São Roque de Minas, Brazil

Giant Anteaters of Serra da Canastra

This breathtaking national park is one of the best places to see the weird and wonderful giant anteater in the wild.

The wonderfully unique giant anteater is an endangered species that is disappearing from many regions of Brazil. But there are still wild areas where this strange species clings on to survival and can be seen easily. One of the best places in the country to observe these bizarre beasts is in the magnificent Serra da Canastra National Park in the state of Minas Gerais.

Serra Da Canastra has been a national park since 1972 and comprises an area of 72,000 acres of Cerrado savanna, hills, and forest, through which the São Francisco river flows. Highly biodiverse, over 350 species of animal live in the park and many rare and endangered plant species such as orchids are found here too. Still the real highlight of the park is undoubtedly its large mammal species, and especially the giant anteater.

This large creature may be seen very easily as it ambles on its knuckles through the long grass in search of its prey using its strange elongated snout to detect nearby anthills to raid. When visiting the park, you’re likely to see an anteater feed using its sharp claws to break open an anthill and its extraordinary long tongue to extract the insects. If you are really lucky, you may even see a mother anteater with her baby clinging to her back.

Other endangered species may also be observed here, such as the pampas deer, maned wolf, puma, pampas cat, rhea ostrich, giant armadillo, and the critically endangered Brazilian merganser duck. But these are much harder and more time-consuming to find than the anteater, and will typically make seasonal movements to less accessible areas of the reserve. (If you want to stand a good chance of seeing these creatures it’s best to plan the timing of your visit in advance with the animals’ seasonal behavior patterns in mind.)

Serra Da Canastra is also an area of astounding landscapes with many trails to explore. A particularly famous natural landmark is the Casca D’Anta waterfall, which is over 610 feet tall and a renowned site of tranquility and enchanting natural beauty. The park is also home to many curious prehistoric rock formations that form eerie shapes. They are best seen at the Curral de Pedras and Garagem de Pedras sites.

Know Before You Go

You will need a guide to enter the national park and there are several available with offices in Sao Roque de Minas. There are plenty of options for accomodation in the town too, including hotels, hostels, and eco-lodges. A pair of decent binoculars (magnification size 8 x 20 is best ) is a must have if you plan on observing the animals. For photographs bring a long lens for your camera. Always watch the animals at a respectful distance and particularly in the case of the giant anteater, which may attack if it feels threatened. Be especially vigilant when walking through areas with long grass, as the park is home to several species of highly venomous snakes. Please be responsible and dont leave any litter that could harm animals or drop anything that could potentially start a wildfire in the reserve. Bring a raincoat or light jacket as rainstorms can roll in deceptively quickly and can be torrential. Sunblock, a hat, and mosquito repellent are also recommended.