Just Back From: Brazil with David

Product Manager David Nichols reflects on his recent adventure to Brazil's interior.

How did you get there?
I flew out on one of British Airways’ new A350s to São Paulo and connected from there to Brasília. All in all it took about 15 hours. Once in Brasília, it’s just a 10-minute drive into the centre.

Where in Brazil did you go?
I spent just over a week in Brazil, divided between Brasília, the Cerrado and Rio.

What was your overall impression of the country?
Brazil is always an exciting place to be, and this time was as enjoyable as ever.

Have you been before? If so, any notable differences?
Rio yes. I’ve been going to Rio since the 90s and it’s fascinating to look back on the changes over the years. It felt like a city that is on the up and only moving forwards. There was a real buzz in the air and I felt very relaxed walking along the beachfront in Copacabana and Ipanema taking it all in. I've loved each and every visit to Rio but this one was up there with the best.

Tell us more about:

A place: The Cerrado, the tropical savannah wilderness of central Brazil. There’s great birding here and a line-up of other wildlife of which the star attraction is the vulnerable maned wolf. The Cerrado is often overlooked in favour of the better-known Amazon and Pantanal regions, and also because until relatively recently it has lacked a wildlife lodge. Yet it’s one of the world’s most biodiverse (and threatened) ecosystems.

A hotel: Pousada Trijunção in the Cerrado is a 6-hour drive from Brasília.  Like all Brazil’s top-tier lodges it takes some getting to but Trijunção is possibly the best place in Brazil to spot the maned wolf in its truly wild habitat. The lodge is a truly special place to stay with just a handful of luxurious guest rooms surrounded by 33,000 hectares of wilderness and staffed by a team that is full of heart. The food is fabulous, drawing from the regional cuisine of the 3 Brazilian states which converge at the location where the lodge is situated. You can spot macaws and toucans from the swimming pool and hummingbirds from your hammock. Trijunção funds the Onçafari NGO which is based at the reserve and is dedicated to the research into and protection of the local maned wolf and - more recently - jaguar populations. So by staying at Trijunção guests are contributing to their amazing work. Thanks to the work of Onçafari, the Cerrado is becoming one of Brazil’s most exciting wildlife destinations. A special shout out to our fantastic guide Vinny who took the wildlife pics here.

Credit: Vinicius Rozendo Vianna 

An excursion: Exploring Brasília with an expert guide, one of the city’s first generation and whose father was part of the original team of planners. This was my first visit to Brasília and the tour opened my eyes to its fascinating architecture and backstory. Brasília is totally unlike anywhere else in the country and unexpectedly photogenic.

What was your most memorable moment?
Glimpsing a maned wolf in the Cerrado, accompanied by the Onçafari team at Pousada Trijunção. It was in the golden light of dawn, an absolutely mesmerising sight as he roamed across the savannah calling for his partner.

Is there anything indispensable to pack or prepare for?
Lightweight tropical clothing and long sleeves for the Cerrado as well as good quality shoes for bush walking.

Any local snacks, dishes or drinks that should be sampled?
When in Brazil I like to have tapioca (cassava) pancakes for breakfast and work through the incredible variety of tropical fruit juices. Cupuaçu is a personal favourite but I’m not sure many others would agree.

Any restaurant or bar recommendations?
When in Rio, I visited the Gastromotiva project in Lapa which does wonderful work to feed around 70 disadvantaged or homeless citizens in Rio on weekday evenings, as well as training less fortunate Cariocas to become chefs. To help fund their work, on weekday lunchtimes (11-3) the Refeitório (canteen) opens to the general public. For a donation of just BRL45pp (approx £7.50) you can eat lunch here and support a good cause - Friday is feijoada day, Brazil’s national dish which is a hearty stew made up of black beans and smoked meats - really delicious.