep in Brazil’s Cerrado biome, in a remote 5-star eco-lodge, expert guides will lead you through the Savannah at the borders of Goiás, Bahia and Minas Gerais – a wildlife haven visited by just a handful of guests.

The Maned Wolf is the largest canine in South America and arguably its most iconic. This strange animal has long legs, reaches up to a metre tall, has a thick, black mane and a fox-like appearance – it is undoubtedly a highlight of any wildlife safari in Brazil. A lover of lobelia fruit, the Maned Wolf is a keystone species of the Brazilian Cerrado, yet its shy nature and twilight feeding habits make it one of the hardest animals to observe in the wild.

In our opinion, this is the best place in Brazil to see a Maned Wolf in the wild in a responsible manner. Run by a local partner NGO, you will set out on your Maned Wolf safari through the Cerrado, tracking these elusive canines with expert local guides who maximise your chances of seeing and photographing them in the wild.

Wildlife in Brazil’s Cerrado: Maned Wolf & More

Maned Wolves are just one of the species which you will find here – there are many other highlights of this unforgettable Cerrado wildlife safari. At ground level, enigmatic species like Jaguars, Deer and Tapirs roam through the undergrowth; whilst in the skies Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, Toucans and Hawks stare down from above. Even in the water, rare fauna like the elusive Dwarf Caiman can be seen floating silently at the lagoon’s edge.

Your time spent here includes access to a variety of ways to explore: kayaks, fat bikes, safari vehicles, and guided walks across open plains and gallery forests. The experience is designed to immerse you in the landscapes of the Cerrado while maintaining the lodge’s strong conservation ethos.

Responsible Tourism & Conservation in the Cerrado

The biome itself is Brazil’s second largest behind the Amazon Rainforest. Potentially the most biodiverse savannah in the world, the Cerrado is a globally important habitat to maintain.

This trip supports organisations which aim to protect and improve the health of this threatened habitat. Working towards the restoration of habitat health and providing visitors with hands-on educational experiences and contact with locals are just some of the ways in which this eco-lodge is helping keep the Cerrado as magnificent as it is. As a guest, you directly contribute to the protection of endangered species, including the Maned Wolf.

Your Maned Wolf Safari with Aqua-Firma

Whether you're drawn by the chance to witness rare wildlife or contribute to meaningful conservation, this tailor-made journey promises a truly immersive Brazilian wilderness experience.

As specialists in small group and bespoke wildlife travel, Aqua-Firma can help weave this into a broader adventure – from the wetlands of the Pantanal to the Amazon Rainforest or the thunderous Iguaçu Falls.

Get in touch to start planning your Maned Wolf safari or to create a personalised wildlife itinerary across Brazil’s most iconic ecosystems – all designed just for you by the Aqua-Firma team.

Itinerary

From the lodge, you have a range of options to choose from for your daily excursions. Please Contact Us to tailor the experience from the duration of your stay to the activities you want to take part in at the destination.

Maned Wolf Safari

Safari cars will leave the lodge at twilight in the early morning or late evening to maximise your chances of seeing Maned Wolves actively hunting in the savannah.

In an open car and accompanied by an expert guide, you will spend around 3 hours searching for these incredible creatures along dirt tracks where the wolves are most likely to be seen.

There is also a chance to see a great deal of other incredible Cerrado animal life as they emerge to get the heat of the softer rays of light at this time.

Night Safari

Safaris don't just operate for chances of seeing Maned Wolves, you can choose a completely alternative focus animal.

In this excursion, you will be setting out in the dead of night to Lagoa das Araras, where it may be possible to see the Dwarf Caiman – the smallest of all crocodilian species.

This experience will take about 2-3 hours a time and may give you a chance to see the starry night sky (as long as conditions allow).

Grande Sertão Veredas National Park

The placement of the lodge is perfect for safari excursions – nearby is the renowned Grande Sertão Veredas National Park.

Here, you will have a chance to see unique species of the Cerrado region and learn about the wildlife here from the guides.

This is one of the longer experiences offered here, with 5 hours of driving time, so you can hope to maximise your exposure to wildlife sighting opportunities!

Fat Biking Across the Savannah

One of the most active and exciting activities you can take part in here is the Fat Biking, where you can pedal along at your own pace.

Cycling the roads of Trijunção Farm, you can choose from a range of route lengths from 3 to 10 km.

You will end your journey at Lagoa das Araras, where you can choose to go Kayaking to see the birdlife there.

Kayaking at Lagoa das Araras

Not too far from the lodge is the beautiful Lagoa das Araras – a freshwater lagoon with still waters and low winds.

These make for ideal kayaking conditions where you can glide across the water and hope to catch sights of aquatic birds and Blue Macaws.

Arriving here by bike or 4X4, you may even be able to get a short swim in before your kayaking begins.

Dawn at Lagoa das Araras

As well as having some brilliant wildlife, Lagoa das Araras is an awe-inspiring place to spend the early mornings.

As the sun rises and reflects of the glassy waters, the skies will fill with vibrant oranges and purples, making for great photographs and a relaxed start to your day.

If you wish, you can choose to have breakfast arranged for you here too!

Botanical Trail

One of the many walkways in the area, the Botanical Trail will take you through some of the best routes for Cerrado plantlife.

Your guide will explain the beliefs of local cultures which surround different species, their uses in foods and the medicinal uses that have so far been discovered.

This is one of the easier walks which is offered here and takes around 2 hours to complete.

Sunset Over the Cerrado

Taking a safari car to Trijunção Viewpoint, you will have the opportunity to watch the sunset over the vast wilderness of the Cerrado.

Over 3 hours, you will see every stage of the golden twilight there should be countless photography opportunities.

Sussuarana Trail

As one of the more adventorous activities which the lodge offers here, the 3 hour-long Sussuarana Trail takes you to the foot of the Formoso-Corrente River Basins.

Leg protectors, closed shoes and trousers are required for the walk as the vegetation in this region can be prickly in nature, but the views and escape are well worth it.

There is even an optional abseiling segment if you wish.